Guess the Lighting Technique

As requested, here are a few photos. Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to tell us how the shot was lit. How many strobes were used, where were they aimed, did they have diffusers?

Shot #1

Shot #2

Good luck!

Cheers

James Wiseman

I do not have a clue about picture 1 but I would guess that picture 2 is either a diffused single strobe positioned towards the top left of the picture or two strobes with the right one firing at about 1/4 power.

This is based upon the lighting being soft (I am thinking diffused) and the faint shadows.

Shot #1 appears to be focus light only with the strobes flash/light being outside the sponge's border.

Strobe appears to be from LHS and lower, but makes very little difference to the subject.

Shot #2 is simple,...???

Camera!, Roll film!, Action...

Bruce

I thought there would be more guesses!

1) strobe outside the left of the sponge but partially over the opening with soft diffused light

2) very soft textured light-diffused? placement of single strobe close to port at the 11 oclock position

Thats my best guess for both from an uneducated amateur! At least it gives me something to think about while the wind is howling, Man-Yi turned into a Super Typhoon an hour or so ago with 150+mph winds and the water is trying to come in through every door and window... yuck

OK, should I post the answers yet, or more people want to guess?

Cheers

James

I really thought that there would be more answers. The other lighting post there were enough people adamant on both sides of the diffusor issue that it would seem almost certain that your pictures would have been easy enough to determine your lighting style.

Post the answers, it will be interesting to see just how close/correct a posted response will be.

2) Two strobes about 6" strobe-to-subject (a little closer for the 10-o'clock positioning, fill at 2-o'clock?)

I still dont understand what a "fill" strobe is compared to the other strobe. Is it at less power, different angle...?

Okay, I give up, what was the lighting technique?

And the answer is......?????

Hmmmm, let's try...

Maybe cause I bought my second strobe, I think every shot has to be done with two of them...

So my guesses are...

Shot 1:

Two strobes

The main one down to the left, and a second one with diffuser and with a 1/8 of strength, on the top of the image slightly placed to the left, with a 45 o 30 degree angle.

Shot 2:

Two strobes (or even three!!)

Main one on the left, slightly over the camera axis. Second one with diffuser to the right (on the top). Maybe a third one, or ambient light, or a diving light to light the background (Is it maybe the second strobe that's giving light to the background? Could also be possible).

Let's see if I'm right. I bet it's much more simple than I think!

Jordi

Shot 1:

Two strobes

The main one down to the left, and a second one with diffuser and with a 1/8 of strength, on the top of the image slightly placed to the left, with a 45 o 30 degree angle.

 

Shot 2:

Two strobes (or even three!!)

Main one on the left, slightly over the camera axis. Second one with diffuser to the right (on the top).

Jordi

Jordi

I am curious as to why you would diffuse the fill light. If the diffuser is there to soften the shadows then would you not only use it on the primary strobe? Surely the secondary strobe does not create a shadow as such. Any shadow would be caused by the difference in power of the primary over the secondary.

All right guys - this has been a fun thread! Here are the answers:

#1 - single Ikelite DS51 strobe with diffuser pointing from the lower left side of the photo and firing through the shrimp.

#2 - dual Inon strobes with diffusers. One firing from above the seahorse and one from the right side of the photo.

I'll try to find some more interesting shots to post in a new thread.

Cheers

James