I studied at a workshop back in the mid 80s sponsered by the PPA with Frank Cricio, from Texas. He called this technique "Porcelain light". A double key light, umbrella, and hard light parabolic. Too harsh a look on a weathered face, unless your looking for stark realism. I used it the studio a number of times. Great video, great classic look. You are a master!
Wonderfully clear, as usual. Liked seeing you build up the lighting to get the results you wanted. The final discussion and examples of depth of field were as instructive as impressive. Thank you.
Bravo, Karl, you've hit several nails right on the head . . . and it's not very easy, with strobe, to emulate this look as successfully as you've done. In my informed opinion (I actually co-wrote a book on Hollywood portrait lighting, in charge of the technical aspect of the lighting) you're the only one on the entire youtube - so far as I've seen over the years - to do so as effectively. Again, congratulations. *(Advice to viewers: this video is to view repeatedly ... and take note of the details Karl is talking about!)*
Always liked the work of George Hurrell and using a Fresnel. Wish we could bring back old Hollywood some of my favorite Yvonne De Carlo, Natalie Wood, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth.
Reminding me that I think sometime camera / flash systems should be designed to take a series of photos in quick succession, with just one light on in each photo. If it was quick enough that the model wouldn't move appreciably between images you could blend them in post, potentially adjusting the exposure and tone mapping and even dodging and burning each light individually.
I love Karl Taylor and I am really thankful for his time and effort put into these videos. Amazing work. The final result however in this portrait I dont really like. Maybe its my taste but the face illumination to me is too narrow. Maybe I am wrong here. Is this how portraits were done in early times? It looks a little too dark in the face for me and too bright on the chest.
Oo ang on a minute there Karl - we all know a soft filter is used when cutting between the queen of the screen and the 'rough diamond' love interest in ol' Hollywood
The shadow runs right across the zygomatic arch down the jaw line. Likewise on the other side of the forehead shading the eye socket. Her lips are easy to draw.
First of all, congratulations for the very interesting videos on your channel. As you know, a real Fresnel spotlight works as a point light source through a concave mirror and produces an even sharper shadow. Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the dimensions of a flash tube. The picolite fresnel is beautiful but not as brilliant as a real fresnel spot. But the result of the picolite is close to a old fashion tungsten fresnel.
very nice impulses, thanks a lot. isn't this way of lighting (working with several lights lighting only small areas) a kind of dodging and burning direct into camera?
Nice How To video Karl...Model is a rather striking looker, and fights the soft look....she has a strong jaw line, and beautiful as a strong model. The detail in the digital camera without post smoothing is a bit harsh. You want a creamy and soft transition without fine focus type details. Also, a darker lipstick would have helped break the facial balance. Her forehead and her right cheek is a bit dark, just need a rear kick on the cheek to be a slight bit brighter to at least define he right eyebrow, and need to feather that to front light.... Can also use a single Peco light very tight snoot on the gems on the dress. Shoulders look gourgeous and are lit wonderfully. Now you can always add gloves on different poses or a hat with veil... Fun stuff Karl!! Great base to work from!
I don't think I've ever heard such an eloquent and detailed breakdown of exactly how someone else would have done it, it would be great to see some of your work, I would imagine it's to a very high standard with being able to offer this detailed analysis. You also mentioned post smoothing which of course isn't possible when you're shooting live in front of an audience but just for the benefit of anyone else reading here, I often follow up these live shows with another live show that demonstrates any necessary post production.
Love all of this but you kinda lost me when you said you could open up the aperture by three stops without changing the power output of the strobes. I know that changing the shutter speed won’t matter since the strobes fire much faster than the sync speed of camera but the larger lens opening change has me confused as it relates to the strobe output.
Hi Peter, it can't say that in this video as the only way I could compensate opening the aperture 3 stops is to either add a 3 stop ND, or reduce the ISO by 3 stops or my first choice would be to reduce the lights by 3 stops. This is just a minute edit from the main class so it's possible something was left out.
Yes I can be honest, I love the lower square catch light. If you look you'll see it used across a huge amount of fashion photographers work including mine: karltaylor.com/people
You can bounce a flash off a round reflector, that way the catch light is round and weaker. You can even put it lower and that way you don't see it in the eye. I don't particularly fancy it either. Otherwise a great shot! I am currently trying this look with real tungstens (call me a masochist lol)...
Help me understand: A person like karl taylor, with so much expertise, extrordinary work is making low quality videos, why? they are informative and cool but it should be easie for them to make better quality, better lit videos with all the equpiment and knowledge.
She seemed fine with it. Once you've got the light in the right position you can always turn the modelling light off and then she doesn't see a light until it flashes.
I studied at a workshop back in the mid 80s sponsered by the PPA with Frank Cricio, from Texas. He called this technique "Porcelain light". A double key light, umbrella, and hard light parabolic. Too harsh a look on a weathered face, unless your looking for stark realism. I used it the studio a number of times. Great video, great classic look. You are a master!
Thank you.
You are the only one as far as I've seen that really nailed this style.
Also try: James Schmelzer - Hollywood Lighting Techniques
Best education for photography
Thank you Karl for pouring out all this technique and work, I am very grateful!
You are very welcome
You are fabulous
Wish you great success next year. Awesome work.
Thank you! You too!
Thank you 🙏
Thank you ❤
Thank you 🌹
No problem 😊
Genius! Such art!
Great tutorial on portrait lighting. Thanks Karl for sharing this video. Love from India 🇮🇳
Very nice and an good education. Thanks for that.👍👍👍
Wonderfully clear, as usual. Liked seeing you build up the lighting to get the results you wanted. The final discussion and examples of depth of field were as instructive as impressive. Thank you.
Great video!
Wonderful work
tru man, tnx it really does work
Another masterpiece. Thank you.
Many thanks!
Bravo, Karl, you've hit several nails right on the head . . . and it's not very easy, with strobe, to emulate this look as successfully as you've done. In my informed opinion (I actually co-wrote a book on Hollywood portrait lighting, in charge of the technical aspect of the lighting) you're the only one on the entire youtube - so far as I've seen over the years - to do so as effectively. Again, congratulations. *(Advice to viewers: this video is to view repeatedly ... and take note of the details Karl is talking about!)*
Thank you Christopher, very kind.
Hello, Christopher, is there a way that you could give me a reference to that book, I'd be very interested to get hold of it. Thanks!
Thank you very much!
Welcome!
Marcin Wajda (known as Marcin Wuu) is master of this style.
thank you for sharing this with us! congratulations from Brazil. you inspire me!
Awesome! Thank you!
Always liked the work of George Hurrell and using a Fresnel. Wish we could bring back old Hollywood some of my favorite Yvonne De Carlo, Natalie Wood, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth.
Lauren Baclla, Audrey Hepburn. My god Audrey was utterly a goddess.
Reminding me that I think sometime camera / flash systems should be designed to take a series of photos in quick succession, with just one light on in each photo. If it was quick enough that the model wouldn't move appreciably between images you could blend them in post, potentially adjusting the exposure and tone mapping and even dodging and burning each light individually.
Just discovered your channel keep crushing it ❤️🙌
Thank you for this video! A true master of light…inspired to do this Karl! My respects :)
I love Karl Taylor and I am really thankful for his time and effort put into these videos. Amazing work. The final result however in this portrait I dont really like. Maybe its my taste but the face illumination to me is too narrow. Maybe I am wrong here. Is this how portraits were done in early times? It looks a little too dark in the face for me and too bright on the chest.
Thanks for the great tips
No problem
Amazing.
Thanks
Do you have any experience/thoughts on Dedolights Karl? Seems like they would fit this type of style well.
Similar type of fresnel but I believe they are continuous lights not flash.
Great video!!
Thanks!
make more of these i like these kids keep it up
See our website for more, thousands actually that help change people into real photographers.
Oo ang on a minute there Karl - we all know a soft filter is used when cutting between the queen of the screen and the 'rough diamond' love interest in ol' Hollywood
Hey Karl, great video. Do you have any experience with the Lupo 1000 fresnels?
Hi thanks, no i'm afraid we've not used those before.
I heard of lighting director, & of photography director who should decide..or maybe they are both one?
The shadow runs right across the zygomatic arch down the jaw line. Likewise on the other side of the forehead shading the eye socket. Her lips are easy to draw.
отличное видео) я очень рад что у фоторгафа есть такие заказы, чтобы оправдать вложение в такое замечательное оборудование!
First of all, congratulations for the very interesting videos on your channel. As you know, a real Fresnel spotlight works as a point light source through a concave mirror and produces an even sharper shadow. Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the dimensions of a flash tube. The picolite fresnel is beautiful but not as brilliant as a real fresnel spot. But the result of the picolite is close to a old fashion tungsten fresnel.
This is amazing
very nice impulses, thanks a lot.
isn't this way of lighting (working with several lights lighting only small areas) a kind of dodging and burning direct into camera?
The legend, thanks for sharing this with us 🙏🏻
My pleasure!
Great video once again! And stunning results of course.
Thank you
She has nice clavicls, and this means you can draw in the sternocleidomastoids. All this will bring in gesture to the portrait.
Nice How To video Karl...Model is a rather striking looker, and fights the soft look....she has a strong jaw line, and beautiful as a strong model. The detail in the digital camera without post smoothing is a bit harsh. You want a creamy and soft transition without fine focus type details. Also, a darker lipstick would have helped break the facial balance. Her forehead and her right cheek is a bit dark, just need a rear kick on the cheek to be a slight bit brighter to at least define he right eyebrow, and need to feather that to front light.... Can also use a single Peco light very tight snoot on the gems on the dress. Shoulders look gourgeous and are lit wonderfully. Now you can always add gloves on different poses or a hat with veil... Fun stuff Karl!! Great base to work from!
I don't think I've ever heard such an eloquent and detailed breakdown of exactly how someone else would have done it, it would be great to see some of your work, I would imagine it's to a very high standard with being able to offer this detailed analysis. You also mentioned post smoothing which of course isn't possible when you're shooting live in front of an audience but just for the benefit of anyone else reading here, I often follow up these live shows with another live show that demonstrates any necessary post production.
@@VisualEducationStudio You do great work Karl, and yes, a live session is not even something I can feel so comfortable taking on. lol...Much love!
Love all of this but you kinda lost me when you said you could open up the aperture by three stops without changing the power output of the strobes. I know that changing the shutter speed won’t matter since the strobes fire much faster than the sync speed of camera but the larger lens opening change has me confused as it relates to the strobe output.
Hi Peter, it can't say that in this video as the only way I could compensate opening the aperture 3 stops is to either add a 3 stop ND, or reduce the ISO by 3 stops or my first choice would be to reduce the lights by 3 stops. This is just a minute edit from the main class so it's possible something was left out.
that square softbox at camera angle does give a fill, but Karly be honest here, the catchlight of that in her eye looks absolutely hideous. xD
Yes I can be honest, I love the lower square catch light. If you look you'll see it used across a huge amount of fashion photographers work including mine: karltaylor.com/people
You can bounce a flash off a round reflector, that way the catch light is round and weaker. You can even put it lower and that way you don't see it in the eye. I don't particularly fancy it either. Otherwise a great shot! I am currently trying this look with real tungstens (call me a masochist lol)...
Megga
Help me understand: A person like karl taylor, with so much expertise, extrordinary work is making low quality videos, why?
they are informative and cool but it should be easie for them to make better quality, better lit videos with all the equpiment and knowledge.
Background music is super distracting
Front light is very close to the model... probably bit exhausting for her...
She seemed fine with it. Once you've got the light in the right position you can always turn the modelling light off and then she doesn't see a light until it flashes.
He has pnumbra on the cheek and shoulder