Soft light or strong light for model?
 

After some discussion on another thread about lighting the model, I have some examples that I need help with. My main question is just how strong should the light be? What's ideal? The soft north light or a stronger light making sharper shadows? It seems to me that the stronger light and therefore stronger shadows would be easier to paint, at least for a beginner like me.

This first example is of my son in my 'studio' with my new backdrop painted the greyish green Bill Whitaker suggested. I used a too weak bulb, a flourescent 18 watt to supplement north light on a cloudy day, late in the afternoon. I should have used a reflector to get some light into the shadows. But, this is an example of what I usually get: RED people.

Joan

Second example
 

Okay, now here is my daughter sitting about 5 feet away from a huge north lit window about noon on a cloudy day. I tried to make sure the lower part of the window was blocked off so I wouldn't gett too much light bouncing up onto the underside of her neck. It seems my camera captured some cooler colors for a change. I am just so happy not to have another photo of a RED person. Here is my question:

Are these shadows too subtle to paint from?

One more
 

This is a friend of my mother's, sitting in the same position as the previous example. About 4-5 feet away from a huge northern facing window, noon, cloudy day.

I see shadows, but again, perhaps not sharp/strong enough? I welcome and look forward to any comments about how I can improve my reference shots.

thank you,

Joan

Strong shadows like these?
 

This is a photo I took in my portrait class of our model. Nice strong shadows, but again, she's pretty red. I just took this snapshot so I could finish the portrait at home, used my Canon PoswerShot S30. I don't know what kind of lighting is used in the studio where I take classes, I don't think the bulbs are anything fancy.

Are these the kind of strong shadows necessary to get good form?

thanks again,

Joan

Sorry about all the posts.

Hi Joan -

I don't have much time to write this morning, but a quick question:

Does your camera allow you a way to change your white balance? I have a powershot, an older model, and it has a place where I can adjust it according to the lighting situation - incandescent, sunny day, cloudy day, automatic, etc. Even do your own balance, which I admit I haven't learned to do yet.

That may be your problem.

On my employer's time, I'll respond only to this question, regarding your second example.

I think the value design is very good here, very workable. I'm not sure if by "subtle," you mean that the shadow isn't very dark and sharply delineated. Usually only an intense, close, single light source (or direct sunlight) will give you that, and unless you're doing cast drawings in a studio, there's no good reason that I know of to go for that effect, especially on a young, soft-complexioned female. That is, maybe it would go over on a grizzled cowhand, corral-side under a midday sun, but not here.

Of your four examples, this is the one that I would be most inclined to pursue. On my monitor, the first and fourth are impossibly dark -- squint at them and the figures disappear completely.

Hi Julie,

Thank you for your reply. I think it does but I never learned how to do that! I'll investigate.

Hi Steven,

That's exactly what I mean. I mean the transitions between shadow and light are not well defined. I don't necessarily mean shadows that are not dark, but I think with the more diffused light I am by definition not going to get dark shadows. At least that's what it seems like to me.

Thank you Steven for replying, especially on your employer's time.

Joan

Joan, I think the example of your daughter is lighted just about perfectly. You would rarely want any greater degree of contrast between lit and unlit areas, anyway. Much more contrast than this and your camera couldn't handle it anyway. You'd end up with blasted out white light areas and deep impenetrable darks. Not good to paint from.

The shots that turn out red are probably, as was suggested, problems with your white balance setting on your camera. It is probably set by default to match the window light that you had on your daughter and your Mom's friend, since the color on those is great.

When we shoot by artificial light we run into lots of different colors of lighting. The reddest ones look like they are lit by incandescent light(regular houshold bulbs) but that your camera's white balance is still set for natural daylight. Check out that feature and be sure it's set to match whatever the main light source is.

Definitely read your camera's manual on how to adjust white balance. It makes such a difference.

I like the photo of your son, too. You can color correct photos in Photoshop, and lighten the darks to get more information.

Thank you all
 

Dear Michele, Cindy, Steven, and Julie,

Thank you all for taking the time to post such insightful and thoughtful answers, I really appreciate it. Thanks to you all I think I will be able to take much better photos as soon as I get the white balance figured out. With the Thanksgiving holidays starting tomorrow I'll have two almost willing subjects to take lots of photos of over the break. First, of course, I need to get out my manual and read up on white balance.

I am still very much interested in hearing more opinions on just how delineated/sharp the line should be where the shadow meets the light. I suppose it also depends on the mood I want to convey. And like so much, there is probably no magic answer.

thanks,

Joan