light from above

joshhuntnm

I am thinking what these pictures need is a little more light from above/ behind to separate the dark hair from the background. My question is this: anyone know a good way to accomplish this? This is not a studio; it is my dining room. I have a extra flash but I don't know any good way to get it where it needs to be.

Mitchell

What color is your ceiling. Perhaps bounce a flash off the ceiling for some hair light effect which should give you some separation.

joshhuntnm

I will try that. I didn't think that woudl be enough. the color will work.

~Jan~

I put one light behind the subjects (off to one side) and way up high, pointing down at the subjects, to accomplish this. That's my favorite light set-up--one light at a 45 degree angle behind the subject (up high), another light directly across from it at a 45 degree angle in FRONT of the subject, and a big old reflector on the other side. I'm not sure if there's anything official about this set-up, but it works for me.

joshhuntnm

My struggle is talking my wife into leting me nail a bracket on the wall behind to hold a flash!

Do you have an exmple of a pic with that light set up?

~Jan~

I don't have a pic; I'll try to take one tomorrow before or after my session. I don't have anything in the wall, though. I just crank a light stand way up. And then make sure no one trips over it!

HiSPL

While not providing any hair/rim light effect, you could light the background to achieve more separation too. It even works on black backgrounds.

This is good to know in case you don't want or need the hairlight in your shot (for a bald guy as an example).

joshhuntnm

hmmm. . .

I am thinking about that one. I will try it, but, i want the background totally black and photoshop it (levels) it to get it totally black. If you light it. . . hmmmm. . .

joshhuntnm

Here is another attempt. This is a flash behind pointing straight forward.

Two problems I see:
1) it is a bit too hot
2) there is some light leaking around on her right cheek

HiSPL

I know it doesn't make sense, but you can achieve a black BG and separation by simply lighting the backdrop. Black is without color, not necessarily without light. You are simply lighting the black to make it stand out behind your subjects....