Rim lighting

[mkothare]

Attempt to practise the Joel Grimes technique of rimlighting the model and superimposing on a dramatic background. Any constructive suggestions to improve technique, pose, lighting, post-processing are welcome. Thanks

[mkothare]

Here's another image from the same shoot. Any C&C?

[Tom]

I think Joel gets those side lights a little hotter than you did on that first one. I would probably like to see a reflector to get a little more light up in the eyes and neck. Bringing her chin up a little might help. I kinda don't like the coldness of her. I think he does a lot more processing on their skin, too. Try using the high pass filter on hard light, too.

Other than those nits, it looks really good.

[mkothare]

Thanks, Tom for the suggestions. Will try working on this more as suggested.

[tshea]

Really make the rim lighting pop, by making sure the rim lighting is 1/2 stop to 1 stop more exposure than the key frontal light. Put the lights 45 degrees behind the subject with grids, reflector and barn doors or large gridded soft boxes. Make sure you gobo the back light so it doesn't give you a flare in the lens.

[arich]

I might also focus on the lighting and the model right now before trying to composite a background in, one step at a time and all that. How many lights are you using and how are you using them? +1 to both of the Toms, push up your rims and really try to get those strong highlights on the sides of your subject, gridding your lights should help so you don't get as much wrap.
If you haven't seen on Joes website already, this is his basic location setup w/ speedlites Canon Speedlites on location

Shea you actually post on here? =P Have you burned up all your Canon gear yet?

[mkothare]

Thanks for the link and pointers. I used two strip boxes at 45 degrees behind her, 1 Octabox at the top slightly angled towards her and a fill in barelight in front but far away.

In terms of the ratio of the rimlighting to the overall lighting, would you say that the 2nd picture comes closer, though not right on?

[arich]

Yes? Ish? Its hard to tell because the processing of the first image really flattens everything out and distracts from the model and the lighting. The second one does better on your rims but your fill is still way to strong in my opinion. Also, do you have two front lights in that one or is that another reflection I'm seeing in her eyes?

Have you watched Grimes tutorial video on his processing techniques?

[Photogdude]

on the 2nd one get rid of the white towel, use a dark one. when your setting up and shooting always ask yourself what is the purpose of rim lighting , and adding drama isn't a good enough answer(although it does), there is a specific purpose.

there is no 1 right set up, there are many ways to get an effect, and there is a lot of pp in grimes work.

but there are probably quite a few light modifiers to get it just right.

the 2nd shot is absolutely better, but thats not to say some pp could fix the first one.