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<p>top two are probably using a huge up-close modifier, how do they lift the shadow side so much without a fill strobe?</p>
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<p>The top left image is most likely made with a large key source and may or may not have a small amount of fill. Same with the top right image, but there is a kicker in use.</p>
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<p>1. Does the key being a few feet forward from the fill have any affect as opposed to say, the key and fill nearly touching and acting as one big window?</p>
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<p>Yes. Certainly, lights positioned differently will produce different lighting patterns, will it not? Light source size, intensity, and distance in relation to subject will change too.</p>
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<p>2. Is it generally better to feather the light so it falls in front of the face, behind the face (onto the background) or make the hotspot hit the face directly?</p>
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<p>Feathering the key will produce a more soft light and less of a hot spot. It appears that the key was feathered in your example images - except the bottom left image, which shows a hotspot on the forehead. Whether it is better to feather or not, and which direction to feather, is a personal choice.</p>
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<p>The modifier I understand, it has to be huge (id say like 7 feet or similar, right out of frame), but its the positioning and feathering thats throwing me off.</p>
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<p>Softness of light is dependent on<em> size</em> and <em>distance</em> of light source in relation to the subject. The bigger and closer to subject equals more soft light. A soft portrait light can be achieved with a 7 foot modifier, or 4 foot modifier, or a 2 foot modifier, or any other size pretty much. Position of key light and amount of fill will determine the lighting pattern. Feathering to the front will certainly help fill in the shadows.</p>
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<p>Definitely think his mouth could've used some fill but I was right between the fill and that area, maybe that's why it got so dark?!</p>
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<p>The fill light directly behind the camera(and photographer) does get blocked quite a bit. I like to use a large light source, say 5' octobox for fill placed directly behind me and camera. If I use a smaller size of light source, say a 3' umbrella, I will move it slightly out from directly behind me and the camera<br>
<br />Your example shows a high key light position, almost no fill light from behind camera, and either some reflected spill light or kicker fill from right of frame. For this model, I would've moved the key light a little lower and closer to subject.</p>