Camera and setup for head shots - please help

[lbi115l]

Hello. I'm a high school student, and do most of my work in

landscapes, architecture, and event coverage, almost all in B&W. My

school musical is in three weeks, and the director just asked me to

do cast head shots. There are 34 people, and will need all of them

done in an afternoon. I will be shooting on the stage using the set

as a background. Lighting will be two 500 watt tungsten floods with

backup provided by stage lighting as needed. They will be in B&W.

 

My question -

I have a Bronica ETRS which I am very comfortable with. The longest

lens I have is a 75mm, but it is tack-sharp. Would it be

better/easier to shoot the head shots with this setup or using either

my Nikon FM2N with 70-210 zoom or Minolta SRT-100 with 135mm Rokkor

lens? I could always crop down the 645, I'll be shooting TMX 100 so

grain shouldn't be a problem.

 

Any ideas for equipment, techniques, accessories, or mainly how to

smoothly pull this off would be appreciated. I have some portrait

experience, but mostly environmental and have never done either

formal portraits or anything in mass like this. I will have two

assistants - one experienced and one as a first time.

 

Thanks, All.

[derrick_morin___fallon__ne]

Some contributors to this forum have extensive experience in this area - I'll be interested to see what they have to say. What I do know is that head shots are aptly named - that is, the purpose is just to show the face in the best possible light. The background should be de-emphasized as much as possible, unlike environmental portraits. Lighting should be no problem for you. About the gear - sounds like you want to keep this as simple as possible because you are doing so many at once. How good is the Rokkor 135? I don't know that lens, but 135 is a terific length for head shots - good perspective with no cropping later. That would probably be my choice.

[chad_h]

What is the largest print size you want? For up to 11 x 14 your Nikon FM2N and 70-210mm lens would be ok. I'ld try and get a fixed 85mm, 100mm or 135mm for it instead though. If you need larger prints than your Bronica ETRS would be a better choice except with a longer lens. Croping down your 645 sort of defeats the purporse.

[steve_levine]

Best idea is to get a flash & get it about 12" directly above your lens(get a vivitar & a cheapie flash bracket).Id shoot way away from any walls too.A head shot hasnt any need for a background usually.Of course shoot vertical nice & tight,but leave some room around face for cropping.You could use the quartz lights,but when they are close enough to give you good exposure,the people will be blinded & hot!

[minh_thai]

Make sure to fire at least 2-3 shots per person as people will blink...

[fotografz]

Jason, IMO you have everything you need.

 

Prior to the actual shoot, get there early and use the

inexperienced assistant as a stand in to set up your lighting.

That way you won't be fumbling around while the first couple of

subjects start stiffing up.

 

With the Bronica on a tri-pod, frame a bit wider so you can crop in

tighter later, and the effect will be as if you used a longer lens.

Unless you are going to make 20X30 prints, you shoud be fine

as far as grain is concerned.

 

Place your lights in a simple configuration, Main light up above

the subject (sitting on a stool), and about a 45 degree to them.

They should slightly turn their head toward that main light.

 

Place the second light on the opposite side as fill. You can

control the intensity by moving it further away than the main light

until it looks correct to your eye.

 

The only unknown is the background, you have to watch that the

hair seperates from the backdrop...which usually requires a

seperate light. If you don't have any 3rd light keep the subject

close to the background so the other 2 lights will light it.

 

Hope this helps.<div></div>

[godor]

Marc,

 

A very nice photo. Can you describe the type of lights you used for this shot? Softbox? Umbrella?

 

Also, I'd like to hear your opinion on multiple catchlights. Good, bad, don't care. If you prefer only one catchlight, how do you avoid them if you are multiple light sources or reflector panels?

 

Thanks.

[igord]

Try 4 lights:

i) main light 4 times stronger then the other lights (like f8 against f4) - silk umbrella

ii) side light bit from behind - soft box

iii) top light on the boom - soft box

iv) light reflected from a big reflector.

All lamps from the same side. You dont need a fill light - use a second big reflector. You get beautifuly lit portrait with one catch light. Skin is beautiful even if a model has problems with it.