Moody Two-Light Control

Are you in the mood for precision?

Karl is joined by broncolor’s Urs Recher for this precise photography lighting demonstration. Together, they show what’s possible using just two lights.

In this photography class, Urs guides us through one of his lighting setups, where, unusually, he makes use of hard light to achieve this stunning beauty image. Throughout this demonstration he also reiterates the importance of precision and control.

In this class:

  • Studio Lighting: How to set up multiple studio lights
  • Two light setup for beauty photography
  • How to create hard light using a softbox
  • Using reflectors and fill light in photography

If you enjoy this class, you may also like to watch Soft Single-Light Portrait.

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. Hello Karl, I’m curious, could I use a strip box long ways in the horizontal position to achieve a similar result if I’m only specifically going for lighting on the face? Thanks in advance for your time and expertise in this inquiry!

    1. Hi, yes you can. In fact I use a horizontal strip box as a beauty modifier on many occasions and I think we have a couple of classes on that here on the platform.

  2. Karim Brusseleers

    I really like these courses because you photograph a model as a product. And that’s exactly what it is. It doesn’t take away from the humanity of the girl being photographed but it puts the emphasis on lighting a volume (a product) and then the expression, the humanity, comes. It seems to me to be the right way to work and it teaches me a lot.

  3. Hi Karl, Again my great compliments for your website and tutorials, it’s awesome. I am learning each time I check your videos. Thanks for that. Still practicing portraits with my Stiphanie doll ( maybe you remember, daughter was against me as model and I now bought a puppet, with your help, thanks), I noticed this video and I have two small questions: is there any particular reason why the backlight is set on the side of the model, pointing at an angle, instead of just behind her? Secondly, the backlight was used to separate her from the background, but in the final image as depicted on the tutorial, it appears it has been significantly darkened in post production. I assume this is simply a choice made in post, to match it to your taste and emphasize the light on the front of the model? ( it makes a more powerful and interesting photo for me this way)
    Thanks and all the best, Andre

    1. Hi Andre, thank you and I’m glad you found a subject to sit still for you! In answer to your questions the backlight had a grid so it was OK to the side as it still makes a reasonable ball of light. Urs took some test shots without it off and after the shooting he decided he preferred it with it off so that’s the shot he wanted me to post. All the other techniques of the lighting for the face and front remain the same. Cheers Karl.

      1. Hi Karl, and above all: a model that can’t scream: are we done yet? 😁
        Thanks for the prompt reply, appreciated, and it’s clear.
        Thanks and all the best, André

  4. KevinRusso

    Hi Karl. I have watched a few of your videos now and I am really enjoying them and picking up a lot of tips. Thank you for that. I can see where this is going to improve my work.

    Now for my question.

    I have noticed so far I have not seen you use any scrims. Scrims that allow you to adjust the light by a certain amount stops. Do you use them or do you feel just using foam-core gets you the results you want?

      1. KevinRusso

        Thanks, Karl, I appreciate the reply. I have seen some notable photographers use 1/2 stop scrims to just take a little bit of light off the hair that was coming from one of the other lights that was positioned properly when doing a portrait. I have seen your use of flags, in the videos.

        I like the little details that you add to the videos, things I have not seen anywhere else. It’s refreshing!!

  5. Hi Karl

    Thanks for your clear explanation notes on how shadow runs down in both setups, you mentioned that “the light is further feathered by use of the card flag”, here is another question that isn’t it true that the card flag is being use as light fill in ? how and why does it contribute to the lights feathering ? thanks

    Rgds
    Alex

    1. Hi Alex at around 4:07 when Urs is running through it you can see how it is also creating a feathered shadow on the left side of the model by opening and closing it like a door as well as acting as a flag to reduce flare into the camera.

  6. Hi Karl,

    It is a great techniques and presentation for this lighting setup by positioning of a slanting softbox to create a sharp light towards the front face and the shadows gradually fall off behind both side of the face, correct me if I’m wrong, wouldn’t it be the similar results as compare to the previous topic ” male (Karl) portrait” and it is much easier to manage ? i meant what is the main differences in term of output of these two setup ? thanks

    Rgds
    Alex

    1. Hi Alex, the main difference is simply the direction on the light and the direction of the shadows. In the portrait of me the light is perpendicular to my face but from above, so that shadows run down. In this example the light is perpendicular to Evie’s face but from the side so the shadow runs to the side. Also in this example the light is further feathered by use of the card flag and it is a bigger softbox slightly further away which will affect the inverse square law (please see our new video in the Introduction to Product Photography Section).

    1. Hi Afahmi, not exactly the same because the octabox has bits missing on the long edge but to some degree yes.

  10. Hello Karl,

    Hope all is well! I have a question regarding the final picture, the one just above the comment section. Was the backlight turned of for this shot? Or how did achieve the black? Because when Urs was shooting with background light on, I always saw a slight grey gradient.

    Thanks Karl, amazing video and high quality content as always!

    Regards

    Philip

    1. Hi Philip, that’s a very good question and tomorrow I’m going to check the files to see why this shot was chosen or if Urs has taken some with the back light off. I will come back to you soon.

      1. Hi Karl, I just love this set up and I am looking forward to taking some portraits photos once lockdown ends. I will be trying this one for sure! 🙂

        Just to follow up with Phillips question – Did Urs just turn the background light off for the thumbnail shot? He surely used flags as well, to get the contrast in the thumbnail image?

        1. Thanks Nathan, Urs is a bit of a genius with his creative portrait techniques! I had a look at the files and it looked like during filming Urs took options with the background on and off.

    2. Hi Philip, we’ve checked and for some strange reason Urs has chosen one of his test shots from before he put the background light on. We will re-edit the video and add some of the other shots and put them on the page too. This will take a few days to sort out as we are busy filming new courses at the moment. Thanks.

  11. I did like the birds eye view of the lighting set up. It really amps up the total quality of the production. Really enjoyed this episode. Thanks

  13. Karl and Urs are the best photographers duo. I love the (unusual) way that Urs shapes the light and the knowledge and charisma of Karl. This series is -by far- my best investment in photography ever.

  17. Awesome detailed info that explains how and why the light works. Really loving these videos. The Karl and Urs videos are always interesting from both perspectives .

    1. Hi MizUniverse, his name is Urs Recher, he’s Swiss and a very knowledgable photographer and consultant from broncolor. I asked him to come in and demonstrate some of his unique lighting setups.

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