Hello there

Any ideas on how I can improve the lighting in this shot? I'm going for a dramatic feel. Ta very much

Lighting is an area I need work on. Are you using direct light, or diffuser(s)? Looks like one light about 45 degrees to the right of the camera? Was it a slaved flash or strobe? If that's the case, I'd probably start with dialing back about -1/3 stop from the artificial light source and use a little more ambient light in the exposure.

Hey, thanks for giving me things to think about Forrest

I was actually being a bit mischievous because I modelled the subject in a 3d app and then then rendered it, but the scene does use 'real world' concepts. I can change the focal length of the camera I'm using and also its position, rotation etc., manipulate the lighting in great detail.

For the lighting I'm using a standard 3 point setup - key, fill and rim (turned the shadows off for the fill and rim).

I can increase the ambient in the scene so I'll try doing that first.

Can you add a diffuse over-head light?

It's pretty common to use an umbrella with a light pointing at something like gold foil on the inside for product shots. The foil reflects a warm hue, like at sunset, but with this shot that would do more harm than good. Still, try little more/less warmth and see if it helps?

A friend of mine has about as much photography knowledge as I have, and has barely touched a camera. All of it comes from cad and 3d modeling / animation. I wonder what I might have been able to shave off my learning curve if I'd started out that way...?

Originally Posted by ForrestCroce

I wonder what I might have been able to shave off my learning curve if I'd started out that way...?

That would be an interesting way of going about it. I was thinking that the lengthy learning curve for 3d apps might offset the time savings when learning about lighting, but my learning curve has mostly been in modelling - not the scene setup. The convenient thing about taking the shot several times in a 3d app and tweaking settings each time is that you are guaranteed that the only thing that changes are your tweaks.

I can put a reflective surface above the model and I think that will scatter diffuse light onto the scene. Thanks!

The lighting looks pretty dramatic to me! Nice long shadow, lots of contrast, etc....

Maybe a coloured filter to change the mood?

Also, not exactly a lighting thing, but you might try to remove the seam in the background behind the console. The wii will "pop" more without the subtle distraction behind it.