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Assignment 2: Classic Headshot
Assignment Overview
The classic headshot is one of the most common and popular
shots in portraiture. It is used to depict presidents, authors, CEOs,
and even employees of the month. In this assignment you will you be
working with a subject and taking a classic headshot using lighting,
background, make-up, wardrobe, hair styling, and facial expressions to
depict their persona and add an element of mood and emotion.
Students are encouraged to read Chapter 6 from "Portrait Photography Course"
prior to starting this assignment to learn more about classic
headshots: information in terms of composition + posing + lighting is
covered in this chapter.
Students are required to review the post in the Week 2 Problems and Solution section titled "W2A2 - Preparation for Headshots".
Assignment Description
In this assignment you will be photographing one subject using 2 strobes. You
will have one key light and one fill light. Both of these lights must
produce soft light with either the addition of a soft-box accessory or a
shoot-through umbrella.
You will also be photographing your overall studio set up,
the lighting equipment, stands, the background support system using the
light available, and use of your handheld light meter in use.
Finally, you will create a 150-word statement describing your photographic process.
Assignment Step-by-Step Instructions
- Select a new subject than you used in this week's first assignment. Be sure you feel comfortable working with this subject.
- Students are encouraged to choose someone 16 and up.
- Consider your model's style: does their outfit portray a "professional" one that would match the concept behind a head-shot?
- Consider your model's hair and if make-up is needed. (Avoid "over doing it" with hair/make-up; keep it simple)
- Set up your studio with
your key and fill lights (Studio Strobes), a plain paper (or muslin)
background with the stands/crossbars, and a chair (or stool) for your
model.
- You may use a white or black backdrop for this assignment.
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you use a white backdrop, avoid dressing your subject in white
clothing. If you use a black backdrop, avoid dressing your subject in
black clothing or very dark clothing. Ensure that your model "stands
out" against the backdrop in terms of color.
- You're required to shoot soft lighting for this assignment; you may use either a shoot-through umbrella or a soft-box to create this type of light.
- Position your model at least 5-6 feet in front of your background. When
working in a tight space, you may need to re-arrange furniture, move
your backdrop or even, shoot through a door in order to create this
distance between your subject and background.
- Positing the key light and your fill light on opposite sites of your subject.
- Determine your manual exposure settings with your handheld light meter.
- Determine your ISO: Given the bright nature of your strobe light, an ISO of 100 is suggested.
- Determine your Shutter Speed:
Given the fact that you're shooting with a strobe light, you want to
avoid shooting with an shutter speed faster than 1/125th of a second.
(Otherwise you'll see dark bands on the sides of your images with a
faster shutter speed.)
- Plug in your ISO and Shutter Speed information into your handheld light meter.
Then, place the meter under your subject's chin and take a reading to
determine the best aperture to shoot with. Take a photograph of your
handheld light meter in use and include this image in your contact
sheet. This image will be included in your contact sheet. Image should be similar to the shots below:
Please
note: If instructor is not able to read the information on the screen
of your handheld light meter, you will not receive points for using it.
- With your DSLR camera, using a wide-angle lens, shoot an image of your entire setup using the available light in the studio. These images will be included in your contact sheet; ensure
that your image shows a clear view of where the key light & fill
light (strobes w/ softbox or shoot-through umbrella) were in relation to
the subject. Your image should also include your model within the shot and show where s/he was standing. Ensure that your image shows where your lights were in relation to your subject:
- Please
note: If your image is not in focus, not exposed properly, or does not
clearly show where your light was positioned in relation to your
subject, you may not receive points for this portion of the assignment.
- Adjust your camera to shoot RAW files.
- Shoot at least 36 headshot portraits.
- Push your composition: remember to vary your angle (shoot from side to side), framing, and composition for the best results.
- Select your three best portraits for peer review and name the images using the following naming convention:
- PH222_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial_headshot1.jpg
- PH222_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial_headshot2.jpg
- PH222_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial_headshot3.jpg
- Create a contact sheet and save the contact sheet as
PH222_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial_contactsheet.pdf.
- Create a written
statement of at least 150-words that describes your photographic
process. Post your written statement directly into the Discussion
Thread. Answer the following questions:
- How did you decide
where to position your lights? Did you try to move your lights forward
or backwards to make the light darker or brighter? How did you stylize your model? Discuss your choices behind hair, make-up, and outfit to suit the category of a "head-shot". Discuss any challenges you faced giving your model direction.
- Submit the contact sheets, the edited images, and the written statement in a ZIP file named PH222_W2_A2_lastname_firstinitial.zip to this Discussion Area by Week 2, Day 7.
- By Week 3, Day 1 comment and respond on 2 of your peers' portraits.
Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
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Maximum Points
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Submitted three portraits of the classic headshot using required equipment and a two-light set up that:
- Have correct exposure and demonstrate technical knowledge of camera and lighting control.
- Exhibit creativity with angles and composition (moving camera and subject frequently to explore the angles).
- Attention to line and other design elements.
- Followed instructions and requirements for assignment.
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40
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| Posted
a contact sheet containing a minimum of 36 photographs and included a
150-word explanation about the photographic process. |
15
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| Provided
substantive feedback to at least two of your peers. Commented on the
composition, subject, and lighting decisions in their photographs. |
10
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| Total: |
65
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For
assistance with any problems you may have when completing this
assignment—OR—to offer your assistance to classmates, please use the Problems and Solutions Discussion area located through the left side navigation link.
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Respond link to post responses and materials that pertain to this assignment. Use the 