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Self-portrait inspired by Martin Schoeller

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flofler

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Hi,

not quite as crisp as Schoeller's original style but I am satisfied with my first try.

My lightning setup: SB-26@1/64 into reflection umbrella behind the camera, second SB-26@1/16 behind me into white wall, both triggered by my camera's popup flash.

Lighting diagram: http://twitpic.com/1b9jkn

Camera & lens: Nikon D300 & Sigma 30mm/[email protected], 1/160s



http://www.flickr.com/photos/57908537@N00/4466175677/

For those of you who don't know Martin Schoeller yet, here you can find some samples of his work:

http://www.acegallery.net/artistmenu.php?pageNum_ACE=2&totalRows_ACE=126&Artist=41
 
Nice,

I had no idea who Martin Schoeller was (forgive me;)... But upon seeing his work I am truly amazed. Stunning portraiture and his advertising work is simply mind-blowing!!!

Re. you photo, I like it. I personally would probably go for a little bit of more depth of field (just to get the whole front of the face in focus) and try for a little stronger gradation (or fall-off) of light on your face (as in Schoeller's George Clooney pic: http://acegallery.net/artwork.php?pageNum_ACE=35&Artist=76 )

Will try it myself;) Thanks for inspiration... I really like the catchlight it creates in subject's eyes...
--
Regards, Rich
 
I am not familiar with Martin, but I looked as you suggested. I'm sure he's a master, but for me just not a style I like.

I think your style look is a bit better to my uneducated eye.

But to match his work, I think you need to try a few things with your CURRENT method. His method is different, notice the left and right catch lights in both eyes. But to add to your method, perhaps try these ideas.

1 - Find the fall off on your back light, as you have a more even coverage. I assume lower your light, and steepen the angle.

2 - Perhaps a touch more DOF, slightly.

3 - I don't know if he shoots film or digital. In your case, I suppose i would try some FILM filters in post production to match his past era skin tones.

4 - I am probably wrong on this, but they also appear to have a little Lucas look to them.

5 - The eyes on his images appear edited on some of his photos, but then it may be some secret method he uses. Your fix, photoshop.

Good luck, and hey master your style too while you are it. Doing good man.

--
http://ronalcornphotography.tumblr.com/
http://ronxp2000.redbubble.com/
 
RonFlash said:
But to match his work, I think you need to try a few things with your CURRENT method. His method is different, notice the left and right catch lights in both eyes.
Click to expand...
I think that he is using an over-sized umbrella (or a parabolic one, like Briese) and the shadow in the middle is him... So, he gets this nice looking 'striped' catchlight... Almost like in cheetah's eye;)

--
Regards, Rich
 
I think you are right. I need my closeup glasses...

I notice now that Martin's catching lights are OUTSIDE the pupil, while the OP here, his catch lights are within the pupil. And the tiger stripe you mention, well I do think you are right. But I wish he had larger images to see, as I think I see no reflection types directly above and below the pupil.

He goes into detail I assume on his positioning, both equipment and client.

Could he be flagging the over sized umbrella instead of it being HIM? I d0n't know, just guessing.

Thanks for the new found observation. I like these learning type threads.
Rich007 said:
RonFlash said:
But to match his work, I think you need to try a few things with your CURRENT method. His method is different, notice the left and right catch lights in both eyes.
Click to expand...
I think that he is using an over-sized umbrella (or a parabolic one, like Briese) and the shadow in the middle is him... So, he gets this nice looking 'striped' catchlight... Almost like in cheetah's eye;)

--
Regards, Rich
Click to expand...
--
http://ronalcornphotography.tumblr.com/
http://ronxp2000.redbubble.com/
 
You might be onto something. I was looking again at Martin's catchlights and even though pictures are too small I think he might be using two huge stripbanks to create those amazingly looking eyes rather then an umbrella...

My cheap solution would be Paul Buff's 86" PLM umbrella (but I'd need bigger lights than a few strobes). If I could put it low, almost touching ground, 4-5 feet behind myself when shooting someone else, I might get close enough to Schoeller's look;) The rest is Photoshop... I think... Anyways, interesting;)
RonFlash said:
I notice now that Martin's catching lights are OUTSIDE the pupil, while the OP here, his catch lights are within the pupil. And the tiger stripe you mention, well I do think you are right. But I wish he had larger images to see, as I think I see no reflection types directly above and below the pupil.

He goes into detail I assume on his positioning, both equipment and client.

Could he be flagging the over sized umbrella instead of it being HIM? I d0n't know, just guessing.

Thanks for the new found observation. I like these learning type threads.
Rich007 said:
RonFlash said:
But to match his work, I think you need to try a few things with your CURRENT method. His method is different, notice the left and right catch lights in both eyes.
Click to expand...
I think that he is using an over-sized umbrella (or a parabolic one, like Briese) and the shadow in the middle is him... So, he gets this nice looking 'striped' catchlight... Almost like in cheetah's eye;)

--
Regards, Rich
Click to expand...
--
http://ronalcornphotography.tumblr.com/
http://ronxp2000.redbubble.com/
Click to expand...
--
Regards, Rich
 
I've seen behind the scenes videos of his work with Clooney and one actress. At the moment I can't remember where, but I do remember he was using large format camera. I also remember how emphasis in the video was on NO photoshop beautification.

I'll try to find those videos and report on his light setup.
 
Thanks for all of your comments.

@RonFlash: You are totally right with your precise listing of the differences between my photo and Martin Schoellers technique, except number 5. I used photoshop to achieve more intense color and structure of the eyes. Don't know if Mr. Schoeller uses PS on his photos - maybe not.

I try to get nearer to his technique in the future. Larger DoF, not totally white background and a different light source could be helpful in the first step.

I found an on location video of the bodybuilder series. Here you can see the two strip lights and his large format camera.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/08/behind-scenes-with-martin-schoeller.html
 
As far as I'm aware he uses kino flo lights. Usually the preserve of product shots and film. So continuous rather than flash. The look like office strip lights but that's where the resemblance ends. They are pretty much at the highest end of controlled continuous lighting. And a strip on either side of the subjects yield the darker line on the face
 
Great shot. You might improve this a bit by using a longer focal length. There seems to be a touch more facial distortion in your shot than in his shots. You might try shooting these with a 85mm lens.
 
I have to admit, i'm a fan of this work too- for about five minutes, then I wonder how it must feel to take the same photo over and over for over a decade! Here's a few suggestions I have:

Herr Schoeller's pretty much bound to be using a huge lightbank, a 5ft wide Octa or something similar, quite far from the subject (therefore giving the falloff around the edges) as opposed to your smaller brolly quite close to the subject. He'll probably have some black bounces either side, and significantly greater distance from subject to background- your portrait has a lot of spill from the background light bouncing back onto the subject.

Your focal length is close to his IMO, look at De Niro, Cheadle, Clooney- there's definitely some distortion from being close to the subject, probably his camera's standard lens.
 
Yesterday, I finally received my own copy of Schoeller's book "Close Up". Then I tried to make out the lighting setup by looking carefully at the reflections in the persons' eyes. What I saw looks pretty much like two of these Kino Flo 4Banks.

http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting%20fixtures%20with%20Remote%20ballast/4Bank,%20Double,%20Single/4bank%20select/4Bank.htm

And there is one interesting detail! In some portraits it seems like he replaced one white lamp on each bank by an orange/yellow lamp. Taking a look at the available colors this colored lamp could be a 580nm Gold lamp.

http://www.kinoflo.com/Kino%20Flo%20lamps/Visual%20Effects%20and%20Designer%20Colors/Visual%20Effects%20and%20Designer%20Colors.htm
Rahul Singh said:
As far as I'm aware he uses kino flo lights. Usually the preserve of product shots and film. So continuous rather than flash. The look like office strip lights but that's where the resemblance ends. They are pretty much at the highest end of controlled continuous lighting. And a strip on either side of the subjects yield the darker line on the face
Click to expand...
 
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