If a single light source yields dramatic images, two sources yield more realistic ones. The shots become less about the light and more about other factors: poses, expressions, backgrounds, surroundings, etc. This exercise still requires a single dominant light source (the sun), but asks you to use a second one as well. Unless you are in a studio, more than two light sources is not a good idea because you lose control over the light and your shot.
Step I
Load a roll of 12 exposures and set your ASA to 100. You don’t need to use the 50 ASA setting because you will soften the shadows another way.
Step II
Get two friends and go outside behind MLC to the loading dock area. Take along one of our large white reflectors.
Step III
Pick the background first: the ironwoods, ‘iliahi, spider lilly, MLC, the AC pump area. Avoid sky as a background for this exercise.
Step IV
Position your subject in full sun, not the shade. Ask the person to turn so that the sun is striking just one half of his or her face, just like the exercise with the single light source. Pay attention. Do you want the sun to hit just the flat of the cheeks or maybe the nose as well? One eye or two? Angle is important here.
Step V
Meter carefully. Be careful to avoid metering the sky, which would throw off your reading.
Step VI
Use the reflector to bounce sunlight into the shadow areas, to fill them in, so that they are not as deep and harsh. You will need the help of a second friend for this part.
Step VII
Take twelve shots of your subject. Again, bracket exposures every three shots. Vary the poses as well.
What should you see?
Don’t expect anything dramatic. These shots should be more “printable” than ordinary sunlight portraits, however. You shouldn’t need to use such a low filter.
Look carefully at shadow areas, such as the place right under the chin or the eyesockets. If the reflector is held corectly, there should still be shadows, but they won’t be as dark as before. More details (called “shadow details”) should be visible.
Overall, tones should appear more even and contrast should seem less harsh. There will be more middle, gray tones helping to bridge the wide gap between white and black extremes.