* Mood: Dramatic, moody, and slightly somber.
* Lighting: High contrast, with deep shadows and a distinct highlight area.
* Focus: Sharp focus on the eyes.
* Background: Dark, probably near black.
* Color: Likely desaturated or grayscale.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Gear You'll Need:
* Camera: DSLR or Mirrorless with manual controls (aperture, shutter speed, ISO).
* Lens: A portrait lens is ideal (50mm, 85mm, or similar), but a zoom lens will work too.
* Light Source: This is key! You have several options, each with slightly different results:
* Studio Strobe/Flash: Gives you precise control and plenty of power.
* Speedlight (On-Camera Flash): More portable but less powerful. Use off-camera if possible.
* Continuous Light: An LED panel or a tungsten lamp. Easier to see the effect in real-time, but generally less powerful.
* Modifier (Crucial!): This shapes the light. Here are the best options for this look:
* Small Softbox (12x16" or similar): Creates a slightly softer but still directional light.
* Reflector: (White, silver, or gold) To Bounce the light from the original source to fill in dark spots, if desired.
* Snoot: Very directional, creates a spot of light. Good for a very dramatic effect.
* Grid: Attaches to a softbox or reflector, narrowing the beam of light. Excellent control!
* Light Stand: To hold your light.
* Black Background: A black backdrop (fabric, paper, or even a dark wall). Make sure it's matte to avoid reflections.
* Optional:
* Grey Card: For accurate white balance.
* Light Meter: For precise exposure readings (especially with strobes).
2. Setting Up the Scene:
* Background: Position your subject a good distance (at least 3-4 feet) away from the black background. This helps ensure the background stays dark and out of focus.
* Camera:
* Use manual mode.
* Set your aperture to a relatively wide setting (e.g., f/2.8, f/4, or f/5.6) to create a shallow depth of field and blur the background.
* Set your ISO to the lowest possible setting (usually ISO 100) to minimize noise.
* Choose a shutter speed that is appropriate for your lighting situation. If you're using flash, your shutter speed will be limited to your camera's flash sync speed (usually around 1/200th or 1/250th of a second). With continuous light, you can use a faster shutter speed.
* Lighting: This is the most critical part! Here are a few options for light placement:
* Option 1: Short Lighting (Classic Moody Look): Place the light *slightly* behind and to the *side* of your subject, angled towards their face. The side of the face furthest from the light will be in shadow. This creates a dramatic and flattering look.
* Option 2: Rembrandt Lighting: Position the light to create a small triangle of light on the cheek opposite the light source. This is another classic and effective method.
* Option 3: Above and slightly in front: Place the light a little above the subject, slightly in front. This is more of a general placement. If the angle is correct, and the person being photographed tilts their face to the light, you will get good lighting.
3. Focusing and Composition:
* Focus: Focus *precisely* on the subject's *eyes*. Use single-point autofocus or manual focus for best results.
* Composition: Consider the crop. A head-and-shoulders shot or a slightly wider shot that includes the upper body can work well. Think about the rule of thirds. Experiment!
4. Taking the Shot:
* Metering:
* With a Light Meter: Take a reading of the light falling on your subject's face. Adjust your camera settings or the light's power to achieve the desired exposure.
* Without a Light Meter: Take a test shot and review it on your camera's LCD screen. Pay attention to the histogram. You want the highlights to be bright but not blown out (clipping). Adjust your aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or light power as needed until you get the exposure you want.
* Shoot in RAW: This gives you the most flexibility in post-processing.
* Take Multiple Shots: Experiment with slight variations in posing, expression, and lighting.
5. Post-Processing (Crucial for the Final Look):
* Software: Use Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or similar photo editing software.
* Basic Adjustments:
* Exposure: Adjust the overall brightness if needed.
* Contrast: Increase contrast to enhance the dramatic look.
* Highlights: Pull down the highlights slightly to recover detail.
* Shadows: Lift the shadows *carefully* if needed, but avoid overdoing it. You want to maintain the deep shadows.
* Whites and Blacks: Adjust these sliders to set the white and black points in your image.
* Color:
* Desaturation: Reduce the saturation to create a more muted or monochrome look. You can go all the way to grayscale if you prefer.
* Color Grading: Experiment with color grading to add a subtle tint to the image (e.g., a cool blue or a warm sepia tone).
* Sharpening: Apply a moderate amount of sharpening, especially to the eyes.
* Vignetting: Add a subtle vignette to darken the edges of the image and draw attention to the subject.
* Dodge and Burn: Use dodge and burn tools to selectively lighten or darken specific areas of the image. For example, you might dodge the eyes to make them brighter or burn the background to make it darker.
* Noise Reduction: If necessary, apply noise reduction to clean up any digital noise in the image.
Tips for Success:
* Subject Communication: Direct your subject clearly. Encourage them to relax and express genuine emotions.
* Experiment: Don't be afraid to try different light positions, modifiers, and camera settings.
* Study the Inspiration Image: Analyze the lighting, composition, and mood of the image you're trying to emulate.
* Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you shoot, the better you'll become at understanding light and creating compelling portraits.
* Consider Catchlights: The placement of your light will determine the location and shape of the catchlights (the highlights in the eyes). Well-placed catchlights add life and sparkle to the portrait.
By following these steps and experimenting with different techniques, you can create stunning and dramatic portraits using just a single light. Remember that the key is to understand how light works and to use it creatively to achieve the desired mood and effect. Good luck!