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Recreate a classic look
Take inspiration from a classic image by one of the masters of photography. Trying to shoot portraits with the distinctive look and style of one of these can be a great way to learn new techniques. In particular, trying to reproduce similar lighting styles will help you develop and hone new skills. With practice and experimentation, you can eventually develop your own distinctive style.
BAILEY STYLE
David Bailey’s distinctive 1960s portraits have a timeless feel and should be on everyone’s list of styles to recreate. His use of lighting and bold composition made him one of the world’s best-known portrait photographers. Here, three studio lights were used to light the subject and ensure a pure white backdrop, while a slightly higher than eye-level viewpoint, with the subject tilted forward, ensured a strong composition. The three lights each served very different purposes. The rear light was aimed at the backdrop and set to high power to ensure a pure white background. The main light, to the front and right of the subject, illuminated the right side of the face, while a third, to the left, provided edge detail to the subject’s left cheek.
Canon EOS-1D MkII, 24–70mm lens, 1/200 sec at f/16, ISO 100.