Got interested in split lighting after seeing dramatic portrait shots online. Thought it looked badass with that sharp line cutting across the face. Pulled out my gear:
- One cheap DSLR with kit lens
- Two old flash units
- Black bedsheet as backdrop
- Wooden stool for the model
First Attempt Was a Mess
Positioned the main light dead left of my buddy’s face. Forgot barn doors exist so I taped cardboard around the flash. Hit the shutter and nearly blinded him. Picture came out half his face pure white and half pure black with zero detail. Looked like someone slapped ink on him.
Dug through settings while my model rubbed his eyes. Dropped flash power way low and shoved a napkin in front as diffuser. This time shadows went muddy instead of sharp. That crisp line? Gone. Felt like kicking the tripod.
Shoving Things Around
Moved the light higher and angled downward real steep. Used my other flash behind him for rim lighting but aimed wrong – created this weird halo that ruined the split effect. Messed with camera angles too. Had my buddy turn his head millimeter by millimeter like a slow robot.
Key moment came when I blocked stray light with a cookbook. Finally got that knife-edge shadow cutting nose to chin. Dark side stayed mysterious, lit side showed skin texture. Background? Pitch black thanks to closing all curtains. Didn’t need fancy equipment, just stubbornness.
What Actually Worked
Final setup was stupid simple:
- Single flash at eye level, 90 degrees sideways
- Model facing light source straight-on
- Diffusion tissue clipped with binder clip
- ISO cranked way down to kill ambient light
Realized split lighting ain’t about perfection. That hard shadow line makes even mistakes look dramatic. My favorite shot has him smirking with half his face swallowed by darkness. Looks like he’s planning something evil. Who needs professional gear when duct tape and persistence work?
