Low key portraits.. DIY soft light?

[ambuletz]

Right, I want to play around and do a low key self portrait. I understand the principle behind it, I've had a play around and managed a photo using my table lamp. I figure however that it might look better if I had a larger, much softer light source. Anyone got any suggestions on how to do this? Now I don't own a flash, I'll have to make do with using a table lamp a floor lamp (the type that points up to the ceiling). I know its just a case of fiddling about and experimenting to see what works. But does anyone have any thoughts that they could share that might help?
Thanks.

[K12beano]

Big mirror, or white wall, or both. Bounce a spotlight off it.

That way you can spread the light in different ways.

Black and white, saves any White Balance problems.....

[Simpo Two]

ambuletz said:

I've had a play around and managed a photo using my table lamp.

That alone is worthy of a medal; most of us have to use cameras

ambuletz said:

I figure however that it might look better if I had a larger, much softer light source. Anyone got any suggestions on how to do this? Now I don't own a flash, I'll have to make do with using a table lamp a floor lamp (the type that points up to the ceiling).

You're right that the larger the illuminated area the softer the light, but the wider you spread the light, the weaker it gets so one domestic lamp is going to need quite an exposure. That said my father took a self-portrait of himself with one candle - and that was on film, so it can be done.

K12beano said:

Big mirror, or white wall, or both. Bounce a spotlight off it.

A white wall works well (now where did Beano get that idea from?!). A mirror won't diffuse the light though.

The nice thing about light is that it travels in straight lines and is entirely predictable, so lends itself well to 'trial and error'.