Any Ideas how to recreate this??

[Joshua Thomas]

I'm a photography student who has an important portrait project coming up, I want to capture simple black and white film portraits in the style of Richard Avedon, I love the low contrast, soft emotion...any Idea how to get these results? I have lots of lighting equipment at my disposal, but no idea what or where or how to use it...any ideas?

[Asylum Steve]

I want to capture simple black and white film portraits in the style of Richard Avedon...any Idea how to get these results?

Welcome to the site, Joshua. First of all, you need to get your photo terms straight. This classic Avedon shot of Taylor has of course relatively high contrast, not low. Yes there are soft transitions, but the overall range from light to dark is great. And while her expression is soft, the lighting is quite hard (note the shadow under her nose).

Note the catchlight in Taylor's eyes. Looks like a single light, possibly bounced into a medium umbrella. Its position is not too much higher than the subject's eye level (again note the nose shadow).

Avedon's lighting was usually very simple, as it is here. The impact of his images often was more the result of styling and the expressions of his subject.

Hope that helps...