Experiments with the studio and lighting.

This, folks, is the result of lighting fairly high (giving a slight gradient to the backdrop) with hard light on the right and softer light on the left, removing most of the shadows but creating a blend across my face.

Canon Speedlight pointed as ceiling using ETTL.
Jessops 300D on right hand side of image set to 25%.
Digital Concepts slave flash pointed straight at me with hood over it.

I’m sitting on a drum stool and in front of a pop-up backdrop (white one side, black the other).