Our trip to the East was a really fun experience. I want to share a few of the images we made on the trip and discuss them as far as lighting and generally what we were doing.
This trip took us on planes, trains, automobiles and boats. Every mode of transportation… all over the northeast.
The workshops were fun, the people were great. And the temperatures were certainly something two people who live in the hot southwest were glad to experience.
Our first image was taken in Galveston, Texas, at the Houston Workshop. It is a totally natural light shot with a bit of reflector added for fill. One of the things we did was to show how the reflectors can be used in harsh light without hurting the model’s eyes. The reflector in this instance is at least 20′ away and aimed to just brush a little light on her. The back light is the sun.
This shot is of Bri in a doorway on the beach at Galveston. I placed her on the shadow line so we could get a bit of top light from the sun, but not too much. Additionally there are two strobes, one on each side of her, matching the sunlight of the background of the image. The background was around f-16 at 1/125 so we shot at that setting and brought our strobes in to a distance that would render f-16 from them.
The slightly wide angle lens lets me grab some of the environment and Briana’s delightful dancing within the frame of the shot was compelling. (NOTE: She was very aware of the space behind her and worked to ‘fill the frame’ as the model.)
Our next shot was taken in Chicago after we got to the hotel. I wanted to do something a little different and Bri was up for anything. So I had her dress casually and we went out to look for something right around the hotel. We were meeting the folks from the workshop in an hour so we wanted to do a shot right around the area there.
This shot was begun as the clouds were really amazing and I wanted to get that stormy look behind her. Alas, as we got across the parking lot, got the camera out and attached the Flash, the clouds, which had been dramatic from the time we got there, simply blew away. Amazing.
Briana is on a light post and I am laying down in the grass. I wanted the feeling of her in the air. You can see another shot on her “Model Behavior” page on Performance, but this shot has her swinging on the light post.
I used a wide angle lens to get the background and to create an interesting perspective. I added the glow of the lights in Photoshop. For light I used a 430EZ on a cable and held it out to the side as far as I could get it. It wont work with the digital cameras on anything but manual, and I prefer that. I rarely use flash in any mode other than manual. I matched the sunlight with the strobe and we shot the images.
This shot was taken on the north side of a building during the Chicago workshop. I added a wink of strobe to the shot and also had a reflector at a distance for some soft fill. I wanted to let the background simply blow out, so we worked within the ranges to allow that. Exposing for the lesser amount of light in the shadows and letting the background go about 2-3 stops overexposed.
I used a longer lens to compress the image and also to let the background go very soft from the DOF of a fairly wide open long lens. I also kept my angle close to the ground. This lengthens her legs and lets me get more background instead of pavement.
These two Chicago headshots were taken in natural light as Bri leaned against a building with her back to the sun. There was a tree there and it was passing on some dappled sunlight on the wall behind her. I moved her into that space as it was making some nice patterns on her as the light moved between the leaves. Her face was totally lit by north light and two large, light colored buildings behind me.
Exposing for the face and letting the back light do what it will is a style that I love. It seems warm and natural to me. If you have enough ambient, it can really be fun. Adding a fill card can help, but in some situations there is all the light you need right there.
Bri in color:
This shot was taken at the same time, but I did some Photoshop work to bring up the contrast and add to the mood. Remember, this is totally natural light, and I am exposing for the face… making sure it is not being compromised by sunlight dripping onto it. Bri in black and white.
The photoshop work included curves adjustments for contrast and some luminance masking.
Our last shot was done in Boston and is a headshot of Briana taken during the discussion on creating a shot with only one light. There are fill cards on both sides of her in front and a single light above her from the back. The back light spills on to the fill cards and lights the face. Focus was intentional, and I thought it was kind of fun. This shot was a total on the fly pic. She laughed and I clicked. Memorable shots happen that way sometimes.
Part Two will share some images from Maine and Halifax workshops. See you then.
