Engagement Photo Tricks

Here's a cool trick for your Engagement Photos. Using an off camera flash you can direct the light to where it works best. I like the Quantum Light with the Turbo battery along with the Pocket Wizards, but you can use your hot shoe mount flash.
The fist couple is set in a timeless scene. This could be taken on the streets of Venice. I posed them in a shaded area and used a snoot to direct the light at their faces only. Then blurred the background a little in photoshop.


The second image is captured on a hillside at an area horse farm. We had hoped for a glorious sunset, but ended up quite pleased with the photos we came away with. I set one light behind them and to the left to provide some back-lighting. The second light was in front and off to the right to illuminate the subjects. I exposed to the sky and had the bride kick up her leg.
A nice "comfort level" and good communication with the couple, are the other keys to a memorable photo.

Off Camera Flash

Here are a couple of examples of "Off Camera Flash"

So, this is an event to celebrate Jean Cruguet's 70th Birthday, jockey of the great Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. In the middle of this huge catered spread, is an outstanding ice sculpture of a horse in a horse shoe. Like some incredible crystal trophy. I'm sitting at a table enjoying the asparagus spears and lobster bites, and I visualize this shot. Only problem is that there are about 200 people gathered around. But hey, the guy's 70. How many more chances will you get.
So I wait. And have dessert. When the crowd thins out, I go to work. I set up the Quantum light to the camera left so it hits the subject and just feathers the ice. I add another hot shoe strobe BEHIND the ice, to give it some pop. I want it to appear like the ice is lighting Jean's face. Put 'em both on pocket wizards and have my loyal assistant, (daughter Amy, aka "Slave Labor"), hold up a reflector just outside the frame to fill the shadows. I need the background to go away, so I've got to kill the overheads.
All set. Now I just need to steal Jean away from the 14 beautiful young women that are his new best friends...before the ice melts. I show him where to stand, get about 6 frames, and we're done. Jean's not a tall guy, so I have to shoot up at him a bit to give him some prominence.

This is a very easy way to add a little depth to your photography. Here I am using a Quantum light and battery pack with a pocket wizard to trigger the light. I have the light set camera left at about 45 degrees. My assistant is holding a reflector just out of the frame to the subjects' right. This throws a little light back into the shadows. I set the camera for a slooow shutter speed to pick up the background ambiance.

JD's Lighting Workshop

JD Mitchell, with Hammond Communications, put on a great Lighting Workshop a couple of weeks ago. Among the tools he had at his disposal were a number of lights and backdrops. These three images illustrate the same model with very different backdrops and some lighting changes. This first one uses the main front light, with a large soft box, placed low. We used a rear light placed high to provide some rim lighting. Exposure in Manual, 1/125 sec @ f/5.6, iso 100 (85mm f/1.2 lens)

This second image uses a little higher intensity light, again using a large soft box to diffuse the light, and a light gray backdrop. An overhead hair light soft box and a reflector hand held under the model's face was also used. A fan provided the movement. Exposure in Manual, 1/125 sec @ f/11, iso 100 (85mm f/1.2 lens)

This third image is taken under the same conditions as the second, then adjusted in Lightroom to achieve a high-key posterized effect. The three photos illustrate the dramatically different results that you can obtain with just a few adjustments.





Pocket Wizards were used between the camera and the main light. The main light then acted as a master for the other slave lights. Several people were needed for the second shot, to hold the reflector, the fan, and of course the camera. Model: Hayli Alyce, Photos: MW

Painting with Light

Life Magazine Classic Photo of Pablo Picasso. The picture was shot by photographer Gjon Mili in Vallauris, France in 1949. The photo shows us Picasso in a different but interesting and original setting.






My daughter, Sarah, painting with a small flashlight. This fun little idea can have some very interesting real world applications. Of course, you have to learn to write your name backwards!

When you think of "Painting with Light" you might think of spreading a light beam ONTO an otherwise dark subject. But, if you let the actual light do the story telling, the results can create a new perspective.

This is a simple technique using the "Rear or Second-Curtain Sync" setting on your flash or as a custom function in your camera if using an older flash. Second-Curtain Sync forces the flash to fire at the end of the exposure rather than at the beginning. In a dark environment, use a tripod and select a long Shutter Priority, or "Bulb", exposure to create a dramatic effect.

Imagine the many subjects that could be enhanced with this technique. Perhaps a Bride and Groom on the dance floor with a few light trails right before the flash, the departure from the reception with some sparklers showing some movement right before the image is frozen, a stage production.

Use your imagination, and your camera settings, to put your vision in a new perspective.