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