Lighting Lesson 05

This beautiful outdoor portrait was done easily with two nikon speedlights. As the diagram above shows I sat my subject down with the sun shinning at her from behind and to camera right. I added one SB 600 in a soft box as a main light to camera left. I then used my SB 800 on camera as a fill and master. Both flashes are set to ttl mode. The camera is set to manual and I under expose the background by -2 stops. I have to use +2 on the main light to compensate for the soft box and +.07 on the fill because I used Gary Fong's Lightshere pointed directly at the subject. The result is a perfectly exposed background with a subject that pops out of the picture with great wrap around modeling light.

Lighting Lesson 04

Simple lighting techniques and attention to details will give you great results. Today my self assignment was to take a simple household article, light it and make it interesting. In this case tasty, I hope. I started with a tea cup and saucer and placed them on glass suspended on a small table top with books. I like this technique because it affords you opportunity to light your subject from below if you want. In this particular case I used a SB 600 in a soft box at ttl +1 for my main light. I used one SB 800 on camera bounced behind me set on ttl +1 as a fill light. I then added one SB 600 with CTO gel and a gobbo set at ttl -1 to light my background. The gobbo is used to restrict light spill on my subject. I used the hottest tea possible to my tea cup but I still didn't have the steaming hot tea effect I wanted. I took the image and then added the steam in photoshop with layers. I handheld my Nikon D3 and used iso 640. Camera settings were f-16 at 1/80th sec. using 24-70mmAF-S mm Nikkor lens set to 70mm. Click on image to enlarge and you will see the faint hint of steaming hot tea for a most realistic look.

Autumn Foliage

Saturday Wendy and I took a ride to Kindzua Dam in Pennsylvania. The leaves still haven't turned color and probably need another 2 weeks to peak. The trip was still worth the effort. It was perfect weather and the scenic vistas were wonderful. The image above was of the Allegheny Reservoir and a good example. Click on image to enlarge.

A different look...

Here is a great technique I learned from the strobist at http://strobist.blogspot.com/. I set my cameras white balance to incandescent. Camera set to iso 100 at 1/250th sec. at 6.3 which is exactly -2 stops less then the sunlight coming in from the right of my subject. I then added an orange gel to a SB 600 set at ttl +.03 as my main light and another SB 600 rim lighting the left side of my subject. This added blue cast to my image but left my subjects skin normal. Cool look don't you think?

Fall Harvest

Beautiful skies are over Niagara County today. Autumn is here and the fall colors are approaching quickly. I plan on getting out to shoot some fall foliage this weekend.

Portraits Outdoors

This is my older brother, Robert. He is my best friend. He supports me in everything I do. Gives me drive and purpose to my life and is just generally there for me when ever I need him. The image above is an example of what I mean. I had an idea in mind of something I wanted to try out and I didn't have the proper equipment. My SB 800 is on the fritz and I knew brother owned one too. I text messaged him and asked he bring over his flash unit. He was at our studio within an hours time with flash in hand. I set the settings on his flash to give me approx. -2.5 stops fill light and used a SB 600 at ttl +.3 in a soft box for a main light. I said now I need a model and outside we walked into the back yard and I took this image. Now that is a brother. The 2 flashes balanced with daylight gives his face nice modeling and a 3D quality to the image.

I guess I'll have to break down and buy a new SB 800 this picture is good.

Spooky Promo

Summer has ended and fall is here. Our special this month is about Halloween. Ghoul Portraits.
Come in costume, bring your pumpkin or jack o lantern as long as it implies Halloween. Dress as scary as you want and your session is free. Yes...I said FREE. That is a $25 savings. Prints may be purchased from that session at our regular prices. Just mention the promo code when you book your appointment and receive your $25 free ghoul session. Promo Code is : "Gone Batty"