The second workshop here in the UK, (also sold out), was another full day of work work work and fun. With both the Brighton and Birmingham workshops, I mixed up the format again, bringing the practical parts of the workshop into the early morning seminar. This way the lecture-style seminar in the morning is broken up into various parts during the day, interleaved with more time with cameras in hand. I feel it works better than having the entire morning taken up by the seminar presentation, and I will most likely keep this format in future, with maybe a few more changes. As ever, the format and the material keeps on evolving ..
From the afternoon session where we used softboxes with manual flash – we brought both models together for part of the one session. And yes, the models did indeed stop the pedestrian traffic.
Some more technical details about this image …
We used two softboxes, each with a Nikon SB-900 speedlight set to manual. We used one softbox to camera left, and one softbox behind them as a rim light. That softbox was held up high, in about a 1 o’clock position to camera right .. juuust out of shot. (The flash behind them was the same power and distance as the main light.)
Camera settings were determined by how bright we wanted the background. Without flash, the models were completely under-exposed. This made it easy to light them with the softboxes. And we purposely positioned them there in this pedestrian walkway between the shops.
Camera settings: 1/200th @ f4 @ 200 ISO … which were chosen so that our background exposed properly. Then we added manual flash in softboxes, and we metered for this to give us f4 @ 200 ISO, by using flashmeters and changing the power setting on the speeflights.
The background brightness did vary a fair amount as clouds moved in and out. So the background does appear a bit darker .. but that’s the beauty of using manual flash here .. it stays the same. We could of course compensate to an extent for the background brightness by changing our shutter speed – our only independent control for ambient light. (Changing ISO and aperture for the ambient light, would also change the exposure for manual flash.)
Thank you to everyone who attended the workshops, and thank you to our two amazing models.
i attended this workshop. i immediately felt at ease when neil entered the room – he has such a warmth about him that i think everyone feels immediately.
i came in not knowing much about flash – for some reason this has always confused me and befuddled me. i picked up a lot of great knowledge and information that i hope to incorporate in my work as soon as possible – now all the books and dvd’s i have about lighting will make more sense.
neil forced me to learn, but in a good way – i have come out of this workshop much more confident and eager to learn more. i would have probably liked to have had more time with him, a two day workshop would have been even better (only because it takes me longer to absorb and process new info).
neil – i very much enjoyed your workshop, it was money well spent and i hope to show you some work using this new knowledge very soon!
take care,
tami curtis
p.s. your daughter is adorable!
Comment by tami curtis — August 1, 2009 @ 3:14 am
wOw first photo is aweesome
Comment by Mark S — August 1, 2009 @ 6:40 am
I’ve returned to look at this one image over and over. Your work is always solid, good and innovative….but there is something special about this I just like to come see it again.
Comment by Donna Blundell — August 1, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Yes it’s a great picture. The focal point however is the second girl’s bottom. Great pose :)
Comment by Den — August 1, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
wow…….that correctly exposed shot is great…..like Donna says….I have looked at it several times………nice.
Comment by Keith House — August 1, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Quote: “And yes, the models did indeed stop the pedestrian traffic.”
I can see why (Den you are so right) very nice indeed! Hey! I mean the photo. :-D
Kind regards,
David
Comment by David — August 1, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Comment by Neil — August 1, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
Den and David – no comments!:P
To Neil – thank you very much for inviting me to your workshop. It was hard, long but great day! I really enjoyed it.
You are true master and great teacher:)
Comment by Yulia — August 1, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Quote: “Look at the lighting, dammitt! Look at the lighting!”
Lighting, what lighting? Hadn’t noticed any lighting, was bit distracted, oh that lighting! Yes lovely, really great lighting,
now back to business! There’s a mystery to solve, got too get to the bottom of what this photo is all about. :oD
David
Comment by David — August 1, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
Hi Neil,
I attended this workshop also and want to second Tami’s thoughts on it, it was a great day and I learned a lot. Most of the theory side of things had well and truly sunk in by reading you post over and over before but the workshop went beyond just theory, you gave us lots of insights into the way you work and some of the thoughts you have during shoots and this is invaluable. But I think what was most valuable to me was seeing that what I’ve been doing wasn’t wrongbut just needed refining to get the best out of the lighting and situation.
It was also great being able to work with profressional models, even if I did have to share them with everyone else! The models were great, easy to get along with and very professional – good choice.
I’ve put a few pics of the day on flickr, they can be viewed here.
Many thanks, Steve
Comment by Steve — August 1, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
Absolutely fantastic combination of Flash and available light. Thank you.
I do not have small softboxes, but I do have a pair of same power flashes and I am wondering; Do you have any samples using Flashes without softboxes? and is there a large different in results?
Regards,
Michael
Comment by Michael — August 3, 2009 @ 9:50 am
Comment by Neil — August 3, 2009 @ 11:52 am
Since I cannot make it your workshops I have to settle on the book I guess. I hope that arrives on time, so I can learn quick :)
Actually I am really looking forward to it.
Comment by Rene Skrodzki — August 3, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Hi Neil
Thanks for a great post again. Will greatly admire a little clarification on the following -
“Camera settings: 1/200th @ f4 @ 200 ISO … which were chosen so that our background exposed properly. Then we added manual flash in softboxes, and we metered for this to give us f4 @ 200 ISO, by using flashmeters and changing the power setting on the speeflights”
If Camera settings (1/200th, f4, ISO200) were already chosen , what readings did flashmeter give. Does flahsmeter tell about the power of flash to be adjusted. I am really trying to learn about using flashmeters. So it would help.
Thanks.
-MP
Comment by Mohanpreet Singh — August 3, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Hi Neil,
Congratulation on another fabulous workshop session.
Hi MP,
I think what Neil meant was to adjust the flash’s power until the flash meter read f4.
Ben
Comment by Ben Hui — August 3, 2009 @ 11:53 pm
As another attendee of this workshop I can also vouch for the great day! I’ve been following Neil’s blog for some time and was VERY happy to see he was coming to the UK, to the point where I ended up travelling many thousands of miles (due to work) to ensure I made it!
Thanks again Neil, it was a cracking day!
Some of my shots from the day can be found here
Comment by Paul Kelly — August 5, 2009 @ 7:01 am
ABSOLUTELY GUTTED that I had to miss this one. Right on my door step, basically in my living room!!! And to make it worse I didn’t even pass by that spot, one of my mostly frequented routes!
Comment by Damian Brown — August 13, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Hello Neil.
I am curious, can results be achieved the same with white umbrella stands or is softbox “must have” ?
Thanks
Comment by Sash — August 17, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Comment by Neil — October 18, 2009 @ 2:15 pm