photo shoot: haunted fashion (using video lights)

The previous time I photographed Anna was at a pin-up photo session. I had the opportunity again to photograph her and other models again last night … but in a completely different style and setting this time. The Valley Hudson Click group arranged a Haunted Fashion theme for this photo session.

Instead of using flash, I opted to use video lights instead – Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H).  For some images I used a single light, and for others I used two lights – one to light up the model, and the other to light up the background or to give rim-light or light on the background.  The video lights worked very well in giving a dramatic light which could easily be controlled.  This way we could move around and change poses and backgrounds much more easily than a static setup.

The photo at the top was enhanced with Topaz Adjust.  The main adjustment involved an HDR action (in Topaz Adjust), at reduced opacity and changing the blending mode to ‘pin light’.  Here is the un-edited image as comparison, and to give a more fair idea of the effect of the video light.

Camera settings and details:
1/160 @ f3.2 @ 800 ISO … Daylight WB.
Nikon D3;  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 AF-S (B&H);
Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H)

This is another reason why the LED video lights are so great.  You can add a gel to warm it up; or add another gel to turn it into a Tungsten light source.  Without the gels that easily clip in and out, the LED light is close to Daylight White Balance.  Very flexible.  Here I oped to use the LED light as a Daylight balanced light source.

And for comparison again, here is the same setup but without the video light, just to make it easier to see the effect of the video light.

A pull-back shot to show the approximate positioning of the video light:

Another few cool photographs:

Here I had my assistant-with-an-attitude, Jessica, hold up two lights – one light for my model, and the other as an attempt at rim-lighting.  Jessica just didn’t quite have the wingspan to reach with both lights … so the rim-light is now more of an off-center accent light on Anna’s hair.  It still works in creating some separation from the background.

camera details and settings:
1/125 @ f3.5 @ 800 ISO … two LED video lights; Daylight WB
Nikon D3;  Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S II (B&H)
Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H)

The pull-back shot:

And the comparison photograph without any additional light.  It may appear a touch darker, since the light was fading while we were shooting, and I shot this at the end of this particular sequence.

Two photographs of another model, Amy:

Part of this mini-golf course was this tunnel with laser lights that rotated. I posed Amy in there, and then set one of the video lights at the far tunnel to lift the dark background.

Camera settings: 2 seconds @ f8 @ 800 ISO … Daylight WB.
Nikon D3;  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 AF-S (B&H);
Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H)

I needed the slow shutter speed so that the lasers would leave patterns. My tripod was in the car, and I wasn’t in the mood to run to fetch it, so I rested the camera against the video light pouch on the ground. This was stable enough to give a sharp image with the camera’s self-timer.

Another photograph I really liked was where Amy was laying back on one of the carpeted areas.  The carpet glows under ‘black light’ / UV light and had this crazy colorful pattern.  I stood over Amy to take this photograph.

Camera settings: 1/40 @ f3.5 @ 1000 ISO
Nikon D3;  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 AF-S (B&H);
Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H)

Thank you again to Peter Salo and Nuby and Sandy for arranging this event. If you are in the Hudson Valley, NY area, do check their schedule out. They have exciting plans for future events.

Equipment used during this shoot:
Nikon D3;  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 AF-S (B&H)
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S II (B&H)
Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H)

more articles on using video light for photography …

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If you find these articles interesting and of value, then you can help by
using these affiliate links to order equipment & other goodies. Thank you!