Las Vegas photo session with a model, using video light – model: Taylor B
While in Las Vegas recently, I met up with Taylor B, who is a photographer and model … and also follows the Tangents blog. For a photo session, I decided I would like the glamor and glitz of one of the lobby areas of one of the big Vegas hotels. Taylor’s outfit certainly matched the glitz. Shooting inside the hotel lobby though, I also knew we’d get kicked out immediately if security spotted us. So I took it as a challenge to see if we could surreptitiously shoot without getting shunted out.
Still loving the Litepanels Croma LED video light (B&H) that I showed in the recent review, I decided it might just be the right lighting tool for the job. My friends Nick & Deb graciously tagged along to help, and also provide a bit of cover, while we hung out as a group and mingled.
Instead of working with a light-stand or a monopod, I simply had Nick hand-hold the light as soon as Taylor and I were ready to shoot.
I would decided on a good background and a good spot to do a quick series of photos. Then I would pose Taylor, and Nick would then switch on the video light for a very brief time while I shot a few images with as little movement as I could. I would adjust Taylor’s pose a little, shoot another few frames, and then Nick would switch the light off.
Fun stuff and a challenge. I think it worked. The photograph at the top is one of several spots where we got some very interesting images.
What made the difference, is that the Litepanels Croma LED video light (B&H) allows you to change the White Balance smoothly between Incandescent and Daylight.
Where we were standing here, the light was probably close to Daylight. But I wanted that dramatic cool shift in the color of the display … so I turned the video light to Incandescent WB. (Of course, in turn, I changed my camera’s WB setting to match the light on my subject.)
In a way, all this was reminiscent of the photo session with Anelisa in the shopping mall, when I tested the Fuji X100. We needed to go unnoticed, and still get a few killer images. The video light made the difference.
equipment used during this photo session
Nikon D4 (B&H)
Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G lens (B&H)
Litepanels Croma LED video light (B&H)
camera settings: 1/160 @ f/2 @ 1600 ISO
related articles
- review: Litepanels Croma variable color temperature LED video light
- video clip – tutorial on using an LED video light
- review: LitePanels MicroPro LED video light
- further articles on using video light for photography
photography books by Neil vN
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My immediate reaction to this shot was WOW!
And – shooting in such circumstances – WOW!
The hotel should have considered itself lucky to have had your patronage in this instance. These shots prove that not every great portrait photograph needs a studio with all the kit. Makes me want to check out the hotel lobbies here in Sydney.
WOW!
Comment by Roy Barnes — March 18, 2013 @ 6:31 am
Oh I really like that image. And thanks for the reco and info on how you shot it. I do need to get a hold of a video light. I’ve been talking about it for probably a year and still haven’t gotten one.
Comment by Yasmeen Anderson — March 18, 2013 @ 2:22 pm
ROCKIN’!!!
Comment by Ann Steward — March 18, 2013 @ 3:36 pm
Are there any less expensive leds that come close to this quality?
Comment by chaim meiersdorf — March 18, 2013 @ 4:31 pm