Profoto: How to use gridded strip boxes as the main light
Profoto: How to use gridded strip boxes as the main light
My favorite light modifiers when working with studio-type flashes like the Profoto B1 and D1, are gridded stripboxes. In the studio where I have space, I tend to prefer the larger Profoto 1’x6’ strip-box (affiliate). When I have to travel with gear, or work with kids, then the Profoto 1’x4’ strip-box (affiliate), is my preference. Both of them with a grid on them. That egg-crate grid on the front helps control how the light spills. This video explains how I use them as the main light, and what makes gridded stripboxes such Read more inside...video: Intimate male portraiture – two perspectives
Intimate male portraiture - two perspectives
This video clip and photo shoot are the results of a discussion with a friend, Cate Scaglione, one of New Jersey's best boudoir photographers. At a photography convention, the topic came up whether male and female photographers approach their subjects differently (whether male or female). My take on this is that there is such a diverse range in styles and skill levels, that it would be impossible to make any clear grouping on styles depending on the photographer’s gender. Cate believes this does have an influence. And from that, the idea Read more inside...Photo session – Intimate male portraiture
Photo session - Intimate male portraiture
The motive behind this photo session with Nick Mathews, is explained in the intro of the behind-the-scenes video clip of the photo session. One subject, one studio, two photographers and two different styles. We shot this in Cate's studio - she used available light, and I ended up using two Profoto B1 flashes (affiliate), and gridded stripboxes to control the light. The video clip shows some of how we directed Nick during the shoot, and as a professional model and actor, he was supremely easy to work with. With this article, I'd like to Read more inside...Basic photo retouching
Basic photo retouching
I do like the concept of 'getting it right in camera', but I am nowhere near being a purist about it. Before posting images online and in my wedding and portrait blog, I do some skin retouching and basic cleaning up. Before posting images for clients in a Facebook album, I also do some basic retouching. Mild skin retouching, and then cleaning up extraneous things that distract. Just a general sweetening of the photo. Nothing too labor intensive. Most photographs can benefit from some thought about how to clean it up a bit to give it even more impact by removing Read more inside...video: Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Stingray City, Grand Cayman
We took one of the organized trips out to the sandbar in Grand Cayman, where large groups of stingrays converge at what is known as Stingray City. Walking on the sandbar, you are surrounded by stingrays. (They come for the bits of squid that the tour groups bring.) I've been told this should be on everyone's bucket list, and I agree. It was an incredible experience for me since I've had a deep lifelong fascination for nature and animals. This is how I got into photography in the first place as a youngster - wanting to record the wild birds that I Read more inside...Which direction to bounce on-camera flash?
Which direction to bounce on-camera flash?
When photographing any kind of portrait with on-camera bounce flash, my main consideration is that I want flattering light. For example, this photo of the bride dancing with her dad, I want flattering light to illuminate her face. It should be obvious that I decided to bounce the flash towards camera-right, so that the light comes in from that direction. I don't want to light up the side of her head. I want to light up her face. This means that as the couple rotate, I will continually adjust the direction that I bounce my flash into. This Read more inside...Controversial photography
Controversial photography
Ever wonder how controversial it is to just write and maintain a photography blog?! You'd think that mainly writing about photography techie stuff should be a fairly non-controversial thing. And yet, in the by now 11 years this blog has been going, there've been some articles that unexpectedly created hefty reaction and discussion. Often over the most innocuous things. Sometimes because the topic is seen as a challenging one. That's me being controversial ... without even being political. Just photography! Here are the articles on the Tangents blog that Read more inside...The size and placement of studio lights
How the size and placement of studio lights affect the photos
Mateos, a model & fitness trainer, in the studio. More than just a fitness photograph (via dramatic light to show off his physique), I wanted these to be portraits as well of this athlete. With fitness photography, the approach is usually to have photos where you show detail and contouring. This is usually done with more contrasty light - small light sources at an angle to your subject. To get the rim-lighting shown here, there was the typical setup of two gridded stripboxes to the side and behind Mateos. Pretty Read more inside...Reflector for portrait & headshot photography: Eyelighter
Reflector for portrait & headshot photography: Eyelighter
I've mentioned before how much I like using the Westcott Eyelighter for headshot photography. The first time I encountered the Eye-lighter (B&H / Amazon), was at the After Dark Edu photography conventions, and I was fascinated by this lighting device and the results it produced. There is a distinctive curved high-light that it gives to the bottom part of your subject's eyes. How much of a reflection, will depend on how you rotate and position the Eyelighter. Read more inside...- « Previous Page
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