Photo session: Urban ballerina – Viktoria
Late afternoon in New York, with the sun-light glinting off the glass buildings – dramatic light for a ballerina in an urban setting. However, the sunlight that was reflecting off the buildings wasn’t consistent, and did not necessarily fall in a place where we could use it. So I created my own with an off-camera speedlight just out of the frame – but positioned so that it intentionally flared, and also gave beautiful rim-light on Viktoria.
The pull-back shot shows how the speedlight was set up, and my own position, low down on the ground, to get that perspective.
For the lighting used in this photo session I decided to travel light – and the sweetest intersection in power, versatility and control, is the Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite (affiliate) and the Canon ST-E3 Speedlite Transmitter (affiliate) combination.
With the built-in wireless control of the 600EX-RT, I did not have to bother with external wireless triggers for a flash. The flash’s output (and mode) easily controlled from the camera’s position with the ST-E3. For a camera and lens, I used my Canon 6D (affiliate) with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II (affiliate).
Lighting & Design for Portrait Photography
Lighting & Design is a follow-up of sorts to Direction & Quality of Light. It’s a slightly eclectic mix, discussing the thought-process with various scenarios shooting portraits. The examples use available light, bounce flash, off-camera flash as well as studio lighting.
The idea is that in every one of the 60 sections, there is something to be learnt and applied, regardless of your level as a photographer or where you shoot – all shaped to form a cohesive narrative arc throughout the book.
You can either purchase a copy via Amazon USA or Amazon UK. The book will also available on the Apple iBook Store, and Amazon Kindle.
Camera and flash settings
camera settings: 1/250 @ f/5.6 @ 400 ISO
The lens was set to 24mm. The flash was in manual output.
In terms of the specific settings, there is a fair amount of leeway, but here is how I decided on my camera settings – I wanted enough depth-of-field, since Viktoria would change the exact point where she’d step, ever so slightly between shots. Her movements were quick, so I had to pre-focus where she would end up … but there would be slight changes in position. So a super-wide aperture would just mean more missed shots. So I settled on an aperture of f/5.6
At her peak movement, she was quite still for half a second. So I didn’t need action-stopping shutter speeds. So 1/250th worked fine. Now, you will notice that I had the shutter speed at 1/250 which is slightly higher than the max flash sync of the Canon 6D, which is 1/180 shutter speed. When we go into high-speed flash sync mode, there is a loss of flash power, but I intentionally went there. With the flash unmodified, ie, direct, there was enough headroom. I wouldn’t run out of flash power at the settings I was using.
The 6D has great high-ISO performance, so I could’ve raise the ISO a bit if I wanted to. But 400 ISO was fine.
Therefore the camera settings were quite middle-of-the-road. Nothing extra-ordinary there. My starting point for the camera settings were based on a few test shots to see how the buildings were exposed. Then a few test shots with Viktoria standing still in position, checking my camera’s preview, allowed me to adjust the flash output via the Canon ST-E3 on my camera.
Composition
I’m not a huge fan of tilted compositions, especially when I see it is a reflexive way that a photographer shoots in, without giving the composition real consideration. The tilted frame has to make sense in terms of the balance in the composition of the photograph. It is tough getting a perfectly horizontal / vertical image when laying on your side … but for this final frame, I feel the tilt works. Viktoria leans over to the right, and her body curves. And in the shape of her body, there is a perpendicular balance to the composition.
Summary
There is of course a certain incongruity of having a ballerina in a cityscape, yet because of that incongruity, the image works. The momentary stillness in the peak movement, versus the bustling street down below. The dominant tones are warm and cool – her skin and dress are warm tones, against the cool blues of the city. Then, the elegance of her movements somehow just looks really great against the backdrop of Manhattan’s skyscrapers.
Photo gear (or equivalents) used during this photo session
- Canon 6D / Nikon D610
- Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II / Nikon 24-70mm f2.8G AF-S
- Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite / Nikon SB-910 Speedlight
- Canon ST-E3 Speedlite Transmitter
A little bit of homework
Why did it make most sense to use the flash in manual mode instead of TTL here?
E-TTL flash would be unpredictable in the situation both for your facing your flash towards the camera (for flare) and the glint, glare and reflectivity of the surrounding buildings.
Although she is in motion, she is being photographed in the same spot each time. Manual flash will give the same exposure consistently thus removing a potential variable and allow you to concentrate on the shot.
I read that the Canon 6D has a maximum sync speed of 1/180 sec and some people say it’s only 1/160 sec but you you’ve set the camera to 1/250 sec.
I have a 7D and sometimes I wish it had more AF points. How do you find the 11 AF points in the 6D?
Thanks for this. Coincidentally, about to do a similar shoot tomorrow, same time of day, and happeneded to see this. I thought I needed to kill the ambient. Your use of flare, peak movement and tilt create the drama, whereas I thought saturated colors and flowing movement will be key. Great to see a very different interpretation can be as satisfying as my own preconceptions. Sometimes I get too fixated on the plan itself.
Homework:
Because light distance didn`t change in relation to the subject.
Am I right ?