Hello there Buffalo! Time to update everyone on the progress of my portrait lighting additions! In the last post I was talking about lighting, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new Alien Bees! They are quite awesome I must say! I have tested them out on static objects and people. and no fear, try each modifier and see what it can do, because I most certainly have a lot to learn. Here’s an example of the static object test -
I thought this was a neat object to experiment with. Lots of reflective surfaces, lots of red in different shades. Plop a neat hat on it for a little extra contrast and boom, there ya go.For this shot I used both lights, one with a softbox, the other using a 20% honeycomb grid. I seem to never learn though, because I really should be taking more notes on where my lights are and what power they are set at, as well as where I am positioned as the shooter (for some reason I expect myself to remember all of that later on while reviewing a hundred or more shots…lol, my memory is good, but not that good!!!).
Here’s a more extreme example:
Again I used the softbox, but set to a lower power, and on the second light I used the 10% honeycomb grid. I like the results, but, the second light should have been put further back from the subject. It really amazes me how the littlest movement of the lights change the whole feel of the image. A fellow photographer friend said to me once, sometimes the difference between a good image and a great images is moving the light 2 inches..” I am so beginning to get that!
Next static object, and image of scissors for a business card. Theswe little guys are wicked hard to work with. Shiny silver, and not cooperative to set at neat and interesting angles! Plus, they pick up fingerprints like theres no tomorrow.
I very much enjoy the way the light falls on the metal. Wish I had a better cloth for the scissors to sit on, but hey, you work with what you got. Overall though, not bad!
Now on to some tests with live subjects!
Model, my lovely girlfriend who wanted to show off her new hair style, the ombre! This test was done outdoors, so I got to see how my modifiers and lightstands would stand up to the test of wind For this shot I used a softbox and the beauty dish. I like the pairing of these 2 modifiers, and feel like this may end up being my go to outdoor setup (as long as the wind is too bad. There was wind and they seemed to stand the test. Here’s another:
I very much like the dramatic shadow, and how well the lights lit up her hair!
I’m really so excited at the new things I can do, and of course, the many things I will be learning to do with these new lights! I hope you may come to feel some of that excitement with me, by booking a portrait shoot!
