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Feb, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This is the first image taken in my home studio. I don't shoot there often because it's too confining! I love being outside or on location and taking inspiration from the unpredictability of my surroundings. In a studio the only objects present are those I brought myself.Time
Late evening, though because it was taken in a studio it doesn't matter much.Lighting
I purchased my first light umbrella last October when I found a free lighting class online at Strobist.blogspot.com. Artificial light clicked with me for the first time and this was the first shoot where I could really get it working how I wanted.Equipment
Sony Alpha 850 at 55 mm focal length. Flash was my Sony HVL-F60M shot through a white umbrella at camera left.Inspiration
Have you ever been stuck trying to think of an idea and then all of a sudden a tiny, fragile glimpse of something appears almost out of nothing? In those moments I just want to reach out and grab it, but if I don't let it breathe and respect its fragile state, that poor little idea can get squished. Like a lonely flower that blooms, sometimes unexpected ideas lead the way to something awesome.Editing
Removed minor blemishes in the skin and a few distracting dots on the wall. Slight lighting adjustment using curves.In my camera bag
Sony Alpha 850 camera body, a Minolta 70-200 f4 "beer can" zoom lens, a Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 short lens, a 5-in-1 reflector (gold and silver side out!), a Targus tripod (basic as they come), and usually a roll of fabric for shaking in the wind...because that's just beautiful.Feedback
First find your idea. Giving your subject something to hold and interact with or ignore entirely adds a storytelling element to any image. Find your ambient light without a flash, darken the exposure, then bring the subject back up using the necessary flash power. I used to think it was more complicated than that, but this simple one-light setup is really something anyone can do. What really matters is what you are lighting up and the story you want it to tell!
