Far Away
Jan, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot in a make-shift temporary studio I set up in my kitchen.Time
A look back at the metadata places the time at January 6, 2016 at 9:01pm. Although the way it was lit it could really have been any time of day.Lighting
This shot was part of a series I made as a lighting exercise for myself. It was lit with a modest set-up of 3 speedlights with 3 different Rogue modifiers (XL Pro with diffusion panel on right, strip box on left and grid on background for separation). I wanted to be able to see the details of both the smoke and facial features clearly and these modifiers helped me attain just the right balance.Equipment
As a beginner, my equipment when this was made was very modest. This was shot handheld with a Nikon D7100 and an old Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 lens. Though one wouldn't normally consider this focal range for portraiture, the crop factor of this camera allowed me to achieve the look of a true portrait lens. As mentioned above, it was lit with 3 off camera speedlights (Yongnuo 560-III and transmitter) with modifiers from the Rogue Flashbender line. The backdrop was a length of black vinyl.Inspiration
I had been wanting to get into portraiture but didn't have access to a studio or models. But I didn't want to let details like that stop me. I'm blessed to have a supportive husband who agreed to sit for me and help me convert our kitchen into a studio for the evening. Rather than a traditional headshot, my goal was to create a character study of sorts and see what I could accomplish with the gear I had on hand. We've since done several shoots together in the name of education and have had some great results (and fun!) in the process.Editing
The image went through some minimal processing in Lightroom, and then, on a whim, was taken into Aurora HDR Pro for some subtle tone mapping. That really helped to bring out the detail in his face as well as in the smoke without going over the top.In my camera bag
I've slowly been upgrading my kit. I now carry a Nikon D750 with a versatile Nikon 24-120mm f/4 as a walk-around lens. I've been getting more and more into landscapes so I tuck a 20mm f/2.8 prime into my bag just in case the right scene reveals itself. Depending on what I'm shooting that day a 105mm macro or telephoto lens may come with me. I just acquired a Tamron 150-600mm. I'm busy looking for excuses to put that through its paces.Feedback
Don't let a lack of experience or professional gear stop you from trying to bring your ideas to fruition. At the worst you will have learned something, even if it's only what doesn't work. At best, you'll have something to be proud of and experience you can build on. You'll be amazed at how much you can do with the resources you have. Try different lighting positions, modifiers, ratios. If you don't have flashes work with natural light. Just do it. And have fun.
