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C-Stand

C-Stand



Pretty sure this is what you're supposed to do with a new C-stand and umbrella.... right?

Pretty sure this is what you're supposed to do with a new C-stand and umbrella.... right?
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cameraNIKON D7100

settings Aperture f/8 ISO 100 Shutter 1/125 Focal Length 350/10 

upload_dateFeb, 2016

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2136

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Awards

Contest Finalist in Flash Games Photo Contest
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Contest Finalist in Playing With Light Photo Contest
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1000WordsPhoto ARUNASPINIGIS djalmaarmelin mariamnady 2001vermont aliceforrallies DEBOLINA_MOITRA +86
Superb Composition
edwardlrose yuriyvvysochin dmitriykalnytskyy nelsonjose soungeunkim pansybrandtwinters Yenda +26
Outstanding Creativity
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Love it
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Top Choice
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Absolute Masterpiece
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Magnificent Capture
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All Star
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Genius
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People Posing Photo ContestTop 30 class week 3
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Image of the Year Photo Contest 2016Top 10 class
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Getting Creative Photo ContestTop 30 class week 2

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2 Comments | Report
AdderallDiaries
 
AdderallDiaries September 28, 2016
I don't think that's in the owner's manual but they are being rewritten every day for photographers. Yours is breathless.
G_girl
 
G_girl May 26, 2017
Magnificent

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#noir #portrait #cstand #umbrella #shoes #red

Behind The Lens

Location
This picture was taken in my home studio, which is just a room with minimal furniture, which doubles as a workout/yoga space. It's a little tight for portraits with a crop-sensor camera, but it's manageable.
Time
This was taken on a weekend afternoon. My favorite part about studio photography is that time of day doesn't matter; every aspect of the light is mine to control (for better or for worse...).
Lighting
This was lit very simply with two bare Yongnuo speedlights, one to camera left and one to camera right. I was going for a film noir-ish feel, so hard moody light was exactly what I wanted. And since I was holding a reflective umbrella, that threw a little light back at me from behind.
Equipment
I love my equipment, but it's not terribly expensive (at least by photography standards): Nikon D7100, MeFoto Roadtrip tripod, and two Yongnuo speedlights on cheap light stands. The fanciest equipment in this photo is in the frame with me! I shoot tethered when I'm doing self-portraits, and I keep my laptop as close as possible to me without being in the frame, so I can check focus, composition, pose, lighting, etc. without leaving my modeling spot. It saves a ton of time and frustration to not have to run back and forth between the camera and the "stage."
Inspiration
I received this C-stand and umbrella for my birthday, and I wanted to show them off... but a picture of lighting equipment on its own would have been pretty boring. I was playing around with the C-stand in my living room and ended up dancing with it (a la Singing in the Rain), and my S.O. said, "Oh, you *have* to do a picture like that!" So I tossed a fedora on it and made a dance partner.
Editing
I always do at least some post-processing; that's my favorite part of the process! This was fairly minimal, at least by my standards: some general cleanup, dodging/burning, a few textures, and color toning. The most complicated part was that I didn't like the angle of the hat (I kept hitting it with the umbrella), so I swapped it with another frame from the same shoot.
In my camera bag
I always have my Nikon D7100. If I'm shooting portraits, I use a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8. For just about everything else (and for full-length portraits in my tiny studio), I use a Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8. Whether I'm in the studio or out, I usually have at least one speedlight, a pack of colored gels, and a Rogue Flashbender with diffuser panel (usable as a snoot, flag, bounce card, tiny softbox, etc.). It's not an ideal lighting setup for everything, but it's portable and surprisingly versatile.
Feedback
I'd like to work with more models who aren't me someday, but I highly recommend self-portraits as a learning tool. It's a great way to hone your technical skills in a relaxed setting (you can take hours to perfect your lighting setup, and there's no one to bore but yourself), you can play with any crazy idea that comes to mind, it'll give you a sense of what poses and expressions can look good in front of a camera, and you'll have a much better appreciation of what your models are going through when you're behind the camera and they're in front of it. Just be patient, play, and have fun! (And nobody has to see the results if you don't want them to...)

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