Staged flatlay in morning light. Taken with Fuji X100F.
Mar, 2020Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I actually took this photo on my dinning room table. The light was coming in through the double window and it looked like a nice spot. So I went around the house and collected stuff to stage the photo before the sun got too high.Time
It was pretty early in the morning, probably 6:30 or 7. I wanted to get the photo taken while the light was still golden and not too bright. I like the look of early morning photos because it gives great quality of light and long shadows, which are always interesting.Lighting
I like the longer shadows the early morning light creates on the cup and Bible. Good lighting is the key to good photography. Perfectly composed images taken at noon will never compare to the same image at golden hour. Even when using artificial light, I don’t like to let the light get too “blue” or white. I like more golden light and I like casting longer shadows.Equipment
Camera was a Fujifilm X100F, my go everywhere camera. I was handheld for this particular shot and used mostly natural light, slightly aided by a small Aputure Ameran light for a little extra light.Inspiration
I read my Bible every morning and think it’s such a beautiful book, especially this one. I’ve taken several flat lays of my Bible, just to convey the sense of peace I feel in the morning when I go through that ritual.Editing
Yes. I always edit my photos in Adobe Lightroom on my iPad. I actually find I like editing in Lightroom better on my iPad than my laptop. Using the Apple Pencil gives me so much control over fine editing details, especially selective color and exposure.In my camera bag
I always have: my MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Aputure Amaran light or two (small but powerful and can tuck into little pockets in my bag). Then I have one, or both, of my Fuji x100f or Canon 1DX Mark ii. The 1DX is incredible but it’s size makes it impractical for some situations. If shooting the 1DX I use one of these lenses: canon 70-200 f2.8, Sigma Art 50mm f1.4, Tamron 24-70 f2.8, or a Canon 85mm f1.8.Feedback
Flat lay photography always seems to be a little more difficult than it looks. Biggest tips would be 1) don’t try to lay out your objects in a grid, or try to make them straight. It’s very hard to make them look straight in the photo. They’re either a little bit off or it’s hard to get your camera in the exact spot. They look better if you try to make it look more casual and less organized. 2) lighting is crucial. Never put yourself or camera between the light source and your subject. Either use enough light sources that there are virtually no shadows. Or set your lights low enough that they cast long interesting shadows.
