close iframe icon
approved icon clinton_boyd_fleming avatar Ultimate
clinton_boyd_fleming
52 Week Challenge - Week 1-7
Banner

52 Week Challenge - Week 1-7



behind the lens badge

Self portrait for the first week of a 52 week challenge.

This was a single exposure with the flash firing 3 times.

Self portrait for the first week of a 52 week challenge.

This was a single exposure with the flash firing 3 times.
Read less
cameraCanon EOS 6D

settings Aperture f/6.7 ISO 400 Shutter 3/1 Focal Length 50/1 

upload_dateJan, 2016

Views

1731

Likes

Awards

Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in 500 Expressions Photo Contest
Peer Award
PhotosByJEM Rivertay07 VenueImages photoABSTRACTION davidjprosser Tudorof daydreamsbymary0710 +68
Outstanding Creativity
GypsysPhotography Macpwm gman176 Jasonboydduncan SkMcQueen-Cheffey Edgargo barryryan +38
Superb Composition
CrystalWolf jeffsinnock AlexandraKay16 taijaaguirre hajmanek mariaelenavalenciarpo Capture-Life +15
Absolute Masterpiece
Paul_Joslin Svenergy72 Kyutani marydemonemiller krnaik josephineloveday Sniperspawk9 +4
Superior Skill
diegoscaglione Dacemac llowzz shaundasmithroberts Helen_Mountaniol
Top Choice
SilverLou moonmoonde yvonnechristinebannister Tilley KevinStiffler
Love it
Wrench jrollings keljosh2021
Genius
huberjadi

Emotions

Impressed
gman176

Top Ranks

Soulful Selfies Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Soulful Selfies Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
The Contributors ProjectTop 20 rank
The Contributors ProjectTop 20 rank week 1
Monochrome Masters ProjectTop 10 rank
View more
Games of Flash Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Anything People Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Anything People Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
A World In Black And White Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Selfies In Black and White Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Redefine Selfies Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Redefine Selfies Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Redefine Selfies Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Flash Games Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Flash Games Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Image of the Year Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank
Image of the Year Photo Contest 2016Top 10 rank week 1
Multiple Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Multiple Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Multiple Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Self Portraits Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Creative Self Portraits Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Studio Fun Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Studio Fun Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Covers Photo Contest Vol 28Top 30 rank week 2
500 Expressions Photo ContestTop 30 rank
500 Expressions Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1

Categories

1 Comment |
robhelliker
 
robhelliker March 21, 2016
Me on a bad day.......... i love black and white it's so dramatic
clinton_boyd_fleming Ultimate
clinton_boyd_fleming March 22, 2016
Thank you!

Submitted to Photo Contests
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in my home studio in Annapolis, Maryland. I used a 10 foot black backdrop with 2 lights.

Time

I was in the mood to play around with lighting for a challenge and started setting up around midnight. I'm a night owl. Everybody that knows me, knows that. After making adjustments to the lighting and trying quite a few different poses, I snapped this a little after 2 AM.

Lighting

I placed the main light overhead facing straight down and placed a fill light directly in front almost waist high at a 45 degree angle. Both were set on strobe to fire 3 times at one time per second. The flash output was set to 1/128. Both were triggered remotely via a master flash on camera that was set to not fire. I used a 24 inch hexagonal softbox on both the main and fill lights.

Equipment

The image was taken with a Canon 6D using an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. The camera was mounted on a Manfrotto 190X tripod with the 496RC2 ball head. All flashes used including the master flash that did not fire were Canon 600 EX-RT Speedlites. The two softboxes used were SMDV SPEEDBOX-S60 and both were on light stands.

Inspiration

Inspiration for this came from two things. The first, I recently purchased the two SMDV softboxes and wanted to try them out. Second, I am doing a 52 week challenge and the subject for the first week was to take a self-portrait. I was striving to do something a little out of the ordinary, so I decided to set the flash mode to strobe and try different poses that I could do quickly for a single 3 second exposure. I wanted a lighting setup that would give me dark look and work a plain black t-shirt to reduce movement in the bottom part of the image.

Editing

The post-processing I did was in Adobe Lightroom CC. I was shooting in RAW and had the camera set to shoot in color for the entire session. I converted this photo to black and white and adjust the exposure and contrast slightly. I then adjusted to minimize any clipping in the image. I then used the spot removal tool to a strand of hair I found distracting. The last step I did was add a little vignetting. I was lucky and all three poses in the frame where I wanted them without have to crop the image.

In my camera bag

What do I normally carry around with me? I have a Tenba Shootout backpack that I love. I usually stuff it with a Canon 6D as my main camera and a Canon 40D as my spare. I like to shoot in low light environments so I carry some pretty fast lenses. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM has been my main lens over the past year with the EF 300mm f/2.8 L USM when I needed to get a little closer. I usually get some attention when I pull that one out though. I have the Lomography New Petzval 85 Art Lens. It's f/2.2, brass and has drop-in plates for the aperture. It gets some attention when in use as well but produces some great images with the bokeh that everyone loves. I just recently added the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM to my bag and have enjoyed using it for the past few months. Last I have an EF 40mm f/2.8 STM for when I need to be a little more discreet. I usually have at least 1 Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite with me unless I have a planned shoot in which case I bring them all.

Feedback

Using the strobe function on your flashes can produce some great images. Usually dark backgrounds with light colored or reflective subjects work the best but don't be afraid to try something different! Practice the poses for a little while before taking the shot to make sure you stay in the frame. I had the camera on a ten second timer which allowed me to release the shutter then get into the first pose. As soon as the flash fires the first time, move to the next pose and then keep doing that for each time the flash fires. Experiment with the number of flashes, the frequency of them and the exposure time. Try not to stand in the same place for each pose as this would produce an image overlay that could be distracting.

See more amazing photos, follow clinton_boyd_fleming

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.