Stick Your Flash Where the Sun Don't Shine
I'm down in Charlotte, NC, prepping to teach a pair of beginner's lighting sessions Thursday afternoon at the Southern Short Course. I prefer not to wait for the allergy season to get to Maryland -- I want an early start for my seasonal misery.So I am going through the Flickr pool at about midnite, faving pix. And I come across this one, by Evan Schoo. I dunno what it is about this shot exactly, but I just found it to be a little bit magical. And it brings up three very good points for adding small, battery-powered strobe to a photo:
1. Adding light to the darkest area in your photo can flip it around and make it the center of interest. It's important to know when to stop, so the log (in this case, for example) doesn't look like it came from Three Mile Island. I'm talking about the flash power level -- and this one gets it just right.
2. Cool-colored ambient environment (whether natural, white-balance-shifted or done in post) just begs for some flash color contrast, which Evan got by using a CTO gel.
3. When sticking a flash into a tight space, always consider a dome diffuser. A Sto-Fen Omni Bounce was used here, but you could use a Gary Fong Light $phere, a LumiQuest UltraBounce, a piece of Tupperware - whatever. Just get that light going in all directions, like a bare bulb. It really works for cramped interiors.
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by David, at 12:42 AM.
17 Comments:
Thank you David for your kind words!
I have been following Strobism in it's various forms for some time now, so it is a great honour.
This shot came about during a lovely day hike. Midday sun, sparse bush, etc... Lovely to experience, but not so exciting to photograph. I was shooting a dry creek bed when I turned around and saw this log. I knew that to make this something special and different, it would require a new approach. From that point, I knew exactly what to do and before I knew it, the flash was set up and placed inside. I knew it needed some colour so I gelled it and knew that I'd change the WB in post to help (thanks to RAW!). All of the tidbits of information that you have given us just clicked and this was the result. At the very least, it is different.
Thanks again, and keep up the great work!
Evan Schoo
Strobist Disciple # 2,979
Cool pic. Just discovered your site and have begun putting together my gear on the cheap, thanks for taking the time to drop knowledge for us.
I really like the subtlety of this image, and of course the contrast of the warm/cold tones makes the picture (plus I'm a sucker for the outdoors!).
You say colours were tweaked in LR - all said and done, there is something of a HDR vibe going on here, don't you think? Really nice. Great job, Evan.
That's a good tip about the diffuser, I have recently been photographing abandoned planes and trains and been lighting up the cabs with a strobe set to 24mm. It just doesn't have the same effect as using a diffuser (which I don't have right now, as it made a suicide leap from my bag in the middle of a pitch black field! So I have been using a tupperware dish which seems to do the job.
(http://flickr.com/photos/adamswords/2359807806/sizes/o/)
(http://flickr.com/photos/adamswords/2364403125/sizes/o/)
Wow...somehow I missed that you were in Charlotte! I would have totally made the lighting session!
Man, I miss the SSC. :( So many good times, great speakers, and many many things learned while I lived over in Raleigh. *sniff*
Have fun, and enjoy your stay in Charlotte!
Hope to see ya tonight David
See you in 15 minutes!
I often see the Sto-Fen mentioned, but what does it have that is lacking in the diffuser that comes with the SB-800?
http://www.photonovice.net/2008/03/24/studio-lighting-video-tutorials-by-ken-henderson/
stumbled across that link, (well more like it popped up in my rss feeds), pretty much goes over the basics of portrait photography and lighting (basically everything in Lighting 101) seemed interesting, maybe it'll help some people.
First you mention allergies, then you talk about a guy whose name sounds like a sneeze - Evan Schoo. Nice segue.
Ummmm,
Sorry to be a DA here but I don't see it. In fact, this particular photo looks ridiculous to me. What's the end result? If you were getting paid for this, or whatever, what have you managed to create here? The inside of the log might be a cool color, but what's the photo saying? Nothing.
Sorry guys, gotta disagree, and frankly, given the tepid level of response, I don't think the shot is all that interesting from others' perspectives either.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
OT - You probably know of this guy, figured I'd give you heads up just incase you havent heard of him.
http://www.fishfotoworldwide.com/
The blog
http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/
@ Brad... With respect, I think that to call Evan's picture 'ridiculous' is a little harsh.
As David commented, the use of additional lighting (eg a strobe) can add interest to an image which would otherwise remain flat and lifeless. I think Evan showed his creativity merely by the fact that he saw the log and wondered 'what if...' - whereas many of us would have simply walked on by.
Certainly, in a technical sense, the lighting has been very well executed in the picture (ie no burnt-out highlights from the strobe, combined with a complimentary ambient exposure).
Ok, so it may not be to everyone's taste, but in terms of the above and taking the picture content/technique 'for what it is', I think this is a successful image.
'Just because you can, doesn't mean you should' certainly holds true with many situations, but when it comes to experimentation and learning our craft, surely the approach has to be one of 'why the hell not, it just might work!'
Thanks Giles, your words are eloquent and well considered.
>Richard: I've got both (a Sto-Fen for my SB600 and the Nikon one that came with the SB800). I can't really find much of a difference between them.
>Brad: I value your opinion. In a lot of ways you are right: This image doesn't really say anything. I'm happy to admit that, but do all images have to be a National Geographic cover? Does every image have to have a hidden meaning? What is the message of (www.flickr.com/photos/melissamillage/2375864796/)
this image recently seen on the Explore page? I, for one, think it is brilliant and intriguing, but I don't necessarily know the meaning or story behind it...
I said it earlier: "At the very least, it is different". That's what I was aiming for. Maybe you have missed David's point in all this. The image was chosen to amplify his thoughts and teachings...not to be a world beater.
I just hope that one day, I can apply this technique and get a world renowned image.
Am I going to keep trying?
You bet I will!
Clever title! (LOL)
How about manual cameras and film? Even scarier B&W film?
I was stationed in North Carolina in the 60's eeek!!
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