Robert Benson CEO Shoot
This is the kind of thing I would love to see much more of -- nice walk-thru POV videos from portrait assignments.
Photographers are visual people. And you can learn an awful lot, very quickly when other photographers are generous enough to have their assistants shoot these kinds of vignettes.
It's only a couple of minutes long. Take a look and think about what you get out of it. My thoughts after the jump.
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It's nice to see the lighting, which in this case is a quick, simple two-light setup that could be done just about anywhere. But the real value for me in this video is the look into Robert's subject interaction.
Even in this short clip you can get a good look at his bedside manner -- how he jokes around and keeps the CEO at ease even while shooting in the midst of her doing other activities. The hair flip was her quick way of getting ready, but Robert coaxed a few more out of her to try for a moment or layer to the photo that would not have been there before. That kind of reacting to the moment is important.
And even while he is being fun and going with the flow, he is clearly in control of the couple of minutes they will spend on this look. That is a bot of an art form -- especially when working with people like CEOs, who are used to being in control of others all of the time.
You can't draw up a simple back-of-the-napkin diagram for this kind of stuff -- you pretty much have to see it happen. Which is why this info is relatively hard to come by, compared to lighting.
Many thanks to San Diego photog Rob Benson for this one. And if you haven't already checked out his very RSS-worthy blog, head on over.
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Oh, and if you are shooting BTS vids on your assignments, give us a heads-up in the comments. We'll make sure the best ones get seen!
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Posted at 12:00 AM.
56 Comments:
Hmm...
I'm actually quite surprised this was worthy of a post. Kinda cool, but. I dunno...
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Also, an unrelated inquiry re Strobist-forum on Flickr (which In would like to join): anyone having suggestions on how to bypass the Flickr blockade here in the UAE?? Or are there alternatives, like Strobist on FB? Thanks.
That was a decent video, but not *that* great I thought. It wasn't that clear once it buzzed over the initial setup from the front. I was a little confused about whether or not there was a background light, and what was the large light directly above her? Was that just the room light? hard to tell.
Neat setup though. Would've loved to have seen the finished image.
does this count?
http://vimeo.com/5538272
I love this blog!
Quang
www.photosalaquang.com
What is that big light above the model?
David, not sure if you got my last comment, but here is the link to our behind the scenes video of the piggy bank shoot (and yes, we do have permission for the music):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37HsBmc7XAw
And a post explaining it:
http://utahphotojournalism.com/2009/07/shoot-the-pig/
feel free to use it if you are interested, you can contact me at:
Jaren Wilkey
Jaren@byu.edu
(801)422-7322
photo.byu.edu
Interesting.... but I'm not sure what I am supposed to take away from it. It would be helpful if there were a finished shot to see. Also an explanation of why lights were set up in the configuration used. It left me wondering where the rest of the video was and what the final shots looked like.
David, here is another one of our BTS vids, the video was actually shot with the 5dMKii on this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdLfqHIVUic
Jaren Wilkey
BYU Photo
801-422-7322
jaren@byu.edu
photo.byu.edu
Cool blog, that guy gets a lot of work!!!
I'm jealous :)
After a look at this morning's comments, it seems like at least a couple of people might have missed what for me was the main takeaway in the video.
(It's not just about the lighting.)
So I took a few minutes to rework the post and spell it out a little bit.
Somebody get that guy a steadicam!
This is a great blog and I've followed it and learned for a long time. But, I have to jump on the soapbox for a bit. It was noted that the photographer is using a 3:1 ratio, which is good. But, the lighting positions are the kind used in malls etc. We don't see the finished images, but I'll bet the lighting on the CEO's face is flat, coming straight down on the nose from overhead, has a looping shadow under the nose on the upper lip, and her underside of the neck is lit up. There is no hair light, (unless the camera speed is balanced to the overhead sky light). This is my guess, but I'm thinking her face is not as slim as it should look in a portrait, because the lighting patterns here will make the mask of the face 'wider'.
We all have our techniques...but portraiture for professionals should make them look prestigious and professional.
The video is great and I love to see what and how other photographers do their work. But basic professional portraiture lighting will never change, we just change how we acheive it, using a Main Light off camera left, FILL Light behind the camera, and a Hair/Accent Light over the subject. This comes from years of schooling and mentoring from professional photograpaphers.
Keep up the good work on this blog...there is always something to learn from it.
Ladd Scavnicky
M.Photog., Cr.Photog., CPP
I think that an explanation of that big overhead light and final product would have finished up the video.
Otherwise, that grided stripbox in a clamshell type setup probably made a neat shot!
>>"... But basic professional portraiture lighting will never change, we just change how we acheive it, using a Main Light off camera left, FILL Light behind the camera, and a Hair/Accent Light over the subject. This comes from years of schooling and mentoring from professional photographers. ..."
Oh, really?
(Quietly slips into closet to don asbestos suit just to make it safe to even stay in the vicinity ...)
I think some folks are missing the fact that this is a BTS video and not a tutorial. Take from it what you can; by all means ask questions here, but why the need to trash the video and/or photographer? All he did was give a free look at "the man behind the curtain."
Made my first BTS-Video, a portrait shoot in an abondoned house in Germany with D3 and three SB-800, using Lastolite Ezyboc Hotshoe and Westcott Umbrella (and PocketWizards)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF4c0HCAB2A
Thanks
Stefan
I didn't really hear any "coaxing" for her to flip her hair. I have worked with many ceo's, and this one was already willing to do anything, witness her starting to limbo under the C-Stand! Wow, I would love having subjects like that!
Hello David!
I love this blog, I´m trying to make some videos also, you can check them here:
www.renatorochamiranda.blogspot.com
best regards
Renato
My favorite part is that he is shooting medium format. I think people are becoming spoiled by strobist and expect detailed explanations behind everything regarding lighting.
David I for one really appreciate the BTS videos, the setup wide shots, the lighting diagrams, the DIY, and all the how to's that spew like a broken fire hydrant from your blog-o-sphere.
Although I thought that in this BTS it would be a variation on the Beauty light [2 light setup] using softboxes instead of our SB and shoot through's without stopping down on the lower front light. [I didn't notice the hair or back light]
But even that comment, your post above, was more instuctional than a weekend workshop by other "pros"
Fortune happens to those prepared.
Stefan,
Excellent video and wonderful results. Very inspiring for a newbie like me!
--David
Not sure these fit your criteria for BTS [i.e. Making Of] but here's one shot a while back in Hamburg:
http://tinyurl.com/kuensm and this diashow shot here in Zurich:
http://tinyurl.com/mvm5qv
Here's one that should make your viewers stop and think a bit:
http://www.tonyfoto.com/#/VIDEOS/USER%20-Rough%20cuts-/1
Actually, this one's probably much better: http://www.tonyfoto.com/#/VIDEOS/Tony/1
Rob's assistant Dave here, and in answer to some of the questions, no background or hair light, just the two strobes you see in the video, and that overhead "light" commented on is actually a jumbo building skylight. We shot in the lobby of the CEO's office. We've been real busy, but I'll try to get Rob to post some of the finished work from that shoot. Great stuff. Rob's always going for the creative angle in every shoot -- I've never worked with anyone who works as hard or studies as much during both work and non-work hours. And above all, whenever possible, we try to keep the set relaxed and fun for the subject.
Aaaahhhh!!! David stop reading the comments and pick the winner already! (Sorry, just had to get that out of my system...)
I love BTS videos. There's no such thing as *the* right way to light anything - everyone has their own style. You can always learn something!
This comment has been removed by the author.
I work in the nuclear industry where we delight in acronyms. One simple request, please spell it out the first time. BTS - behind the scenes and POV - point of view. Remember that each and every post has a first time reader. If the reader is not familiar with the "jargon" then you risk losing the reader.
awesome video!! Thanks for posting this!! I'm a little surpised that even after your writup that people were conplaining about not enough detail on the lighting setup. At first I also wondered what the light above her head was, and wondered what the shots would look like. But I also started noticing the created atmosphere and when the 'hair flip' moment happened, I also really keyed in on that and made note of it. I love when those kind of moments happen and it was cool seeing him use it.
Dom-
I work in the blogging industry, and we delight in breaking nearly every rule and convention in every other industry.
While I do realize that every post has new readers, I would rather challenge them to catch up than repeat everything every time and kill the regs with boredom.
Newspapers were famous for writing down to the level of a "smart 8th grader," whatever that is. Good blogs do not do that. They expect readers to catch up, and occasionally reference link other posts to help them do so.
Just a difference in perspective between traditional media and blogs. Personally I enjoy it, and have even been known to sub-reference something so "inside baseball" that there is no actual sub reference -- just to keep people on their toes.
So, damn the torpedoes and bring on the jargon.
KTHXBAI,
DH
:)
Here is mine video on how to create northern lights "strobist style" while interaction with Jack... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TljKSwMrQ2Q
Anyone else start excitedly jiggling all over at the thought of using those green patterned front doors as a b/g to the portrait. Specular highlight halo technique would work wonders there, maybe spill some feather off a hair light to bring up the texture on the panelling? No? Just me? Come on....
(PS - I know he wasn't contracted to do that shot, it's just one I'd have love to have done if I was there)
Kind regards
DWBell
Thanks to Dave the assistant for clarification.
Too bad I had to comb through so many weenie comments to get to it. Folks, how about asking yourself for three seconds before posting, is this a weenie comment?
Dave,
Some information is given on the lighting setups... he says something about the ratio, and the equipment being used. The video is great for the interaction, but I also think it would be helpful for your readers if you recapped the lighting setup and maybe explain some things in layman terms for those newbies who might not understand the jargon? I know you are focusing more on the interaction here, but it would also still be helpful if it were possible to show a final picture. It might help illustrate that unique captured moment you make reference to that was elicited from the photographer's interaction. If not on this one, that is something in future entries of this BTS series I think would add value. Keep up the good work, and thanks for everything!
Hey DH,
There was some discussion in the video of lighting ratios and equipment being used, etc. Some of it was hard to make out. I know the point here is about the interaction between the photographer and subject, but I think if you could sort of recap the setup in layman terms, that would be useful, especially for those newbies who might not catch all the jargon.
I also think if possible, adding a final product photo would be ideal. Again, even though it is about the interaction, showing that unique captured moment that you reference might make it more clear how the interaction resulted in a unique look in the final photo.
I think these two additions would be a good value add for these BTS series. Recapping the light setups being used (I mean, obviously your readers are going to expecting that anyways) and then showing the final shot (if possible).
Anywho, I enjoyed the video. Keep up the good work, and thanks for all your efforts!
How serendipitous to find the large skylight!
It lights the background paper and provides backlight for the CEO. And it doesn't require a stand, power source, etc.
If you keep your eyes open, things like this aren't all that hard to find.
Chuck
Hmm.. cant say I was impressed or felt very well informed from this vid. These guys didn't lend any lighting advice and just seemed to be preoccupied with sounding cool. The CEO, was clearly not a typical CEO, she seemed quite young, girly and up for a laugh. If the picks worked (which they also failed to show us) then I think it was from her personality not the photographers' gift at drawing that out of her.
Dave - thank you for this FREE information. I think we often lose sight of the incredible value your blog provides and that we don't pay a penny for it. If a few readers need to work a little bit and instead want every single detail explained, well they should go and pay for classes. Keep up the GREAT work.
Good video. However I have a couple of questions. Why did he use a strip box for fill instead of a normal soft box and why would he grid it ?
Thanks David,
I always love to hear the patter of other photographers while working with their subjects. This is ability to make your subject relax is what takes certain photographers to another level. It also builds your referral business and leads to less marketing dollars spent.
This is for Martin you can access flickr in UAE using firefox and this firefox add-ons ..I tried in UAE and it worked ..
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4286
I certainly enjoyed the video, but when DH says, "That is a bot of an art form ..." I get lost!
Thanks for the post David; always good to see others working. Particularly like the humour in the Vid ... good stuff as always.
Should you wish to, check out some of my BTS videos at the following link: http://www.glyndewis.com/video.html
Feel free to use them should you so wish,
Best wishes and keep up the good work,
Glyn
Nice video although poor quality :-)
I also think it's always nice to see how other people work especially how they interact with their subject. Even if it's only to see they don't do anything out of the ordinary, which can be a personal boost.
Hey Dave, I've been making a couple BTS videos for my High School Photo students to see. Check them out and see what you think, here are the links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tD68GDB3F8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LzZ2Dqm184
I would have liked to see the pics that came out of this particular video you highlighted.
Joe Allen
These videos are cool - but Better Than Sex (BTS)?
This site is generally packed with great and well thought out info. I fail to see what's so educational with this video however, probably because I've done shoots like this. She doesn't seem to be a normal exec, a new lighting setup (or idea) is always welcome but again without any final product it falls short from am educational perspective IMO.
Newbs can figure out how to google "define xyz" when they don't get the context of a TLA (three letter anacronym ;) that's assumed base knowledge for a technical site like this.
Lighting will never change? That's like saying cars, or the Internet never will change. Man go back to your old-school add-more-letters behind my name to make me feel more important rock. :-)
Look at all the liability strewn around! Cables messy and galore, gear randomly strewn on couches, no clear way for model to get to backdrop...limbo over the expensive flash heads. So many lawsuits waiting to happen and the whole presentation looks sloppy, the guy should get some velcro ties to cinch down excess cable, keep unused gear in cases and not on clients couches and move equipment into place after model is in position.
I understand its a mobile gig
@Martin, and any other Strobists stuck with an ISP that (pointlessly) censors Flickr - you can use either another proxy server, or a VPN to access Flickr. Checkout the free (but slow and ad oriented) HotSpot Shield, or paid VPN providers such as vpngates.com or WiTopia.net.
@David, hope you don't mind the off topic post. Awesome blog. Thank you.
@ anonymous: thanks for the Firefox add-on hint - it works! Now I am able to access flickr here in UAE. Hurrah. Just checked out the winner of the strobist boot camp II assignment - great pic!
@ Strobist: thanks for letting me - for once - hijack this post with a non-related inquiry ... a beer goes on me next time you are here in Dubai (a non-alcoholic one, of course)
@ Stefan: interesting BTS - keep up the good work.
Martin
Hi David,
I recently made a BTS video of a billboard/outdoor media campaign I shot for a client here in the UK.
You can check out the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL0AT50sqmk
Hope its useful for somebody.
Andy.
Love the BTS stuff. Here's some of mine per your request. Final images are on my site http://www.dananeibert.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkqfmFFuv5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIB91gfUucI
Dana
It may not be a video, but you will find a well diagramed “blueprint” for a portrait shoot that was done using 5 strobes.
Well worth taking a look.
www.WeeklyPhotoTips.com
Thanks,
John
Maybe I shouldn't have watched the WIRED video first...
Would like to have seen an image from the shoot.
Great video!!! Thanks for sharing...
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