Subject For a Day
Photo ©Mark HeaynI had the tables turned on me a few weeks ago when Baltimore photographer Mark Heayn shot my family. It was for a marketing campaign for the company that converted our house to solar energy.
As much as we tend to dislike it, staring down the barrel of a camera occasionally is a very good perspective swap for a photographer. I learned some stuff watching Mark shoot -- and even discovered a cool new (old) piece of gear.
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Mark lit us against full sun with three speedlights -- and could have done the same thing with two if not for wanting a faster recycle time.
The brief was to photograph families who had gone solar with Greenspring Energy in nearby Timonium, MD. We are really happy with the output of both the photo voltaic and solar hot water systems they installed. Our energy costs had dropped to about $50 a month.
So Mark stuck us in the shade in front of the house, with the solar panels getting full sun. Working with a Canon 5D MkII (translation: a real sync speed of 1/180th of a second) he lit us with two SB-800s in a large (~5 ft) shoot-thru umbrella at camera left.
The SB's were both on 1/2 power, meaning he could have done it with one on full blast. But this way he could shoot much faster if needed. The umbrella was pretty efficient as a light source, but was very efficient as a sail. In just a modest breeze that thing had a mind of its own -- even with the sand bag Mark had on it.
Fortunately, I have a few sandbags of my own lying around. So we bagged the crap out of it. That umbrella wasn't going anywhere.
Fill on the camera right side of the subjects (well, us) was courtesy an on-camera Canon speedlight. This also triggered the SB's in the umbrella which were set to slave. It was a nice, clean setup that looked like a much more powerful light source. And the detail from the on-axis fill allowed him to place the ambient level wherever he wanted without losing detail.
Which brings up a point. I like how he left the background ambient just a little hot. It is easy to dial the ambient down into Forbes-cover-from-the-'80s levels, but this is a much more natural look, IMO. (Also, it makes life easier on him with his limited Canon sync speeds.)
It is a credit to Mark how effortless the whole process was. Shooting a family and managing four expressions is not easy. Especially when one of them is a ten-year-old boy, with all of the goofy face-making temptation that entails.
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Before he left, Mark showed me a cool Lowel stand topper from way back in the day. It is hinged, ready to plop on a 5/8" stud and will hold just about any kind of gobo at any angle. It is shown here impaling a sheet of 4mm Coroplast. But you can hold, for instance, poster board by alternating the spikes on each side of the thinner sheet.
I have found the tilt / mount on the Lowel site, but it looks as if the gobo impaler itself may be out of production.
Shame, as it is a neat idea. And if you ever find yourself in a dicey situation on a shoot, suffice to say you are prepared to get all Wolverine on them.
Just sayin'.
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Related:
:: Mark Heayn Photography ::
:: Greenspring Energy ::
:: Lowel Lighting
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Posted at 4:37 PM.
42 Comments:
Maybe I'm missing something here, but he was using two SB-800's (nikon) and triggering them via his on-camera Canon flash? How exactly did he get them to work together? I use an SB-900 and 580exII together via cybersyncs, but that is only in manual mode and with both off camera. If you could shed a bit more light on this, I would be really appreciative!
@Steve-
New reader?
Must have been the total horror for Mark. Ok today you go and shoot Mr Strobist himself and his family in front of an house. Ok now it´s time to unpack all the stuff i`ve learned of this guy infront of... well the guy I`ve learned the stuff of. I think it`s always a hard task to shoot a photog, particularly if it`s Dave Hobby you shoot with some Speedlights.
Nice shot. Thanks always for your explanations and thoughts. Always look forward to them.
@Steve SB-900 can pop as pure optical slaves.
Oh, Mark was doing this kind of thing long before I started blogging...
Having grown up around farms and farming, the obvious source for a "gobo impaler" is a pitchfork. Take your pick at http://www.barnyardproducts.com/pitchfork (3, 4, 5, 6 tines, different lengths, etc.), then a little DIY work to hack it onto a light-stand or boom-stand. Fun!
The fork you are looking for is actually made by Manfrotto (sometimes marked under another name in the US). It was made for foam core to be used as a reflector or gobo.
John Rennison
Maybe it's the perspective, but to me this looks like a composite. I know it isn't, but the way the BG and FG are lit makes them look disconnected. Maybe it's just me? Something about the lines of the house compared to the family and the stark DOF difference. Not complaining, learning. Thanks for sharing this.
"Manfrotto 143F Fork for Magic Arm, Holds Styrofoam Gobos"
Available at Adorama (and probably other places)
Kudos to Mark. Brave soul. :^)
@David
Thanks for always thinking of us when you see new/old/different things for use in our everyday lighting techniques. Much appreciated.
Sharna
@surly
I think this effect of "separation", is caused by the disconnect of the Family lighting and the Angle of the Sun which is obviously so much different in the background.
If the whole family would have been placed a few steps back, the sun would have acted as the rim/back light coming from left in the picture. That could have connected fore and background.
But it might have needed a smaller aperture and more flash power, to tame the highlights.
"Shame, as it is a neat idea. And if you ever find yourself in a dicey situation on a shoot, suffice to say you are prepared to get all Wolverine on them."
I think that calls for one of your creative shoots... I'd love to see the resulting image! :D (Night of the Living Nikons?!?!)
Fascinating, as always; ditto the link to the fashion shoot blog. It's all too easy to forget how much of a great shot is prep and the things you *don't* see in the final image, and these analyses/explanation/BTS are a welcome reminder. Thank you!
Solar hot water! I thought I might have to give that up when I moved to Massachusetts. its the rule, not the exception, where I currently live. That holder looks like a cool DIY. I think I'll whip one up.
Hi David,
I'm really happy that you converted your house to a solar house. Solar energy is my field of study right now. I just have a question for you that's off topic. I came across a book called Strobist Photo Trade Secrets Volume 1 on Amazon by Zeke Kamm and there is also a Vol 2. It does mention you as a contributor. I was just stunned to see that they are only 30 pages and sell for $16.49 each after discount. why are they so expensive for the # of pages and why do they have the strobist name on them when you are not the author or editor?
Thanks,
Mo
@Azzurri-
The book was created by the people who did the Trade Secret cards. They originally wanted to use my photos, but I deferred and instead suggested they use selections from the site's readers. Who, BTW, are kickass photographers. Thus the connection in name.
But even tho I lent the name, I have no financial connection to the project -- and certainly no control over its price.
Wouldn't it also be a broader light source behind the 5' shoot-through using two SB 800's? Using only one, he would have more of a hot spot I would think in the umbrella. Just an added bonus to the quicker recycle time.
I would have had a major anxiety attack on my way over to David's house knowing I was going to be photographing the master of strobe.
Thanks for sharing and great you're going solar! Umbrellas in the wind: instead of sandbags I use extra sturdy tentpoles (3 per lightstand) and tie the lightstand to them. Works in heavy wind and is lightweight - but once attached you obviously can't move the lightstand.
best
Berni
Thanks for answering my question David. I looked at sample pages on amazon and the photos look great and I'm sure they are all wonderful photographers. I think I will still buy those books despite the seemingly high price per page. You and the strobist contributors already provide us with the ultimate small flash learning for free so I thank you for that. Please tell us in the future how the PV system worked for you. It interests me very much.
I have seen similar impaler devices on eBay for very reasonable prices.
I agree with Surly. There are lines that make it look like a bad Photoshop cut and paste. The whole thing look artifical. Could be a lack of contrast in the foreground.
David, Manfrotto makes a similar product to the Lowell "fork". Price is very reasonable too. It is designed as an accessory to the Magic Arm but I'm sure it would not take much to get this up on a lightstand. Perhaps a universal 5/8" stud with a 1/4 or 3/8 thread atop a standard umbrella holder.
I present the Adorama link only because Bogen's site seems to be down at the moment. http://www.adorama.com/BG2931.html
I shoot a lot of real estate, and I hate it when I have to go shoot some photographers home. There's lots of extra presure there. Last year I shot Chase Jarvis's Father in laws house, and his cousins house (She's a photographer as well). I'm glad that it wasn't me that had to do this job.
Though I like the exposure, the composition makes it look like your daughter is holding a mannequin arm!
There is a nice little happy family. God bless you!! You teach us so much David, I will say it again, you are GOD!! :).
Got this a few years ago:
Avenger F1504 - Foamcore Fork with 5/8" Pin ($16) at B&H here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153419-REG/Avenger_F1504_Foamcore_Fork_with_5_8_.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/153419-REG/Avenger_F1504.html
Foamcore fork, same idea, affordable price.
Aloha~
Larry Vaughn
David,
You cite the 5DM2 as having a 180th sync speed. True, but not a big deal. I own one and did a test. If you push it to 200th, you get about 90 pixels that are not covered by the flash.
In most cases this is easily planned for and can be cropped out. With a sensor delivering 5616 x 3744 pixels, I can trim that off and still have a larger image than most cameras.
In short, no big limitation.
@ JamesB-
Welcome, new reader.
;)
@Ken I guess it would look like a mannequin's arm had we not known David was standing behind her.
I always find these type of critiques treat the viewer as an idiot.
@David so did you offer any advice during the shoot, or simply played the role of subject?
@Jason-
Ha. Mark hardly needed my advice. I was very pleased when Greenspring told me he was the one who would shoot us. I had seen his work and knew it would work out great.
And as for the after-the-fact nitpicking of other photogs' work -- especially the subjective stuff -- it generally strikes me as rude and disrespectful.
I see a lot of it here (and much of it goes unmoderrated.) It is probably the least pleasant aspect of running this site.
"And as for the after-the-fact nitpicking of other photogs' work -- especially the subjective stuff -- it generally strikes me as rude and disrespectful.
I see a lot of it here (and much of it goes unmoderrated.) It is probably the least pleasant aspect of running this site."
Ooops. I'm at a stage where I need my work to be critiqued. That certainly does not mean Mr. Heayn needs my armchair quarterback pov. I wasn't trying to be rude or disrespectful. Sorry about that. Good point, Mr. Hobby.
@Ben: GO GATORS!!
David,
I've hardly ever commented here, and have about stopped reading every photography website (including this one) because of what your comment above addresses. I wish people would sit down and read it a hundred times.
Thank you for pointing it out; I wish these types would go find a new interest.
Oooh, that fork thing is *exactly* what I've been needing. Of course, on my budget (hi, I shoot fine art!) I'll probably need to make it out of wire hangers, but still, thank you! (And thank Mark!)
Shooting a family and managing four expressions is not easy. Especially when one of them is a ten-year-old boy, with all of the goofy face-making temptation that entails.
when I shoot families this usually means I only have 3 expressions to change, then!
At first I was thinking the background was too hot compared to you but I agree it's better that it is left a little brighter than your family. After all, the solar panels are the subject of this photo not the family :)
By the way - This was taken a few days ago??? In Pennsylvania we have no leaves left on the tress - let alone green! Thought Maryland would be the same?
@Dave-
My bad -- it was a few *weeks* ago. Three, I think. I originally had this post slated to run earlier and bumped it for something else. Forgot to change the time reference.
We are full-on raking here, too.
-DH
I think the photo shows great expression and feeling. In the foreground, a perfectly exposed and happy family while the background is out of focus enough to not be too distracting, yet bright enough to let the readers notice the solar equipment. I think this photo communicates, "We are the happy, satisfied owners of this cool new solar equipment."
@John--my thoughts exactly!
Who knew...Grant Wood turned his light modification tool into an objet d'art.
Hi David
Nice to see you guys looking so happy
Hope you had a better thanksgiving than the Turkey
Cheers
Drew and Lucinda
Hello dear friends, hello dear David
I am "lost"
Just as an amateur who has no cam at hand at this time (yet is planning for a good Canon 500D camera soon)I am feeling like the whole world of photo shooting lessons online(like that on About.com and Wikipedia) reeling before my eyes!please guide me where do I begin? this Field just sounds to be enjoying a Huge Depth i.e. beyond my ability to put things together and kind of grab hold of it, hence it just leaves me scared like "hey don't approach me, I'm too complicated". I just know what shutter speed, DoF and Film speed are, and amongst these shutter speed is the most amazing one as it,if I'm right, sets the sampling time, it's intriguing to know how much time is captured in one tiny time interval of a photo, just like a micro-organism already thought be frozen yet still mooooving.
Best wishes,
Happy me,
Sarah
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