It's almost summer and Julie Powell begins this week's wrap-up photographing kids and water balloons. Michael Muraz squeezes us and his lights into an impossible to light bathroom and tells us how he did it. Chris Anson enhances landscapes in Luminar. Bob Coates shows how to work when the light is just not right and Scott Wyden Kivowitz shares a black & white photo of the liberation of a WWII concentration camp then turns it into color. Enjoy these five posts from the many featured this week on Photofocus! … [Read more...] about The Weekly Wrap-Up: June 2-8, 2019
lighting
How to cope when you can’t wait for the “right light”
As a professional photographer, you have to be able to deliver a solid product no matter the conditions. When a client tells you they want a photograph of over 60 people at 12:30 in the afternoon you need to produce. The challenge Precision Nutrition called for a photoshoot at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ. I was tasked with making a group photo in 90-degree heat with the sun driving straight down. I knew I could tame the harsh shadows with fill light. But, upon arriving I was also confronted with strings of lights over the scene. … [Read more...] about How to cope when you can’t wait for the “right light”
Interior photography: Lighting an impossible bathroom
When photographing residential interiors, I sometimes use extra lighting to improve the final images. Today, I want to go through how I shot an impossible bathroom and solved my issues with some creative lighting. To start, here is a frame with just the ambient light. My main issue was that the bathroom was literally surrounded by glass, which meant a lot of reflections, including my own. The bright mirror lights were also not great. So you can understand the setup, I created the lighting diagram below, with the bathroom floor plan. Keep in … [Read more...] about Interior photography: Lighting an impossible bathroom
Water droplet photography, part two
Once again I will warn you that setting up for creating water droplet photos can be addicting. The variability of water drops and possible color combinations using different gels to get totally different looks can keep you occupied for days! See the set up and gear I used to create these images in Water droplet photography, part one. Backgrounds Backgrounds can make a huge difference in the look of your water droplet images. In some ways I feel that the more simple the better. Savage paper backgrounds are clean and come in a variety of … [Read more...] about Water droplet photography, part two
Creating soft and dreamy still life photography
This week we are going to explore another of my favorite styles of still life photography, soft and dreamy. I adore using flat light, so soft, so dreamy and ever so vintage in my mind, they just go together beautifully. So, let's get a little soft and dreamy ... The essence of soft and dreamy is the beautiful soft flat light, with almost no shadows and desaturated color — almost the exact opposite of dark and moody that we looked at in my last post. I adore working with soft muted colors — natural tones and textures are great for this — with … [Read more...] about Creating soft and dreamy still life photography
The InFocus Interview Show special edition with Joe Edelman and Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast May 3, 2019
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-joe-edelman-and-roberto-valenzuela-photofocus-podcast-may-3-2019/s-cjLFQ In this "Best Of" InFocus Interviews episode: Olympus Visionary photographer, author and photo educator Joe Edelman shares his insight on why he shot an assignment using the JPEG format and not RAW. Then it's Photographer, Educator, Author and a Canon Explorer of Light, Roberto Valenzuela. Roberto shares tips on how he uses Light to Communicate. We'd like to hear from you! Here’s your chance to interact with … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show special edition with Joe Edelman and Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast May 3, 2019
A look at lighting for still life photography
(Editor’s note: This guest article is by Julie Powell who lives in Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia. She is an award-winning still life photographer who loves to share her passion for this genre with others. She also loves helping other photographers learn this part of the craft. See more of her work on her website. Enjoy!) Do you struggle to capture great, well lit still life images? You are not alone, it seems to be one of the biggest hurdles most photographers face, but it doesn't have to be. In six easy steps, you can learn to harness any … [Read more...] about A look at lighting for still life photography
An introduction to still life photography
(Editor’s note: This guest article is by Julie Powell who lives in Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia. She is an award-winning still life photographer who loves to share her passion for this genre with others. She also loves helping other photographers learn this part of the craft. See more of her work on her website. Enjoy!) The art of still life and styling starts long before we press that shutter button. In the below article I'll talk about the secrets of what to do during the gather, shoot and edit. Still life — whether that is flowers, … [Read more...] about An introduction to still life photography
Photographing artwork for artists: The easy way
Artists can be picky when you photograph their work for reproduction. And who can blame them? Color is their world and any deviation from the vision can change the emotion of the art. I've been working with a way to shoot flat art that really simplifies setup and gets you better color and lighting than many other ways. No longer is there a need for polarizing filters and busting butt trying to get even light across the field of the artwork by trying to use 45 degree angles … See the diagram for the set up here's how it works for me … Lighting … [Read more...] about Photographing artwork for artists: The easy way
Portrait Tips: You need to get out more
I just attended WPPI in Las Vegas along with thousands of other photographers. The great thing about this conference is that it's focused on portraiture. There are all kinds of classes, but even if you only attend with a free expo pass, you can learn from speaker after speaker about tips for making the best portraits of your career and how to help your business grow. I've attended this conference for the last 10 years, as well as many other conferences. And you should, too. See new gear New gear won't make you a better photographer, but it … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: You need to get out more
Wedding photography: Capturing the first dance
Editor's note: This is a guest article from Florida based wedding photographer Richie Acevedo. Richie was one of the first photographers mentored by Vanelli many years ago. Impressed with how far he has come, Vanelli suggested Richie start sharing his knowledge through writing and video tutorials. Wedding photographers don’t have the luxury of a second chance to capture a bride and groom’s first dance. Here’s how — with a little coaching, lighting and teamwork — you can capture a beautiful moment that will be cherished for years. Coach the … [Read more...] about Wedding photography: Capturing the first dance
A quick look at the Lume Cube Professionals’ Pack
By itself, the Lume Cube is a powerful and capable 1500-lumen, 6000k color temperature light, in a small, portable and easy-to-use package. It is a 1.5" square aluminum housing with 1/4"-20 female threads that allow you to mount it in many different ways. It's waterproof to 100' and uses micro USB to power it or to recharge the battery. There is also a smartphone application you can get for your iOS or Android devices that use Bluetooth to remotely control the lights and you have 10 adjustable light levels including flash rates by pushing a … [Read more...] about A quick look at the Lume Cube Professionals’ Pack
Quick Tip: Kill the ambient light
Before lighting a subject in a studio environment, start with an empty set, leaving the overhead lights on. Dial in your desired exposure settings and take the first shot. Your goal is to create a completely black image. This will prove the ambient light will not affect your image when you proceed to light the subject. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Photography Strip Lighting" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Kill the ambient light
Huge holiday savings on lighting gear from B&H
Starting today, B&H is offering some amazing deals on lighting equipment, through Dec. 18. Check out all the lighting deals on bhphotovideo.com and use the promo code LIGHT for additional savings, or take a look below at each individual offering. Impact VC-500WLN 3-500Ws Digital Monolight with Transmitter Kit Originally $1099.95. Use the promo code LIGHT and the price will knock down to $799.99! Click here to learn more. Package includes three VC-500WLN Digital Monolights, three kit stands and 7" reflectors, one 24" x 36" softbox, … [Read more...] about Huge holiday savings on lighting gear from B&H
Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
This is a great question, but when you're getting going making portraits (and especially when you're buying gear) it often gets overlooked. How close should your light be to your subject? Furthermore, what effect does a different distance have on the photo? Let's start with the impact the distance makes. Feel free to skip to the last section for the quick answer. Closer is softer but more contrasty When you bring a light closer to your subject, you make it bigger in relation to your subject, and a bigger light is softer. For instance, the … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
Photographing portraits during Golden Hour
Shooting with speedlights on-location is a great way to be mobile, creative and light! We all know how heavy camera equipment can be. Speedlights on-location allows you to have the perfect light on your subject with a dramatic sky! I shot this photograph along the waterfront of downtown Sharjah, UAE during my Location Lighting Workshop at the Xposure International Photography Festival. I had a beautiful model and a beautiful golden light in the sky. How do I get dramatic color in the sky? You start with "the element you cannot control," … [Read more...] about Photographing portraits during Golden Hour
Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
It felt like early Christmas when I got my Lume Cube box delivery. The company guys sent multiple devices and accessories to try in order to see how I like them and for me to review. I've had one hands-on experience with these devices at the Photofocus Photowalk (at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City) but that's it. I have yet to discover almost everything about it. To become more familiar I am actually unboxing the Lume Cube and its accessories as I am writing this article. I thought I might as well bring you with me along the way so we could … [Read more...] about Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
First Look: Lume Cube AIR
The new Lume Cube AIR is even more compact than the original and with a longer battery life. It has a powerful magnet on the back for mounting to any ferrous surface and it includes two diffusions domes (one white and one for tungsten lights (CTO)). You can control all its features from the LumeX app, which is a free download from your mobile device's app store. The video below expounds on how to get started using it. We'll have more reviews and use cases coming soon, but for now, go pick up the new Lume Cube AIR and start creating. It's … [Read more...] about First Look: Lume Cube AIR
Portrait Tips: Street Portraits
The other day I was in New York City for PhotoPlus Expo and Photofocus hosted its annual photowalk. It's a highlight of my photography year and I hope you can join me next time, or at the next conference (like WPPI). I had the pleasure of making several portraits during our walk, and you might benefit from simple principles for making street portraits while photowalking. 1. It's just a portrait First of all, there's nothing different about street portraits. It's still a picture of a person, and you should do your best to make it a good one. … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Street Portraits
Four ways to photograph a white background
Editor's Note: We welcome Scott Wyden Kivowitz to the Photofocus team. Scott is a father and photographer whose dedication to teaching photographers comes through in a straightforward and no fluff style. Scott is also the Chief Community Officer at Imagely, the WordPress Photography People. Sometimes the simplest things can produce the most results. Sometimes the least expensive things can open up more doors than you ever thought was possible. Sometimes photography feels like magic. White backgrounds are such … [Read more...] about Four ways to photograph a white background
Quick Tip: Use an inexpensive pegboard for a creative portraits
If you’re getting bored shooting on the same background you can create a unique look by using a simple $15 pegboard as a background with a larger light positioned behind it shining through. Change it up by adding different color gels to the light. The key is to experiment, have fun and create great photos. Want to learn more? Check out this article, “Using a Pegboard to Shoot Creative Portraits” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use an inexpensive pegboard for a creative portraits
Quick Tip: Use a ring light to create killer catchlights in the eyes
A ring light adds unique lighting to a portrait. You place the lens through the middle of the light, causing the light to come from the same plane as the lens. This produces very few shadows and a unique catch light. There are several different types of ring lights. I used the Angler Circo LED Ring Light to capture this shot. It’s continuous, so what you see is what you get, making it easy to position your subject. To complete the look, I placed two strip boxes on each side of the subject and added a blue gel to one of them. Want to learn … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a ring light to create killer catchlights in the eyes
Portrait Tips: Try color to liven up a shoot
I know, I know, I'm always saying that the background is just in the back and the important thing is your subject. It kinda drives me crazy when photographers pull their hair trying to find backgrounds for their shoots. The most important thing in a picture is the person and their expression, the second is the light, and the background is way down the list. Nonetheless, the background needs to be there, and using a paper background gives you many options and can even add some energy to your shoot. Unlimited colors, unlimited fun Paper … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Try color to liven up a shoot
Quick Tip: Try wax or parchment paper as a diffuser when photographing food
Food Photographer Lou Mann suggests using wax or parchment paper as a diffuser to soften the light source when photographing food. Want to learn more? Check out this article, “5 Simple Lighting Tips for better Food Photography” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Try wax or parchment paper as a diffuser when photographing food
Quick Tip: Use a strip box to create an edge light
A strip box is a thin, rectangle softbox that is used to control where the light falls on a subject. This is very important when creating an edge light. For an edge light to be effective, it needs to be precise and light just the edge of the subject. Want to read more? Check out more in the article, “Photography Strip Lighting” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a strip box to create an edge light
Quick Tip: Meter one light at a time when working with multiple lights
When working with multiple lights, I find it easier working with one light at a time. Start with the main light and take a reading with a light meter. Once you enter these settings on your camera, turn the main light off and proceed to the next light—taking a meter reading to see if it is brighter or darker than the exposure in the camera. Adjust its power for the effect you want. Do this for each light. Once you have all the lights in place, turn them on and take a photograph to see how the extra lights affect the exposure. Want to learn … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Meter one light at a time when working with multiple lights
How to create an action portrait with venetian blinds
This action portrait was created using a three-light setup, a black background and, of course, a window blind. The light shining through the blinds was positioned low on a 45-degree angle with a honeycomb grid to control the direction of the light. A second light was placed high against the background, shooting straight down. We added a blue gel to give the black wall a little color. This light was wrapped with Cinefoil to ensure it only lit the background. The third light was positioned behind the subject, just above his shoulders — with a … [Read more...] about How to create an action portrait with venetian blinds
The InFocus Interview Show with Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast August 3, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-roberto-valenzuela-photofocus-podcast-august-3-2018/s-4Uqkl In this episode: Photographer, Educator, Author and a Canon Explorer of Light, Roberto Valenzuela shares his tips on Lighting to Communicate. Topics: Lighting to Communicate Why you need to Practice YouTube Channel Window Light vs. Reflector vs. Flash Picture Perfect Lighting Workshop Learning to be Proficient If you like these Infocus Interviews, please consider supporting our partners and … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast August 3, 2018
Freezing motion with light
Freezing motion with light is a fun way to create a sense of movement and expression. Having a concept in mind is foremost in every session created in my studio. All jokes aside about the hatred photographers have toward Pinterest, I’ve found it to be an awesome resource for storyboarding and creating themes for shoots. The first step is making sure you have the right talent in place — it’s important that the subjects can create movement with style and grace. Most dancers are incredibly graceful and can make the most amazing shapes with their … [Read more...] about Freezing motion with light
Portrait Tips: Watching and practice are key for kids
Do you ever feel like Nemo's dad, Marlin, from Finding Nemo? He meets a new group of fish and they say, "Hey, you're a clownfish: Say something funny!" Once people find out you're a photographer, the pressure is on to be able to make a great photo on the spot under any conditions and one of the hardest of those circumstances can be photographing children. But I've found one key that helps me photograph kids, and that's practicing being observant. Readiness from watching Now, don't go get your binoculars and hang out at the park, 'cause that's … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Watching and practice are key for kids
