If you're like most photographers, using a flash to make portraits is intimidating. Using available light is so simple that most photographers never dive into the world of using flash to light their portraits. Unfortunately, that severely limits the hours of the day when you can make pictures and leads to worrying too much about how well your camera performs at high ISO's. Making great balanced light pictures doesn't require the fanciest tools or a full-frame camera. I shot all the pictures here with a cropped micro four-thirds camera. You can … [Read more...] about How to balance flash with natural light to make pleasing portraits
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Find Great Light on the Edge
Tony Corbel, a true master of lighting, taught me to practice seeing great light everywhere I go, and the more I look the more I find it. One place I always find a good patch of portrait light is right at the edge of bright sunlight. In this first picture, Brad is facing a large floor to ceiling window with bright sunlight shining directly in. If he stands in the full sunlight, there will be too much contrast in the light and dark sides of his face. He’ll have deep shadows under his brow, and the dark side of his face will be far darker than … [Read more...] about Find Great Light on the Edge
Using V-Flats with Backlit Portraits
When using backlighting in an image, the first thing to decide on the light source. For beauty portraits, I prefer to use natural light, as it has a soft and lovely look to it, but this can easily be accomplished with studio lighting. In this tutorial, images are taken using a very large window diffused by sheer white curtains. The curtains I used for this window are simple netted curtains from IKEA named LILL and are just $4.99 a set. There are 3 sets on the curtain rod and a pair of VIVIAN curtains that can be purchased for $9.99. I have … [Read more...] about Using V-Flats with Backlit Portraits
Adding Light – The Difference Just One Light Can Make
When I first started out with photography, natural light was my best friend. I didn't have money for lights, so I learned to shoot using what was available to me. Shoot after shoot, I'd tuck a little money away into a gear fund to save up for lights. Natural light can get you pretty far, but adding just one light can really take you up to the next level. On a recent video shoot, I was able to snap a comparison frame between a shot lit naturally and a shot lit with a mix of natural and artificial light. The building I was in had massive … [Read more...] about Adding Light – The Difference Just One Light Can Make
Westcott Ice Lights Saved my Shoot – Vincent Versace | Stories from the Set
Stories from the set takes you behind the scenes with top photographers as they talk about the challenges it takes to get the shot. [youtube:http://youtu.be/bdBheOv8Vm4] Robert Vanelli sits down with pro photographer Vincent Versace to discuss his approach to lighting. Learn how ICE Lights were uses on a recent shoot. Vincent Versace is an internationally recognized pioneer in the art and science of digital photography. His passion for natural light photography is manifest not only in his work but also through his role as a creative … [Read more...] about Westcott Ice Lights Saved my Shoot – Vincent Versace | Stories from the Set
How I Got the Shot: Controlling Natural Light with a Diffuser
Midday, with the sun at its highest point in the sky, has often been typecast as the worst time to take outdoor photos. With the light falling straight down, little to no light falls on the subject from the side producing dark shadows. The eyes on portrait often become very dark. Some say it's best to put the camera away for a few hours and wait it out. But what if that's not an option? What if that's the only time you have to get the shot? To solve this problem, we used a diffuser to control natural light. This is how I go the shot. Quick … [Read more...] about How I Got the Shot: Controlling Natural Light with a Diffuser
Music, Laughter, and a Senior Portrait | How I Got the Shot
A portrait is about capturing the subject's personality. Senior portraits take it a step further, capturing a specific moment in a teen's life. If you are not familiar with the teen, ask them questions. I know Courtney and I know she's a free spirit. She loves playing guitar. As she was relaxing playing a song, I decided to switch gears. I cracked a joke; something about if she has life figured out after high school. She stopped and started laughing. I quickly started ripping frames, capturing a candid shot. This is how I got the shot. Quick … [Read more...] about Music, Laughter, and a Senior Portrait | How I Got the Shot
The Beauty of Available Light
I spend a lot of time working with strobes. As a commercial advertising photographer I find myself in many situations requiring some pretty complex lighting solutions. Don't get me wrong, strobes are super groovy and lighting challenges are always relished but there is something really magical about shedding the hardware. Every once in a while I enjoy shooting with just a light meter, camera, a card and available light. No computers, strobes, cords, flags, stands or radio syncs. I was recently contacted by Jennifer Ludington, owner of … [Read more...] about The Beauty of Available Light
Short Light: The Professional’s Choice for Making Great Architecture and Landscape Photographs
Portrait photographers like David Ziser and Clay Blackmore taught me very early in my career that great portraits are almost always short lit, and that made me happy. Knowing that a simple technique could give me a leg up in making great portraits was music to my ears. Unfortunately, I didn't really understand what that meant for a long time. Once I realized exactly what short lighting is, I saw that almost every photograph of every subject, from landscapes to libraries, is likely to be more successful if it's short lit. What is short … [Read more...] about Short Light: The Professional’s Choice for Making Great Architecture and Landscape Photographs
