Archive for the ‘Lighting’ Category

    

Don’t Leave Home Without a Reflector, Diffuser or Flash

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Travel photographs © Rick Sammon. Fashion photograph © Vered Koshlano

This post started out as just an observation: people all around the world paint their faces. In Brazil (bottom left), the Tarino Indians paint their faces so that when they go into the rain forest, the spirits recognize them and protect them, and help them with their hunt.

My point of that post was going to be that people are basically the same all over the planet – and that experiencing different cultures is a fascinating, rewarding and wonderful learning experience.

In looking at the photographs, however, I remembered that they all had something else in common: catch light in the eyes.

Catch light helps to draw our interest to the eyes. It makes the eyes “sparkle.”

We can add catch light with a reflector or a flash – or by carefully positioning the subject so that sunlight catches the eyes.

Now you know why I never leave home without a reflector or flash.

Explore the light,

Rick

See the diffusers, reflectors and other light modification tools in the OPG Store here.

Keep up with Rick at the Digital Photo Experience.

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Jump Into Creative Outdoor Lighting

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Here’s the first installment in a series I plan to post on quick lighting tips. Let us know if you want to see more stuff on lighting –  indoors and out.

These pictures were taken by Vered Koshlano, the co-author of my book, Studio and On-Location Lighting Secrets.

In the top photograph, a remote flash, mounted on a stand and placed in a softbox, was used to freeze the action of the model jumping. Compare the contrast and detail in that image to the second image. That image looks flat, because the day was overcast, and overcast days produce flat lighting.

The pictures below (clockwise, from top left) show:

• flat, overcast day lighting;

• how a reflector can brighten up the subject…

• how a flash creates even more contrast;

• and the remote flash set up that Vered used.

Explore the light,

Rick

Follow Rick and Juan Pons at the Digital Photo Experience.

Check out Vered's website here.

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See the Light – Capture the Light

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

©-Rick-Sammon

Here is a very quick tip: See the light.

Look for the direction of light (above: back light), the contrast range in a scene (above: medium), and the color of light (above: warm).

In the opening shot for this post, back light, which created beautiful rim light, makes the shot more than snapshot. The back light also adds a sense of depth to the image, much like a background light adds a sense of depth to a portrait.

Compare the light in the opening picture to the flat light in the photo below – which was taken in the shade.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. I took these pictures of the cute Bambie in my backyard this morning. Another tip: Always have a camera ready.

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Posted in Articles, Lighting, Quick Tip | 1 Comment »

HonL Speed System Flash Modifiers Mini Review

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 - All Rights ReservedCopyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved

I’ve been using flash modifiers literally since I was a teenager. I’ve made my own and bought just about every conceivable retail modifier made – but as of this year, I’ve dumped almost everything but my HonL stuff. Here’s why…

The HonL system starts with a brilliant device known as the HonLPhoto Speed Strap. This strap is the base of the HonL system and all their other accessories attach to it. Instead of having to attach rubber bands, tape or adhere sticky velcro tape to your flash, you simply use a Speed Strap. This means you can use the strap on any flash you own. You don’t have to buy additional velcro tape and adhere it to each flash.

The system looks like it was designed by a photographer and it was. David Honl certainly knows that controlling light is important.

speedstrap_web

One other thought – you’ve read the word system twice already. That’s not by accident. This isn’t just a ramshackle group of accessories you can use on your flash. This is indeed a system. Everything is designed to work within a system format and it makes the gear more valuable.

There are snoots, gobos and grids that can work together to everything from diffuse, direct and pump out the light from any traditional camera-mounted flash. There are even gel kits available.

The products are very well made and look like they will stand up to lots of abuse.

I tested the HonL system recently while leading the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop. I found the system extremely flexible, yet very portable. I opened up the 8″ speed snoot and used it as a giant bounce card on the back of the flash. It worked well on the portrait above, especially when combined with some fill.

Upon working with the system for a while I was really shocked to see you could combine parts (two gobo bounce cards) to create barn door effects and the grid spot look coming from my SB-900 after I added the HonL Speed Grids was amazing. I’ve never seen any other light modifier that can do this.

For less than $175 you can buy just about everything HonL makes and consider yourself covered for 95% of the situations you might encounter using portable flash.

At the end of the day I cannot say enough good things about David Honl’s products. They are portable, light weight, easy to pack, effective, easy to use and affordable. Highly recommended.

For more information, check out HonL products at the OPG Store:  link

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