Set-up a Portrait Studio Almost Anywhere

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I'm just back from my weekend workshop organized by Amy Davies, who heads up Photography Events by Amy in Plymouth, MA. Great fun as always, and I can't wait for our 2013 workshop.

Day two was about speedlites. My goal was to illustrate that you can set up a portrait studio almost anywhere - and get cool results - with two speedlites and a few inexpensive accessories.


Our "studio" for the shoot was the hallway of an office building in Plymouth. Above is a behind-the-scenes shot.

The main light was positioned above and in front of the model, and to camera right. A grid was placed over the speedlite to focus the light. The speedlite was aimed at the model.

The background light was positioned to camera left and slightly behind the model. It was aimed at the background. A blue gel was placed over the speedlite, which was fired through a cardboard cutout.

Both speedlites were set at TTL. The main speedlight was set to 0 EV, and the background speedlite was set to – 2 EV, so as not to blast the background with light.

Both speedlites were fired via a radio transmitter/receiver set. My camera was set on the Manual exposure mode.

I demonstrate this and other speedlite set-ups on some of my workshops and at my seminars. I hope to see you there.

Gear for this shoot:
Canon 5D Mark III.
Canon 24-105mm IS lens.
Canon Speedlite 580EX II (two), which has been replaced with 600EX- RT.
Phottix TTL wireless transmitter/receiver - transmitter on camera, receiver on each speedlite.
Two stands from Westcott Apollo softbox kit.
Honl gel kit.
Honl grid.
Honl speed strap (for attaching grids and gels to speedlite)
Hand-made and expertly crafted cardboard cutout :-)

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Learn more about light in my latest Kelby Training class - Light, the main element in every photograph. My apps also include lighting tips.

"Coney Island Creative" Photo Walk: 10.21.12

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Nik Silver Efex Pro: Antique Plate.
We are looking for 60 creative photographers to join us for our first-ever "Coney Island Creative" Photo Walk: October 21 from 4 to 6 PM. We'll meet under the Parachute Jump at 4 PM sharp on the boardwalk. Be there or be square for the group photo.

Of course, the event is free.

The idea is to shoot with a creative effect in mind - to remove some of the reality of a scene by using a Nik Software product: Silver Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro or Snapseed.

FYI: you can get a 15% discount on all Nik plug-ins on the Nik site but using this code upon checkout: RSAMMON.

We'll also focus on composition. If you like the composition of the lead-off photo in this post, check out my class - Composition, the strongest way of seeing.

Nik Snapseed, Vintage effect.
You need to register for this event: contact Susan Sammon.

Here's a great quote from John Lennon: Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.

Nik Color Efex Pro, Old Photo effect.
On our walk, we'll use our imagination to create artistic and creative effects.

Nik Color Efex Pro, Polaroid effect.
Coney Island offers tons of photo ops. I'll be there to help you turn snapshots into creative shots. The first step, however, is to see the light - which is the topic of my latest Kelby Training class.

I took all of the above images with my Canon 5D Mark III.

Susan took the images below with her iPhone. So: bring your SLR or iPhone for an afternoon of creative photo fun. If you have an iPhone, check out this cool lens system that can expand your creativity.

Nik Snapseed, Drama effect.
Come hungry! There are plenty of places to eat during the walk, including the world famous Nathans!

Nik Snapseed, Details and Structure effect.
We'll be at Coney Island until sunset, so you'll get great light!

Nik Snapseed, Vintage and Grunge effect.
After the shoot, we want to see you images on-line. You can post them on my Photo workshops/photo walks Facebook page. Get feedback. Grow as a photographer.

If you can't wait for the photo walk and want more intensive photography training, I have one spot open on my Croton Creative workshop.

I hope to see you in Coney Island!

Explore the light,
Rick

Most Popular Posts

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Hey Gang -

I am taking a few days off from posting. Until I return, here are the most poplar posts for the past two weeks. Enjoy.



How Do You Get Inspired - and Stay Inspired?

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All artists - and as a photographer you are an artist - need inspiration.

Photographers get inspired in many different ways: looking at the work of others, challenging themselves with new techniques, shooting with other photographers . . . and maybe even just going for a walk.

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.  – Raymond Inmon

 Reading is an another was to get inspired and grow.

 The more that you read, the more things you will know  – Dr. Seuss

Getting inspired is one thing - staying inspired is another.

As photographers, I feel as though we are all in this together. If you have a technique for getting and staying inspired, please share it here in the blog comments - as opposed to on Facebook, Google+ etc. That way, all the positive thoughts will be in one place for all to see.

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning. – Peter De Varies 

Thank you.

Explore the light,
Rick

Speedlite Session at N4C Convention in Des Moines

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Emily Weber was our talented model for the session.
A big thank you to the folks at the N4C convention and Des Moines Camera Club for inviting me to present two sessions at their annual event yesterday. Great folks, great fun.

After my presentation, Exploring the Light, I gave a speedlite session, using two Canon 600EX-RT speedlites and my Canon ST-E3 RT radio transmitter.

Photograph by Shane Abbitt
My goal was to demonstrate that even in a hotel meeting room, creative speedlite photographs are possible . . . if you "take the darn flash off the camera," which is my #1 flash photography tip.

I also demonstrated how easy it is to control the flash output of the new Canon speedlites with the new ST-E3 RT wireless transmitter.

I took the opening image for this post while my new friend and assistant (and scientist in real life) Jerry Ranch held a Westcott 28-inch Apollo softbox above the model, who was positioned against a black background. I added the Diffuse Glow filter in Photoshop CS4 to add an additional glow to the glow of our model, Emily Weber.


During my demos, I like to get the attendees involved. Left: voice-activated light stand Shane Abbitt, another new friend, helps out. Right: Jerry Ranch adds some fun and light to the session.

Here are a few quick lighting tips: light illuminates, shadows define; the larger the light the softer the light; the closer the light the softer the light. Want a dramatic portrait? Don't light the entire subject.


Above: Another hotel meeting room shot. I used one speedlite (grid added to focus the light) positioned to camera right to illuminate the model, and another speedite (blue gel added) fired through a cardboard cutout to illuminate the white background.

Jerry "Huevos" Ranch and Rick "The Godfather" jam after the session. Shane Abbitt photo.
One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling and giving seminars is that I get to meet interesting people, many of whom become my friends. Des Moines was no exception. I hope to be back soon for another photo session – and another jam session with photographer/scientist/musician Jerry Ranch.  

My next speedlite session and seminar is in Canada later this month.

Click here for all my events.

You'll find more lighting tips in my apps, Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet and Light It! See my apps page.

Explore the light,
Rick

Here's another post I did on the new Canon speedlite system.