Some recent work

Swartzy · February 17, 2009

More studio shots from Sunday. Since there have been many threads on lighting, set ups, etc., thought to share these as some examples. Some are natural light, some w/1 AB800 and reflector. I can expound should any care to know.

#1

#2 1 580 EX w/PW behind subject for rim light

#3 AB800 w/softbox CL, reflector (large) CR

#4 AB800 CR/shoot through diffuser panel, reflector CL

#5 Natural light/reflector

#6 AB800 w/softbox CR, reflector wall CL

Thanks for looking :lust

Qarik · February 17, 2009

bang on! crisp, well lit, well posed, nice looking models.

very good stuff

Swartzy · February 17, 2009

Qarik wrote:

bang on! crisp, well lit, well posed, nice looking models. very good stuff

From one Dude to another........."Thanks Dude"

JeriAmrine · February 17, 2009

Holy moly, these are good! What sort of reflector are you using? I like all the setups, but #3 and 4 catch my eye the most.

Swartzy · February 17, 2009

JeriAmrine wrote:

Holy moly, these are good! What sort of reflector are you using? I like all the setups, but #3 and 4 catch my eye the most.

Thanks Jeri. The cage shots: Reflector was like a huge portable folding wall..brought it in close. The blond: harnessed the light from the window near me then threw it her way.

marikris · February 17, 2009

Swartzy wrote:

Thanks Jeri. The cage shots: Reflector was like a huge portable folding wall..brought it in close. The blond: harnessed the light from the window near me then threw it her way.

Ok, I have a question, though it's kind of a non sequitir. What camera setting do you use? I mean between portrait mode, faithful, natural etc.

Swartzy · February 17, 2009

marikris wrote:

Ok, I have a question, though it's kind of a non sequitir. What camera setting do you use? I mean between portrait mode, faithful, natural etc.

Although my camera is set to "Faithful" it is of no consequence since all my work is shot in RAW....Manual, Custom WB (always changing it in post though....

).

heatherfeather · February 17, 2009

Holey moses. These are great!
Niiiice
Favs are #3 & #4

marikris · February 17, 2009

Swartzy wrote:

Although my camera is set to "Faithful" it is of no consequence since all my work is shot in RAW....Manual, Custom WB (always changing it in post though....).

Oh ok! I always shot in portrait mode in raw and, though I usually pp a lot, I am going to try faithful to see how that would affect my pp. I think the quality of your photographs are fantastic!

Agnieszka · February 17, 2009

Dave, those are PHENOMENAL!!! WOW!!!

eL eSs Vee · February 17, 2009

Wow! Excellent ork! I could learn a lot from you!

Wait . . . I just did in my thread, too! Thanks!

divamum · February 17, 2009

beeeyoootiful!

Presumably these were prof models (and you had a stylist)? The different looks on the blond are wonderful! Yeah, well, the lighting might have had something to do with that too....

bow

Nikolai · February 17, 2009

Lovely!

joshhuntnm · February 18, 2009

great shots and thanks for the set up info. i followed most of it!

Ed911 · February 18, 2009

I think you should be giving classes. These are really good.

A lot of people think you have to have half a dozen lights and tons of studio equipment to take decent photographs. I think you have demonstrated that if you know what you are doing...a little goes a long way.

I'm assuming that you metered your lights...AB800 anyway...care to share your settings. Any tips.

Thanks for sharing.

Swartzy · February 18, 2009

Ed911 wrote:

I think you should be giving classes. These are really good.

A lot of people think you have to have half a dozen lights and tons of studio equipment to take decent photographs. I think you have demonstrated that if you know what you are doing...a little goes a long way.

I'm assuming that you metered your lights...AB800 anyway...care to share your settings. Any tips.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Ed. Yes, a light meter is critical. I know many who simply use the histogram but that doesn't allow for correct metering concerning ratios....and the camera uses a "reflective" metering system versus the "incident" of the light meter. For single people shots I typically will shoot at a lower aperture....less stress on lighting equipment, more pop, etc. Anywhere between f/4.5 to f/6.3 depending. Some at f/4.0...sometimes even at f/2.8....it all depends on how much of the subject's face to the back of the head will be in focus and of course the distance to subject/focal length considerations.

Full or half body shots typically f/4.5 is sufficient. The couple and the blond shot against the cage were at f/6.3. Many times for portrait sessions I meter for f/9 so everything is tack sharp and have the subjects out away from the bg (say at least 8 feet).

A light meter will enable you to ascertain the power/f stop of each light independently as well as collectively if using 2,3,4 etc. Simple can be better but it is really about using the shadows to one's advantage. A reflector is a great aid but find that at times it is not enough for a particular look....so, I may pull in another light, meter that at a third of the key for fill. The idea is to start with a concept, think about where the light source should come from, then build from there.

Some of the natural light shots were at f/4.5, ISO 1250, 1/60th. Hope this makes sense.

Here is one at f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/160th. Softbox/reflector

Ed911 · February 18, 2009

Swartzy wrote:

Thanks Ed. Yes, a light meter is critical. I know many who simply use the histogram but that doesn't allow for correct metering concerning ratios....and the camera uses a "reflective" metering system versus the "incident" of the light meter. For single people shots I typically will shoot at a lower aperture....less stress on lighting equipment, more pop, etc. Anywhere between f/4.5 to f/6.3 depending. Some at f/4.0...sometimes even at f/2.8....it all depends on how much of the subject's face to the back of the head will be in focus and of course the distance to subject/focal length considerations.

Full or half body shots typically f/4.5 is sufficient. The couple and the blond shot against the cage were at f/6.3. Many times for portrait sessions I meter for f/9 so everything is tack sharp and have the subjects out away from the bg (say at least 8 feet).

A light meter will enable you to ascertain the power/f stop of each light independently as well as collectively if using 2,3,4 etc. Simple can be better but it is really about using the shadows to one's advantage. A reflector is a great aid but find that at times it is not enough for a particular look....so, I may pull in another light, meter that at a third of the key for fill. The idea is to start with a concept, think about where the light source should come from, then build from there.

Some of the natural light shots were at f/4.5, ISO 1250, 1/60th. Hope this makes sense.

Here is one at f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/160th. Softbox/reflector

Very nice. I appreciate your taking time to share your technique. Thanks.

cj99si · February 18, 2009

Very nice! What was this shoot for?

Swartzy · February 18, 2009

cj99si wrote:

Very nice! What was this shoot for?

My personal crazy passion

rofl

rofl Actually, we had a get together (50 photographers, 10 models, MUA's)......I shoot with only 2 others as we work very well together..so we kind of do our own gig on these type shoots. Ideas flow, creative poses, lighting...even though we have our own styles and vision we compliment one another's eye and skills.

Agnieszka · February 18, 2009

Dave, the last one is stunning!!! My mouth literally dropped when I saw them, ... just gorgeous work (I know I mentioned it already in a earlier post), .... but ...

Swartzy · February 18, 2009

Agnieszka wrote:

Dave, the last one is stunning!!! My mouth literally dropped when I saw them, ... just gorgeous work (I know I mentioned it already in a earlier post), .... but ...

Thank you Angie! As if you couldn't tell...I live for this stuff.

I'm so glad you like them. Now how cool could it be to have wedding shots posed like this, eh????

Agnieszka · February 18, 2009

Seriously!!

Swartzy · February 18, 2009

Thanks Nik, Divamum & Josh...appreciate you stopping by. Nik...we seriously need to shoot together dude.

Swartzy · February 18, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

Holey moses. These are great!
Niiiice
Favs are #3 & #4

Hey Fred! Thanks

Have to do something fun indoors with this crazy "Alaskian" type weather here in Minnesota..

WingsOfLovePhoto · February 18, 2009

I wanna be just like Swartzy when I grow up. Seriously good stuff dude!

And someday I would love you to tell me how to use the light meter I have. I makes no sense to me. Ugh.....

Swartzy · February 20, 2009

WingsOfLovePhoto wrote:

I wanna be just like Swartzy when I grow up. Seriously good stuff dude! And someday I would love you to tell me how to use the light meter I have. I makes no sense to me. Ugh.....

Thanks Sandy. The light meter isn't that difficult to use. I will say in the digital world you'll need to keep your eye on the histogram and preview your LCD (that's a real plus....instant feedback) and see where the shadows exist...then adjust accordingly.

ERue · February 20, 2009

Wow, just gorgeous...all of it, the shots themselves, the lighting, the models. The girl in the last photo sure has perfect skin!

joshhuntnm · February 21, 2009

ERue wrote:

Wow, just gorgeous...all of it, the shots themselves, the lighting, the models. The girl in the last photo sure has perfect skin!

I am guessing the skin wasn't perfect before swartzy got ahold of it!

urbanaries · February 21, 2009

dang,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

3 and 4 really knock my block off.

can you describe the background in 3? was it created with lighting effects?

Did you enlarge her eyes in PS in 4? They look ginormously gorgeous!

:ivar

clemensphoto's · February 21, 2009

WOW! Great series

dogwood · February 22, 2009

Nice work, esp. like # 3

Some recent work

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