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Ok, outdoor lighting gurus....
What would you do with this? I went out location-scouting today for this engagement shoot coming up on Sunday, and I'm in love with the idea of this wall (look familiar, Blur? 
). Love the way it looks and would really like to use it, but am at a loss how I could light it to make it interesting. I'm guessing that at the time of day we'll be there (later than these were taken), there will be little direct light of any kind because of the way the buildings will block it - I could be wrong, but I'd rather not count on amazing shafts of light or something yummy to reflect, and thus want to figure out something possible before I get there. I keep thinking of that amazing shot Jeff did of the senior in the red gown against an ivy wall, but I think that had more direct ambient on it. (Or maybe not?)
I was hoping to get away with bringing only one flash/umbrella (42" shoothru) setup just to avoid lugging stuff around since it will have to be carried rather than left out or in the car, but two flashes are possible if necessary. I use ETTL in general.
So... suggestions?
left side of alley
right side of alley
). Love the way it looks and would really like to use it, but am at a loss how I could light it to make it interesting. I'm guessing that at the time of day we'll be there (later than these were taken), there will be little direct light of any kind because of the way the buildings will block it - I could be wrong, but I'd rather not count on amazing shafts of light or something yummy to reflect, and thus want to figure out something possible before I get there. I keep thinking of that amazing shot Jeff did of the senior in the red gown against an ivy wall, but I think that had more direct ambient on it. (Or maybe not?)I was hoping to get away with bringing only one flash/umbrella (42" shoothru) setup just to avoid lugging stuff around since it will have to be carried rather than left out or in the car, but two flashes are possible if necessary. I use ETTL in general.
So... suggestions?
left side of alley
right side of alley
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- Wil
ETA: I should say DIRECTIONAL ambient - there will be light, just not where I want it
Every shot Jeff takes is amazing... you don't know this by now?
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He's the Mann (I'm sooo cheesy, I know) to talk to about outdoor lighting, and indoor, too. I've seen him in action, it's ah-mazing.
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1. Couple/bride against wall. Hard gridded light at them for super drama. Rake across wall as desired.
2. Couple/bride against wall. Natural light.
3. Couple/bride against wall. Boomed barelight light overhead for a "streetlamp" look. Probably need to zoom in flash head. Rake across wall as desired.
4. Couple/bride away from wall. Umbrella light to side. Adjust distance between couple/wall to get desired falloff.
5. Couple/bride away from wall. (about 10-15 feet) embracing. Wide shot, barebulb light on stand right behind couple (hidden from camera) blasting wall. Instant silhouette. Maybe this might be better if lit the wall from the side for more drama & flagged the couple to keep the silhouette.
6. Couple/bride away from wall. Meter a stop under ambient and back light the couple.
THANK YOU!!!!
Oh, one other question (sorry to keep asking, but I really and truly DO appreciate the input more than you can know!): what do you mean by "rake across the wall"?
When I say rake across the wall, I mean to feather the light. All of the above situations were done with one light (I work with one light most of the time, it's twice as fast as two!). If you plan on lighting the couple with one light, you will have plenty of falloff from that light spilling all over the scene. By putting the light close to the wall and pointing it at the couple you will be able to not only light the couple but also the portion of the wall that the light hits. The angle that you have between the wall and the light as it points to the couple will dictate how much of the wall is lit - as you point the light away from the wall, it has less and less light hitting it from your flash.
Here's an example - bride on a wall, gridded light up an camera left.
I like this shot a lot. Which grid do you use? Do you use it on your off-camera flash or you carry a strobe with you? Do you soften the light through the grid at all or it is all hard concentrated light? I was looking into getting one because I love the dramatic result it produces. I found this one:
http://www.garyfongestore.com/lightsphere-universal-powersnoot.html
What do you think? Do you have any experience with Gary Fong's products?
Los Angeles dance photographer
Website: http://www.allenparseghian.com
Keep those ideas coming, folks - I need all the help I can get! This whole shoot is definitely another step outside my (small) comfort zone, so all suggestions warmly welcomed
Hi Allen,
I haven't seen that particular Gary Fong devices, but I've modified my lightsphere long ago to match that. I took my old lightsphere (once I realized I would never use it again) and spray painted the thing black. Then you can just bungie cord any old strobe grid to the front. It has a very nice even falloff - which is why I prefer a grid to a snoot. Here's a link to the ones I use. They are much smaller (I carry two in my pockets on all shoots) and are sure quick to use.
Light is light, no matter if it comes from a hotshoe flash or a strobe. Sometime I use a flash, sometimes a strobe - it depends on the need. I think I used a gridded beauty dish for this shot. It's up to you if you want to use a larger light source or not, it just depends on the look you are going for.
Honl Photo Grids
Madeleine - to do something like that shot of Jeff's I would just use natural light and bump the contrast in post as needed. Way easier & quicker (plus less to carry!). Soft light needs large light sources. For lighting something that big, your 42" umbrella is going to get small pretty quick.
Also, my Nikon SB-800 can be used as a third light outdoors if we need it. I know you shoot Canon, but I can set the Nikon flash to optical slave mode. It actually picks up flash keenly well, even outdoors.
For that location, just do what Patrick says.
I'm so incredibly lucky here at dgrin - my only other e-shoot I had Blurmore handholding and giving me tons of advice (for which renewed thinks - you helped A LOT even if the couple's constant changing of times made it impossible for me to accept your generous offer to come on the day!) and this time Kerry's coming along to help me out.
Brad's tip on multiuse and cost savings. I have found myself traveling with toolboxes and equipment and stuff for work that if I was to get a proper travel case for would be way too difficult and ex$pen$ive. Instead what I have been using is huge luggage with wheels.
Also work has picked up a folding hand truck very similar to this one http://www.handtrucksrus.com/crashdetail.aspx?id=461 that has helped an awful lot at tradeshows.
Good luck
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Just as a price marker Amazon has a simple wire cart for $50
http://www.amazon.com/WHT-Helpers-39610-Swiveler-Four-Wheeled/dp/B0000CFGLP/ref=sr_1_9?s=garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1290810317&sr=1-9
http://www.danalphotos.com
http://www.pluralsight.com
http://twitter.com/d114
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Insulated-Folding-Trolley-Beige/dp/B000NUWCS0/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1290818162&sr=1-2
It will do very nicely for umbrellas, tripod and lightstand both now and in the future.
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Yeah, I have been known to do that on occasion. Sadly, this shoot is a freebie for a friend, so I can't really justify paying the child ... and she's made it clear she doesn't really work exclusively for mommy-bonding-time any more!!!!
The lovely Llywellyn will be with me, though, thank goodness. I'm WAY outside my comfort zone on this and nervous as anything, but I'm hoping that I've prepped the best I can and so at this point should just get out there, try to remember the things I know, and have some FUN. We'll see... ~crosses fingers and other limbs~
Kerry will be with you?!??? Lucky duck! She's awesome and I miss shooting with her!
And I know that you'll do well with shoot! Lucky isn't needed when you have skill!
Have fun!
Aw, the feeling's mutual! I was hoping to be out your way in February, but that looks like it will be canceled. Hopefully I'll get another opportunity soon!
I'm all packed with batteries charged and memory cards emptied, paint pole and softbox by the door. Let's rock this, diva!
Polaroid?
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Kerry, bless her wonderful, talented, thoughtful, helpful, brilliant self, had everything she needed and had intended to bring.
Yours truly turned up - having checked, re-checked, re-re-re-checked her bags last night and this morning a zillion times - to discover... no lightstand. I couldn't BELIEVE IT! Fortunately, I DID have my superclamp (amazing what you can do with that clipped to the handle of a shoppping bag ~whistles~) and Kerry had her Amazing Lighting Pole (I'll let her explain!) and so it was totally manageable, but geez what a doofus I am. (t was only when I got home just now that I realised what had happened and why it wasn't there: hubby'd tripped on the bit sticking out and it had been moved to avoid further accident, which I hadn't realised, but sheesh :bash)
On a plus note, the old-lady shopping cart is a major WIN (sorry Richy, no balls of string yet, but give me time
Just uploading the shots to the hard-drive while thawing out - it wasn't that cold, but with the wind off the harbour we were all absolutely chilled by the time we finished! I was convinced I had nothing but rubbish, but the first uploads are actually looking like there's some decent stuff in there :whew.
More in a bit... and, as ever, thanks for all the advice and encouragement!
You know, I did almost bring it along...
I instead focused on practicing getting the flare I've so long admired but never quite managed to get right. Diva thankfully let me practice in between light and reflector holding.
More later, I hope....!