Images from Mack Camera and the Upcoming Workshop at TF Camera

Tags

Expoimaging, fun, Mack Camera, off camera flash, Off camera flash workshop, Pockte Wizards Plus 3''s, Presentation, Rogue Flashbenders, SB910, strobist, TF Camera, Workshop

Hi and welcome back.

Last Saturday’s event at Mack Camera in Springfield, NJ was a huge success!  Missed it, then join us on September 15 at TF Camera in Vineland, NJ.

Here are a few shots from the day.

In this shot I used direct overhead flash with a Large Flashbender and diffusion panel:

In this shot I did a three speedlght high key setup with Large Flashbenders: one as the main light and two on the background with Large Flashbenders as flags:

 

In this next shot, we got really creative with the Large Flashbender.  Once you get comfortable with your gear, begin to experiment with light and subject placement:

 

Then we headed outside with a single SB910 and a Large Flashbender:

Interested in shooting like this and seeing for yourself how the Rogue Flashbenders can work for you?  Then join us at TF Camera in Vineland, NJ on September 15 for another fun day of shooting and learning OCF.

Here’s the link: TF Camera

Thanks for stopping, and till next time, happy shooting!

 

 

One Speedlight 6 Ways Workshop at Simple Studios, NYC

Tags

NYC, NYC workshops, off camera flash, Off camera flash workshop, Speedlighting, strobist, Workshop

Hi and welcome back.

This Saturday I’m running a 3 hour workshop at Simple Studios in NYC.

This is a shooting workshop, so bring your cameras and let’s use 6 simple lighting setups to get great results 6 different ways!

Details:

Simple Studios, 134 West 29th Street, second floor

Cost: $100.00

One speedlight 6 ways: reflective umbrella, shoot through umbrella, over and under beauty, bounce flash, one light into two, on light high key

We go from 2-5 in the studio and have a blast!

This is a shooting event, so bring your camera and lens kit.

Professional model supplied

All OCF equipment supplied

Professional styling supplied

You can register by using the Paypal link above.

Here are a few samples of what you’ll learn:

Come join me as spots are limited!

 

Flash of the Titans IV

Tags

Capture One Pro 6, Lastolite triflector, Nikon, off camera flash, Orbis Ring Flash, Photoflex, Photography education, strobist, X Rite Color Checker Passport

Hi and welcome back.

I run lighting series with my local camera shop, Milford Photo, comparing two lighting systems: Off Camera Flash to Studio Strobe.

This is a fun an lively event, usually well attended by novices and pros alike, that compares the two styles of lighting and see if there is one direction or another they want to go in their photography or just get to use equipment they wouldn’t have access to.

Unfortunately, I have no strobe lighting examples as I was extra busy on the speedlight side.  I set up 3 stations and shot both models under the same conditions.  Take a look at how I did on the OCF side:

Nikon SB800, Photoflex Shoot Through Umbrella from the top down, Lastolite Triflector on the bottom for that contrasty wrapping light:

In this setup I used a single SB800 into a shoot through umbrella high and from the right for that simple magazine cover look.  I also used a blowit fan to put volume in their hair:

For the last look, I used a SB900 into an Orbis Ring Light and pushed my ISO to 400 to handle the 1 stop loss of light that the Orbis eats up:

Many thanks to our two models, Bernadette and Miranda for being great and fun!

Equipment used:

Photoflex 45″ Convertible Umbrella

Lastolite Triflector Mark II

Blowit Fan

Orbis Ring Light

All things considered, I think the OCF images came out just as well as the strobe light.

If you are attending or are planning to attend a presentation/workshop with me at Calumet, Milford Photo, BH, Photo Connections, or Adorama, this is what you have to look forward to learning how to create.

That’s it for now.  Till next time, happy shooting!

Speedlights and the P90X Look

Tags

black and white, Capture One Pro 6, Lastolite Ezybox, Nikon, off camera flash, P90X, Pocket Wizards, strobist, Westcott 28 Apollo

Hi and welcome back.

During one of my advanced speedlight classes, Ray came in to model for the P90X black and white fitness look.

To achieve this look, I used:

Nikon SB900 @ 1/2 power, Pocket Wizard Plus II’s, Lastolite 24×24 Ezybox with Adorama grid directly above

SB800 @ 1/4 power, Westcott 28″ Apollo, camera left

I set the exposure then went for something in that dramatic black and white style.

This is a really cool and fun technique done with simple equipment.

I used Capture One Pro 6 for all the raw conversions and the High Contrast Portrait Black and White Preset Style.

Simple, quick, and just fantastic results.

That’s it for now.  Till next time, happy shooting!

One Speedlight High Key and One Click Photo Adjustment

Tags

Capture One, Flex TTL, Manfrotto, Mini TT1, Mini TT5, Nikon, off camera flash, Photoshop CS5, Pinup, Pocket Wizard Flex, strobist

Hi and welcome back.

Recently Stacey came in for some portfolio shots.  She wanted something in the pinup style, so we decided on something easy and colorful to fit the shoot.

I shot against a white backdrop and used one speedlight.  Normally I would use white seamless paper, but the walls of my studio are painted white so I purchased 2 white masonite boards from Lowe’s in 4′ x 8′ sheets and put them on the floor and up to the wall.  Honestly, I was sick and tired of buying seamless paper.

Usually, white needs to be lit separately, but I tried a new technique.  I used one SB900 into a shoot through umbrella to light the entire scene with a flat, soft, direct light.

Here’s an initial shot, notice the perfect exposure on Stacey but the gray back ground, also notice the color difference between the wall and the masonite on the floor:

Because white really needs to be lit separately, the entire background is gray, but with  one click in Photoshop, I processed the final image to this:

I brought the initial image into Photoshop and brought up the Levels Layer, then I chose the White Dropper and clicked on the upper right corner of the image.  This took the gray background and did a one click adjustment on the whites, which turned the gray to white and increased saturation and contrast.

Here’s the original:

Here’s the correction:

With one click, I adjusted and created the perfect white seamless paper backdrop.

Here’s the behind-the-scenes shot:

And a few more from the sitting:

Equipment list for this shot:

Nikon D3, 50mm 1.8

Manfrotto 1052 BAC Lightstand

Manfrotto D520L 40″ grip extension

Manfrotto D200 grip head

Pocket Wizard Flex

Photoflex Shoot Through Umbrella

Matthews 10pd Boa Shot Bag

Nikon SB900, with SD9 battery pack

That’s it for now.  I’ll try and post more often.

Till next time, happy shooting!

B+H Photo NYC Times Square Workshop

Tags

BH Photo, Event Space, NYC, off camera flash, Pocket Wizard, strobist, Times Square, Workshop

Hi and welcome back.

I will be presenting off camera flash again at the B+H Photo Event Space on November 14 from 3-5.

I’ll be offering an off camera flash workshop in Times Square that same evening from 8-10ish.

Cost: $60.00, Event Space Pricing

Time: 8-10ish

Place: Times Square, we’ll meet at the Police Substation between 7th and 8th Ave.

If you are interested in getting fun shots in Times Square, learning how to gel a flash for color balancing, and just want to have fun, then sign on now!

Bernadette, my model for the Event Space Presentation will model for me again so you can get shots like this:

Contact me at rvh34@hotmail.com or 203-641-2880.

Space is limited, so sign on now!!

Pocket Wizard Flex

Tags

Creative Light Softbox, education, Nikon, Nikon D3, Pocket Wizard Flex TTL, professional photographer, SB900, strobist, TT1, TT5

Hi and welcome back.

Last night I ran an event with Milford Photo and Ray Nason of Mac Group.  We demonstrated the new Pocket Wizard Flex TTL system.

One of the highlights of the night was the use of High Speed Sync and Hypersync, which allows you to use faster-than-normal shutter speeds.

Here I used an SB900 into a 24 x 36 Creative Light Softbox.

Exposure for this shot:

1/2000 @ f/2.8, ISO 800

Here I used a strobe light and went to Hypersync mode.  I used a Profoto 300 ws strobe with beauty dish:

Exposure:

1/1000 @ f/4, ISO 200

The Pocket Wizard Flex TTL system is an extremely versatile system that you can use to fire small flashes and big strobes alone or side by side.  If you don’t have it yet, look into it as it will help you get your work to the next level.

Till next time, happy shooting!

EP Levine

Tags

black and white, Corporate Headshot, creative, education, EP Levine, off camera flash, Photoflex shoot through umbrella, Pocket Wizards, Portfolio, Presentation, professional photographer, SB800, SB900, strobist, teaching

Hi and welcome back.

I’ll be doing a sponsored presentation on Tuesday, November 1 at EP Levine in Waltham, MA.

Check it out and see if you can join me for a great day of Off Camera Flash:

Linley Channnels January Jones

Tags

beauty, black and white, Corporate Headshot, Creative Light Grid, Creative Light Softbox, CT Boudoir Photographer, CT Wedding photographer, education, fashion, fun, Model, modeling, Nikon, Nikon D3, off camera flash, Pocket Wizards, Portfolio, portrait, portrait photography, professional photographer, Rogue Flashbender Grid, SB800, SB900, strobist, studio, teaching

Hi and welcome back.

It has been a crazy time this past few weeks, but in that time I ran a workshop on high contrast black and white advertising imagery.  I took my inspiration from an ad campaign for Versace shot by Mario Testino last year.

We used two speedlights for Linley, my model for the shoot.

One SB900 into a gridded Creative Light 24×36 softbox

One SB800 into a Rogue Flashbender Grid for the lower fill light.

Here’s a finished shot and the BTS shot: Enjoy!

I got incredible shots with the most basic equipment.  It’s amazing what you can do with some forethought and a wonderful model.

Thank you Dave for letting me use the space and Linley for being so great.

Till next time, happy shooting.

Simply Eliza

Tags

Bat Mitzvah, beauty, brunette, Corporate Headshot, creative, CT Wedding photographer, education, fashion, headshots, high school senior portraits, light, modeling, Nikon, Nikon D3, off camera flash, one light, Photoflex shoot through umbrella, Pocket Wizards, portrait, portrait photography, professional photographer, Sassy, SB900, strobist, studio

Hi and welcome back.

Eliza came in the other day for a fun pre-Bat Mitzvah portrait sitting.

We had a blast and used of course off camera flash for all these shots: SB900, Photoflex shoot through umbrella.

Congratulations to Eliza, and I’ll see you May 14th!

Many thanks to Sallie’s Airbrush Makeup for giving Eliza the royal treatment!

That’s it for now.  Till next time, happy shooting!