Studio lighting workshops ~ day 1 pictures

February 10th, 2010

Tango the dog finally gets to share the stage with Sarah. Shot using a Broncolor ring flash plugged into my Mobil kit.

Tango the dog finally gets to share the stage with Sarah. This shot was lit using a Broncolor ring flash plugged into my trusty Mobil A2R kit. Wall colour was provided by Dulux.

Wow what a day! We shot simple set ups, and created repeatable dynamic images. We studied shadows, the qualities of light and had fun on the way.

The shoot started with a simple boudoir lighting set up. It doesn't matter weather you use a sofa, bed, bean bag or open space, upstage lighting is very flattering without being too revealing.

First outing for the checker floor and white wall zone. splash of colour was provided by Lovegrove Studio Collection LC31 gel.

This was the first outing for the checker floor and white wall zone in the rear corner of the studio. A splash of harmonic colour was provided by Lovegrove Studio Collection LC34 gel.

LC31 set the scene for this shot of Sarah

I used LC20 for this shot of Sarah

LC30 set the mood for this shot. This four light shot was taken against my grey studio wall.

A quick switch of gel and the mood swung again

A quick switch of gel to LC 21 and the mood changed again

The colour in this shot was provided by a Colourama Coffee paper background roll

The LoveCube™ had to play it's part in the day too.

I couldn't resist an Atlas pose. The LoveCube™ isn't really that heavy, trust me. I popped a Speedlight inside fitted with a Sto-Fen and a Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 as a trigger.

I brought out the Fresnel head on my Mobil kit to light this exquisite shot. The transition from lit to unlit area is just perfect. It puts honeycomb grids and snoots into the shade.

I brought out the Fresnel head on my Broncolor Mobil kit to light this exquisite shot. The transition from lit to unlit area is just perfect. It puts honeycomb grids and snoots into the shade.

Just one close up from the plethora of shots lit with the Fresnel lensed light.

This high key shot was lit with one light and is probably one of the easiest in the set to take.

The colour 'Russian Velvet' looks so good I bought the dot com. Tomorrow's set of pictures features my Russian velvet paint at the next level.

I’d love you to join me on a studio lighting shoot experience. The journey of discovery and creativity will leave you inspired and empowered to shoot more pictures that will sell. My studio is equipped with 3 Bowens Gemini Pro R flash heads, 4 Bowens Prolites that I bought in the mid 90′s and my Broncolor Mobil kit. It’s all quite normal kit and my studio space is just 7m x 5m. All the systems and knowledge I use to shoot is freely shared with you my delegates.

Please feel free to comment on these pictures.

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20 Comments Add your own

1. Gemma | February 10th, 2010 at 11:04 pm

Wow, what an amazing and inspirational set of shots. The lighting is just perfect, of course. Love the ‘Russian Velvet’ too!
2. Ian Freelance | February 11th, 2010 at 7:43 am

As always – cracking images. The fresnel attached to a mobil head is a joy to use and the images you have produced show that perfectly. The boudoir shot is also a lovely image and looking at the shadows and highlights I have a pretty good idea upon the lighting set-up, but for those of us not familiar with the term “upstage lighting” could you please help us to better understand?
Thanks again Damien and see you on home soil in Amsterdam.
Regards
Ian
3. Tara Taylor | February 11th, 2010 at 9:17 am

Great shots Damien! I love the use of the colour gels to change the mood.
4. Iona Matheson-Long | February 11th, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Hi Damien

Absolutely loved my day with you, Sarah, Joseph and Colin. Still ploughing my way through all the fab pictures you helped me take! Glad you stuck with “Tango”! He’ll be famous now too! Loved all the setups and now have confidence to leave my “safe zone” and venture into your world of making fab images. Can’t wait to show my pictures off. A highly recommended course and so very glad I did it – worth every penny. Cherish next! Kindest regards, Iona.
5. damien | February 11th, 2010 at 11:35 pm

Hi Gemma, Tara and Ian, Thanks for your kind words.

Ian, upstage lighting is a theater term. Imagine the scene… You are standing in the middle of the stage in a big theater. You are about four metres from the front of the stage and you have the wings on either side. If you drop a marble where will it go? It will roll away from you into the orchestra pit and this is because the stage slopes towards the audience. It gives them a better view of the floor for one thing. All the lights in the grid behind you are said to be upstage of your position. On walks another actor and stops to the side and slightly behind you. They are said to have upstaged you.. Definition: To distract attention from (another performer) by moving upstage, thus forcing the other performer to face away from the audience. It’s all a bit of fun but I hope it makes sense.

Cheers, Damien.
6. damien | February 11th, 2010 at 11:42 pm

Hi Iona,

Thanks for your endorsement of my studio lighting workshop and for translating for Colin HaHa. It was a wonderful day for me too and yes I agree Tango the dog will become famous in time.

I look forward to seeing you on the Cherish workshop and at Focus on Imaging. Kindest regards, Damien.
7. Ian Freelance | February 12th, 2010 at 8:19 am

Thanks Damien for the very clear explanation. I never knew that theatre stages sloped towards the audience, which when explained seems obvious really.
8. Iona Matheson-Long | February 12th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Can you please pass on my thanks also to not only your team at the studio but also for the makeup lady who whilst having a fab model to work with, did an excellent job too. Good lighting, good company and an excellent model made this worth every penny and well spent. I whittled it down to 63 in the end! Looking forward to releasing the gels from their packet! Excellent feedback from people who have seen the new shots also so I am beaming!!!
9. Colin Kilgour | February 12th, 2010 at 1:29 pm

This course was the best Xmas present I have ever had.
Great company, a gorgeous model and so very much taken in (and given out freely by Damien).
I will try my hardest to develop my English language skills (or maybe not) before coming back down in March.
At least I can look forward to Iona translating for me on the Cherish the Dress course.
See you all soon. Take care, Colin.
10. Karl Bratby | February 14th, 2010 at 9:23 pm

i see the gels are working well damien.
11. Tim Hind | February 15th, 2010 at 6:36 pm

Great images and lovely use of gels to give the images real impact.
12. damien | February 25th, 2010 at 11:35 pm

Wow, Thanks Iona, what a fabulous endorsement for this workshop. Thanks passed on Damien
13. damien | February 25th, 2010 at 11:36 pm

Thanks Colin. See you soon D.
14. damien | February 25th, 2010 at 11:41 pm

Hi Karl, the gels are indeed doing the job Damien.
15. damien | February 25th, 2010 at 11:46 pm

Thanks Tim.
16. Will O'Reilly | March 26th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

Do you do any studio lighting workshops in Ireland?
17. ajay kumar sharma | October 15th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

I want upstage lighting.
18. damien | October 31st, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Hi Ajay,

Upstage lighting is yours for the making.

Cheers, Damien.
19. Kate Eshelby | December 8th, 2010 at 11:56 am

When is your next lighting course and where are they held?

Please could you drop me an email and let me know.

Thanks
Kate
20. damien | December 18th, 2010 at 9:41 pm

Hi Kate,

I teach many lighting courses. The most prolific in the winter months is my studio lighting workshop because it is not weather dependent. I expect Blaise has emailed you. Here is a link to the information you need:

http://www.lovegroveconsulting.com/the_training_zone.aspx

Kindest regards,

Damien.