This simple shot against a white section of my studio was simply lit with 2 hard lights (Bowens heads with 7" reflectors and grids). The low angle viewpoint was inspired by the classic Holywood portraits.
It was my first ever studio lighting workshop at my own studio and I absolutely loved the process of starting to unlock the bijou spaces potential. At just 6.5m x 4.6m the Lovegrove studio is very compact. The high vaulted ceiling adds to the space and lets me get the lighting rig up and out of the shots. Here are 20 of my shots from the day. (more…)
It was the last weddings workshop of 2009 and the weather didn’t disappoint. It rained almost constantly, it was dark and a perfect day for a ‘how to make a bright and sunny wedding album from a dull winter day’ workshop. The sun did come out for 10 minutes as it ducked under a storm cloud just before sundown. Here is one shot from the day (click the picture for the full res version). The rest of the pictures and their exif is in a Lightroom web gallery follow the link after the jump.
Taken hand held with a Canon 5D Mk2, ISO 400, 1/100th second at f/5 on a 21mm Zeiss f/2.8 lens.
Along with the Zeiss glass of my previous 2 posts I bought myself a Canon 135mm f/2.0 L lens on Ebay last weekend. Here are four of my first shots taken with it. All the pictures were shot on my Pocket Wizard creative workshops earlier this week. I shot them hand held and used central zone AF with a focus and re-frame technique. Click on any of the pictures for a full size image.
Canon 5Dmk2, Canon 135mm f2L, ISO 200, 1/1250th second at f/2.8
Here are ten of the portraits I shot using my new Zeiss Distagon 21mm f/2.8 ZE lens over the past couple of days. They were shot on the creative day workshops I ran for Pocket Wizard TT1 and TT5 owners. Each of the pictures can be downloaded at full resolution by clicking on it’s preview image. All the shots were taken hand held and were focused using the Canon focus confirm system in my 5D mk2.
Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 on a Canon 5Dmk2, ISO 100, 1/125th second at f/11
I recently decided to replace my Canon wide angle zoom lens with a fixed prime lens. I shoot mainly portraits and it’s worth bearing this in mind as you read this out of the box review. My decision to go prime for my super wide shots was an easy one to make.
The Zeiss Distagon 21mm f/2.8 ZE attached to my Canon 5Dmk2
Below is a clip from the 2.5 hour production. Here is a link to the information page I have created for this new video production. You can view another clip from the movie there too. Please take a look and pop back with any questions you may have. (more…)
UPDATE: Full version 500 of the firmware is now available for all PW TTL units. Download via your Pocket Wizard utility application.
There is an updated firmware available for the Pocket Wizard Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 available for download here. It is Beta firmware but don’t let that put you off because the previous official version was a work in progress. The good news is that additional functionality has been added to the Mini and Flex as well as 7D compatibility. A few bugs have being fixed too especially those that affect 5Dmk2 user.
Coping with changeable light, dark gloomy conditions or even low angle winter sunlight is what this workshop was all about. I lit this shot with a single Speedlight.
After last years launch of our Lighting Winter Weddings and Big Day DVDs we’ve been inundated with requests for more wedding shooting training. So Julie and I decided to put on some dates at the start of this winter season. Here are a selection of the pictures from the first two workshops that happened earlier in the week.
This shot was taken by Julie on Faye's Nikon D300 using 800 ISO, 1/30th at f/4.5. Delegates were encouraged to direct the model during Trevor and Faye's workshop. This provided the opportunity for self expression and varied creativity.
Nearly a year ago I had a few mad ideas; rent a castle in Tuscany for a week, gather 24 delegates and their families, pull together four leading tutors who are passionate about picture making and set up the project as a non profit making exercise. The results were astonishing and from the feedback we have received it is clear that ‘life changing’ is an adjective that somehow fits the bill.
Right from the start I wanted Trevor and Faye Yerbury to be part of this project. I first met them in 1998 and I was blown away by their sheer talent, elegance and charm. It was such a personal privilege to have them teaching along side me in Tuscany and it is with great pleasure that I share a selection of their pictures with you. All these shots were taken in natural light at the castle using an 85mm f/1.4 lens on a Nikon D700. Faye, an expert photographer in her own right has post produced the pictures with a precision and attention to detail that brings out the true brilliance of their vision. (more…)
I’ve had many questions from Nikon users waiting for the new Pocket Wizard TT1 and TT5 units and here is my response to the most common one. Should I buy an SU-800 or wait for the new Pocket Wizard TTL units to come out? (more…)
Here are a few of the pictures I took on yesterday’s workshop. I asked Marko to knock them into shape in Lightroom and Photoshop so that I can share some my key picture making thoughts with you.
We explored working with just one light to take simple striking portraits like this one shot against a mid grey paper background. One Broncolor Mobil head in a softbox provided the light.
This first shot by Chris uses natural window light bounced back using a large Lastolite reflector.
Here are the first set of Chris Hanley’s Cherish The Dress™ pictures taken on the recent Lovegrove workshops in Tuscany. Chris started his workshops with an introduction to the workings of the Cherish brand that makes the dress the star and not the victim. The aim of a Cherish shoot is to provide an album full of “WOW” images.
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