A splash of flash from a pair of Speedlites. The 430EX11 is the one in shot on the left. The 580EX11 is just out of shot on the right and is zoomed into 105mm. My Canon 5Dmk11 was in manual mode 1/200th at f/16 and ISO200.
On Monday, I gave a 1:1 shooting workshop and here are a few of the pictures I shot during the session and the lighting set up for each one.
Soft toned mono shots like this make great fine art prints. Shades of grey and fine detail from this f/16, ISO200 shot. Key and kick lighting was provided by a pair of Speedlites triggered by an ST-E2 commander.
I shot Amber our model against this gloss painted plywood. I used a 580EX11 Speedlite on camera with plus 2 stops of flash compensation. A 200mm lens ensured the flash kickback was dramatic.
2 Speedlights on stands were used for this simple picture. Both Speedlights were zoomed to 105mm and I used a 430EX11 as the key from the right. The pattern of light from a 430 is prettier than that of a 580 and has a softer fall off as shown here on the side of the railway wagon.
A new piece of Bristol grafiti demanded attention from my lens. Within a few months it will be gone forever when the new museum opens behind this temporary boarding.
These are a small selection of the techniques I shared with my pro shooting delegate on Monday. Please feel free to comment on these shots or ask technique questions below.
Thanks Damien for your response! I really trust your judgement… still waiting on the new book!
Hi Scott,
Thanks for your questions. Maybe my new DVD will be available on ‘classic’ resolution too, I doubt there will be much demand though and the price point may have to be higher due to less pressings and more standards – NTSC, PAL etc.
I’m doing Blu-Ray because it is the new standard for High Definition video that it seems the world is adopting. The trouble with old video is that it is a different format for different countries, it is also low quality and still photographs look poor on it. Now that most new cameras shoot HD it is time for me to embrace it too. The new DVDs are being shot on 3 Canon 5Dmk11 cameras.
There is more likely to be a Quicktime h.264 high definition download option that can be played on any computer with the free Quicktime 7 player software. I will need to asses the security of this system before implementing it though.
We will probably include an iPhone version with the full Blu-Ray disc too.
Regards,
Damien.
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Hi Richie,
Flattery gets you everywhere :) Thanks.
I use:
16-35mm f/2.8 mk11 lens (okay but not great)
24-70mm f/2.8 lens (I find it sharp enough for me)
70-200mm f/2.8 lens ( a good allround performer from f/4 upwards)
I find the shallow depth of field ‘effect’ of the very fast primes unnatural and unattractive. They will make the auto focus of the 5D behave itself though with all the extra light.
If I wanted to shoot primes I’d have 20mm, 35mm, 85mm and 135mm. f/2 or thereabouts for all would be fine for me.
It’s such a personal thing, go with your heart not your head.
Damien.
Damien –
I’m hooked on your blog… it’s the first thing I do when I get to work every morning! It’s also a STRONG reason for my recent camera upgrade… my wife doesn’t thank you for that!
Anyway, I just upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark II from the Nikon D200 which should arrive this weekend. I mainly shoot wedding and portraits. I’ve read your wedding book from cover to cover and anxiously await your new book! By the way, when is it due out?
My question:
I’m considering purchasing the 24-70mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.2 and the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lenses to complete my outfit. But I hear many wedding photographers talk bad about the 24-70 and recommend primes for that range. I.e., 24mm and 50mm.
What lenses do you normally use the most during weddings and what’s your take on what I’m considering?
Thanks In advance,
–richie
Damien, will these new projects be available on normal DVD for those of us without Blu-Ray? Thanks.
Hi Nic, SB-800s are perfect for this kind of shoot; small, rugged, powerful, reliable and great at communication using the CLS.
Enjoy your test shoots,
Damien.
Stuart,
Bristol is a crazy place for modern art. There is a 1.7m long bronze dung beetle sculpture about 300m from the ‘spine’.
Damien.
Hi Dave, I have no plans to do a subscription service. I’m working on a bigger project at the moment. My first BluRay high def DVD on just about all there is to know about Speedlights and their use. It’s a massive project and we are well under way with filming and editing. Plus I’m writing my second book.
Cheers, Damien.
Hi Wayne – Oh yes and the PW units are amazing. Marko is on holiday until next week so getting the shots edited before then is going to be tough. Luke out other editor/ designer is flat out on digital services at the moment too. I should have booked the shoot in on our system.
Damien
That is quite an awesome looking sculpture in shot 1 I love it.
Hi Damien hope hope your well, on a diff subject are you planning on starting a monthly video tutorial? bit like Cleghorns where members pay to join up etc?
Cheers
Dave
Brilliant once again Damien!
Love the composition on the first one…
Have you given the new Pocket Wizards a go besides the test shoot that you did?
Wayne W
Your off-camera flash shots are really inspiring – will definitely be digging out the SB800s to give it a go!