1. This big flash shot by Martin Hill typified his style for the day's training.
2. I was shooting inside with continuous light, keeping things simple and elegant.
A new era of defining style and beauty began on Monday 28th March. Martin and I had been planning this workshop for some time. Even with all the planning a few surprises presented themselves as we took the delegates on a journey of contrasts. It was like the first night of a big show and wow what a show it was.
Models: Katy MacGee and Rhiannnon Owen
Makeup: Vicky Waghorn
Location: Kingscote House, Gloucestershire
The day started with coffee in the basement kitchen of the country house. Martin then took his 5 delegates out into the grounds and I started with my 5 delegates in the bedrooms on the first floor. My session was all about the discovery of contre jour light and how to keep things really simple to make dramatic pictures. Martin’s session was all about the big picture. Integrating flash, fashion and the landscape. The team at Kingscote looked after us well with a sumptuous home cooked lunch. Martin and I kept swapping delegates throughout the day to ensure everyone had the chance to shoot all the set ups.
Here is a selection of our shots from the day…
3. Simple use of natural lighting control was where I started in the bedrooms. I showed how to shoot high key interior beauty portraits. All the delegates shot unique images and this made for an exciting dynamic event.
4. The creative exposure session foxed a lot of the delegates at first but after some practice everyone had control of shooting low key shots too.
5. There were photographs that we shot over a 5 stop exposure range with all frames making acceptable pictures. The most important factor was controlling the spill light in the room.
6. Katy really is an interesting and beautiful girl to shoot. Fabulous shapes with form and line make up my compositions. The intensity of our connection completes the picture.
7. Light like this is available anywhere with a window and a pair of curtains. This type of shot goes way beyond f/ numbers, shutter speeds and pixel counts. I tried to emphasise another side to portrait photography on this workshop.
8. Shutters make fabulous reflector boards.
9. A simple reveal shot like this is full of intrigue. I love the way the window shutter splits this shot in two. This was no workshop for a highlight alert or a histogram.
10. My 100mm macro lens comes in handy when I want to shoot close ups. Into the light, always into the light.
11. We used a bathroom to make this quick mirror shot.
12. A couple of times throughout the day some wonderful natural sunlight presented itself and I showed how to use it at floor level.
13. Torso orientation is so important to make a shot like this work.
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15. Shooting into the unlit side of Katy's face and from below her eyeline are key elements in this frame. So too is the connection we shared at the time of capture.
16. This is the brightest frame from a set covering a five stop range. It is radiant, so blown out that a camera club judge might have palpitations, but I love it. I love closed eyes, calmness and peace in a portrait too. Katy did really well in this workshop environment to take direction so freely.
17. At several times throughout the day I got out my amazing Lupo 1200 Fresnel spotlight. I showed how to feather the barn doors and create pools of light using this most versatile luminaire. It is a daylight balanced HMI and gives a bright, clean, pure continuous light.
18. This was sunlight, but could easily have been the Lupo.
19. Another simple high key close up of Katy.
20. I used the Lupo to complete this two point lighting set up.
21. A quick reposition of the Lupo gave us this interesting shot.
22. Another two point lighting set up created with careful positioning of the curtains. This cast a most fabulous light on Katy's face.
23. It always pays to take the time to capture the bigger picture. A figure in the landscape shot like this often looks better with a long lens perspective.
24. I had a bit of fun with the delegates and showed some of them my home made soft filter. I've had this one since the 1980s. On a serious note, the look it produces is far superior to a Photoshop blur/ grain soft layer. It's the non-random scattering of light that makes the difference. This look was created in camera.
Here is a selection of Martin’s shots from the day. Martin used a pair of Broncolor Mobil Plus 2R packs, and a pair of Gemini flash brackets with Nikon SB900s and Canon 580EX11s. The flashes were triggered with Pocket Wizards.
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Please feel free to comment on the pictures below. More information about our next ‘Into The Light’ workshop can be found here. Places will sell out fast and you may need to get on a priority list for the next available date by emailing Blaise.
You can also browse our range of upcoming photography training courses here.
Sorry Vicki should have mentioned you too, as you are a big part of the team,
Absolutely gorgeous!
Thanks Anthony.
I just signed up for the July 13 workshop. I am very, very excited. This is some really amazing work!
Thank you Kyle, Martin and I look forward to seeing you in July :)
Awesome post and photos. #7 and #39 are my favorite.
The black and white images are splendid. I like composition with reflection in water.
Thank you Vince for your compliments. Martin was instantly drawn to the water. I love it too.
Cheers, Damien.
All the shots are great, but #2-#24 are mind blowingly beautiful, The light is just stunning.
Thanks Andrew,
Another pair of hot favourites. We appreciate your kind comments.
Cheers, Damien.
Damien, I love your composition and processing. Absolutely stunning. I am looking forward to our little workshop in July.
Thanks Romana,
Our studio session at the end of July will be fabulous. Thank you for your kind words.
Damien.
I’m with Chris all the way, along with a few other favourites….can’t wait for July!
Cheers Howard, :)
Now that I’ve picked my jaw up off of the floor…
Amazing work guys!
Yeah, 43, 14, and 4 are insane.
Wayne
Absolutely stunning images. I love images 14 and 43. I can’t wait to join you and Martin on the next training session :-)
Simon and Wayne,
Wow it seems 14 & 43 are the stars. Thanks for your kind words. Simon, Martin and I look forward to seeing you on the next into the light workshop :)
Cheers, Damien
Beautiful images, as always, thrilled to be part of it!
Faves are 2,5,24,30,36 & 43
Katy and Rhi are amazing!
xx
Thanks Vicky,
I’m looking forward to spending three days with you again next week.
All wonderful images but the first one is particularly impressive – wow! I’m going to have a good look through the training zone now.
fabulous photos Damien and Martin, loved the whole set both indoors and outdoors, gorgeous lighting with beautiful models.
Thank you David and David :) Your comments mean a lot to Martin and I. Cheers, D.
Can’t recommend this amazing day with Damien and martin high enough. What a great mix of invaluable lighting skills and what amazing pictures both I . To walk away with knowledge and great pics was fab. Thanks lots again.
It was an amazing day… natural light, continuous light (LOVE that lupo!), speedlights, big flash in daylight… Katy McGee is simply amazing. The high and low key with natural light and shutters/curtains was genius.
Thank you Damien and Martin, it was fab. See you in Italy! :-)
I’m sat here here desperately envious I haven’t got to shoot Katy McGee yet :) And I’d love to put my name on 23 and 43.
C
Cheers Chris,
I’m sure you’ll get to photograph the amazing Katy McGee soon. I’m looking forward to our next Cherish The Dress workshop at the Manchester Hilton in just under three weeks time. There are a few places left, details are here.
These are amazing, love the contrast from the intimate stunningly lit portraits to the dramatic landscape bridal images. Wonderful!
Thank you Catherine,
This is an event full of contrasting styles, techniques, locations and exposures and I think we pulled it off. Thanks for your kind words.
Damien.
Great images from both of you – can’t wait to join you in July!
Thanks Tara,
July will be fabulous too :)
A great day, thank you Damien and Martin for sharing so much with the group.
Shawn, book a place on the next one, you will learn everything you need!
Thanks Craig, Sarah and Jeremy,
It was great to share this day with you all. Having such fantastic delegates makes all the difference.
Cheers, Damien.
Any tips for doing these types of photos. Settings, set-ups?
Hi Shawn,
Yes, Martin and I have put on one more date for this workshop here. It takes a full day of tuition and sharing of our knowledge to impart the skills and experience necessary to create these images. Words alone can’t really help you. There are many technical posts on this blog that you might find useful when using flash.
Best regards,
Damien.
Amazing portrait shots.
Thanks Steve :)
Stunning work. Especially working with the landscape. I’m aiming to do more shoots this year as my own project work, and working with the landscape is one of the ideas. I’m glad I looked in and saw these excellent examples to be encouraged by.
Thanks for sharing.
Trev
Thanks for your comments Trevor,
Martin Hill is the man for big flash in the country type images. Do check out his blog too.
Cheers,
Damien.