English Country Garden Portraits with the Fujifilm X-T1 & 56mm f/1.2 lens

Sep 8, 2014 | Flash, Location

In this sample video I’ll show you how I capture classic English country garden portraits with life and vitality using the Fuji X-T1 camera, 56mm f/1.2 lens and an Elinchrom Ranger Quadra flash pack. I’ll be shooting our model, Claire, under a beautiful garden archway with the ambient soft light coming in from behind. More light is then added with my Quadra flash kit.

This is the fifth of five videos commissioned by Fujifilm showing how I make beautifully simple portraits. The Fujifilm chapters are just a small portion of my latest 18 chapter production called ILLUMINATION. This all new lavish, feature length production comprises nearly two hours of video training in 18 chapters and covers the use of Speedlights, big flash packs and natural light when making fabulous portraits on location.

Model: Claire Rammelkamp
Makeup: Vicki Waghorn
Kit used: Fujifilm X-T1 camera, Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2 lens, Elinchrom Ranger Quadra with A head, Lowel Grand Stand.

13 Comments

  1. Austen Blakemore
    Austen Blakemore on December 30, 2014 at 5:59 am

    Beautiful shoot

    Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on December 30, 2014 at 3:11 pm

      Thanks Austen :)

      Reply
  2. Sandy
    Sandy on December 1, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    Hi damien, am a big fan of your work cant wait to get the illumination pack.
    Btw, ini this video, did u use the 13,5 reflector or the 18?
    Is there a major difference between using/without the reflector…
    Thx alot :)

    Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on December 20, 2014 at 12:34 am

      Hi Sandy, I used the 18cm reflector on some shots and the one that comes as standard with the Quadra head on others. They both work well. I’m a lover of hard light so the standard reflector is often the one I choose. The 18cm gives you another 1/2 stop more light though. Kind regards, Damien.

      Reply
  3. Quintin Mills
    Quintin Mills on October 3, 2014 at 6:35 am

    Lovely results and a lovely model.
    I have a question regarding the lighting on her face.
    For the initial shots without any lighting your settings were 1/250, F1.4, ISO800. But then when you had the flash come in from the background your settings were 1/180sec, F1.6 ISO200.
    Surely that would change the exposure on her face – and it would be much darker?
    Or did you have a light from the front or a reflector?

    Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on December 19, 2014 at 5:26 pm

      Hi Quintin,

      Great question. A big blast of flash like that from the Quadra illuminates the ground around and in front of the model as well as me and the foliage by me. This extra light reflects back in to lift her face by 2 stops.

      I hope this helps, Damien.

      Reply
  4. Martin Makowski
    Martin Makowski on September 22, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Damien, you always know how to get the best out of the scenery. Must say after Andy, simple and effective.

    Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on December 19, 2014 at 5:19 pm

      Thanks Martin :)

      Reply
  5. Gabor Monos
    Gabor Monos on September 14, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    Inspiring as the rest of the “Illumination video” tutorial too. Therefore, tomorrow I’m going to buy the whole series …

    Reply
  6. Andy Mellor
    Andy Mellor on September 9, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    So simple and yet so effective. Beautiful images and a useful resource.

    Thanks
    Andy

    Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on September 14, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks Andy :)
      Best,

      Damien.

      Reply
    • Damien
      Damien on September 14, 2014 at 6:14 pm

      Thanks Andy, I love to keep it simple and shoot into the light where I can.

      Kind regards,

      Damien.

      Reply

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