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Archive 2008 · new one light setup

maverick666
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p.13 #1 · new one light setup

Hello Michael,

Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. Will practice some more.

Cheers,

John..

mmurph wrote:
maverick666 wrote:
My shots probably are not worthy but what the heck

. Please provide me comments.

John,

Your images are all very nice. They are well executed using the tools that you have and show a good sense for your subject.

I think your work would benefit from moving to the next level in terms of the quality of your light sources. Larger modifiers, probably strobes, some additional experimentation, a larger variety of subjects, etc.

Keep going! Great work - good luck!

Best,
Michael

Dec 22, 2008 at 11:53 PM

mmurph
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p.13 #2 · new one light setup

Tom K. wrote:

Well, have you ever been to a photography workshop? You learn with a bunch of people and pay a good chunk of change to do so. Then after a few weeks you forget 75% of what was taught.....and you get minimal personal attention. The Zack DVD is a full blown work shop with a ton of on location shoots and more.

What would be more valuable......a $250 lens......or knowledge?

Well, it is not a question of either equipment or knowledge.

I don't need a lens - but there are many, many other learning opportunities. I just think he is a little overpriced for his niche. As someone else mentioned, Bobbi Lane has a DVD out that costs $40. (Not that I am a big fan of hers, but ....)

His work looks decent, his band images are nice, he has a decent web site. He looks like a good photographer. But he is a mid tier technician showing some pretty basic principles - use a strobe light off camera - with a bit of a unique style and, I guess, some opinions.

Go look at Philip Lorca diCorcia's work to see where this trend toward beautifully staged location lighting begins:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&resnum=0&q=philip+lorca+dicorcia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

There are some real kick-ass **artists** out there who have a very long CV and a much broader perspective on art and the world of photography who are doing workshops or offering other learning experiences. Along with diCorcia or Gregory Crewdson (both teaching graduate photography at Yale), I would love to do a workshop or have a DVD from someone like Alecd Soth, for example.

Or Todd Hido, Sylvia Plath, Keith Carter. Nationally known and recognized artists with a long history of creating high demand fine art work, publishing books, breaking new ground visually.

Or even a "technician" like Michael Grecco, for example, who has a similar but more focused and complex take on creating powerful location "portraits" with style, passion, humor, and ideas driving them. His book is great by the way. I was thinking of taking a workshop with him at Maine last summer. Not that much more than the DVD.

And, yes, I would **much** prefer an intimate week long workshop over the DVD. I still remember in detail a workshop I did with Nathan Lyons in 1998 in Colorado. It only cost about $550 at the time. (Most week-long workshops with the folks I mention above cost about the same as Zacks 3 day workshops.)

If you don't know who Nathan is you might look him up. He studied with Aaron Siskind and Minor White. He gave Gary Winogrand, Lee Friedlander, and many others their first major shows when he was curator at George Eastman House in the 60's.

He started the Visual Studies Workshop - Robert Frank was teaching there in 1972 when he created his "The Lines of My Hand" book. Co-founder of Society for Photographic Education in the 70's. Taught Anne Tucker, Mark Klett, hired Thomas Barrow at GEH, etc.

I am just doing my photography budget for 2009. I usually include a class, a conference, etc. and have to balance the costs of competing "wants." Looking at my opportunities now. The workshops are a lot like a graduate seminar in photography, a great chance to expand your horizons and re-energize your work.

Sorry, this is a bit of a rant. None of this is really meant to diss your dude.

But there are so many photogs - not Zack - who are just big fish in small ponds. I see a lot of ego posturing among these cheezy technicians and soft-core porn "glamour" photogs who have no real perspective on the art of photography, while the real nationally known artists are so much more modest than so many of these wanna-bes.

Cheers.

Dec 23, 2008 at 12:56 AM

Tom K.
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p.13 #3 · new one light setup

I am grateful you took the time to write that post. Many of the names I am familiar with. You're talking the titans and in some cases legends of photography of the ages. Winogrand is a personal favorite. I am going to take your advice and look into what the others you have mentioned but whose names I don't know are all about.

Zack Arias does not come across as a know it all in any respect.......but........for an excellent foundation.....you gotta start somewhere.....and his DVD does the trick.

Philip Lorca diCorcia is phenomenal.......not to everyone's taste but I love the work.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

PS. The Zack Arias DVD is a "One Light" specific entity. What can a simple one light set-up do for your photography? The DVD shows you. Some of those other legends you mentioned have an avalanche of the finest equipment available. That's cool......but......Arias is talking One Light.

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:44 AM

mmurph
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p.13 #4 · new one light setup

Tom K. wrote:

Many thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks for being nice. I think I was being a little ornery.

I have pinched nerves in my neck at four levels, among other things - just found out a couple of weeks ago - but I am aware that I am an angry old sob sometimes lately.

Overall, though, it is **amazing** that folks of that incredible caliber are available to work with during summer workshops. I did not really know who Nathan Lyons was when I signed up for his workshop. Once I realized who he was, and started following the threads - who he studied with, mentored, etc. - I was just absolutely blown away!

It is incredible that you can get close to and work with someone like Mary Ellen Mark, Shelby Adams, or Sylvia Platchy. It is somewhat like being able to walk up to Lance Armstrong after a race, just to have a low key chat, and then go out for a ride.

I would love to talk about any of those photographers, or others. So few folks who just get into digital photography have much exposure to the broader world if fine art photography.

It would also be good to start a thread on potential workshops for the summer of 2009, once the schedules start to be published. I am trying to figure out "next steps" for myself in the field, what I want to do and how to do it, for personal work and to make a livinhg. A good workshop with someone old and wise, like some of the folks on our list, might really help me to focus and move forawrd.

The International Center of Photography often has some **great** instructotrs for their summer workshops., It would really be a fantastic opportunity to do some intense, focused work in the city.

Here are a couple of examples from the fall/winter:

THE EXTRAORDINARY PORTRAIT
Amy Arbus

A great portrait captures the magical moment of recognition
between photographer and subject. It is a moment of
clarity—sometimes an accident and sometimes a gift. A
powerful portrait can challenge, amuse, enlighten, or
disturb. This course encourages students to photograph
people in an entirely new way, to develop a sense of movement
and urgency in their photographs,"

Approaching Assignments with a Fresh Eye
Vincent Laforet, Steve Simon

In this informal weekend course, the instructor will guide students through assignments, as well as the thought process he uses to obtain unexpected photographic results. Starting with actual assignment sheets that the instructor has received from a variety of clients, including The New York Times and National Geographic, students will take on projects as if they were their own, learning how to overcome hurdles that arise.

One from Santa Fe:

Moving Forward with Your Photography: Developing and Marketing Your Work
Joyce Tenneson

Are you a photographer who creates wonderful images but does not have an outlet for them? This is a week for brainstorming and investigating ways to promote your work for galleries, book projects, or commercial use.

Light, Gesture, Color, and Perception
Jay Maisel

Light, gesture, color, and perception are the major themes of this workshop, intended to help photographers see more keenly and precisely what is in their own images. Jay informs, inspires, and challenges participants with an active schedule of assignments, reviews, and lectures illustrated with examples of his work.

Zen and the Art of Photography
Doug Beasley

Revitalize your photography while exploring your relationship to your subject, your camera, and yourself. Through daily field trips and exercises, participants in this workshop learn to deepen their visual awareness while simplifying and clarifying their approach. We expand the boundaries of our vision by discovering the unique in the commonplace and the creative potential in ordinary life.

“Zen and the Art of Photography” provides a rare opportunity to rethink our expectations of what it means to see. We learn to create powerful images through finding our own voice while remaining open to the possibilities of the present moment

**********************************************************************************************

I usually also attend the "Society for Photographic Education" national conferrence. In past years I have had a chance to head a number of very good, nationally known artists speak. It is usually possible to attend 15-30 "lectures" or presentations or discussions in a 3-4 day period.

http://www.spenational.org/

I have had the chance to hear Gregory Crewdson, Joel Meyerowitz, Keth Carter, Tracy Moffet, and many others talk in past years, as well as many lesser known artists. I have also seen presentations from folks like the curatotrs at the University of Arizona on Gary Winogrand's unpublisherd work and color work.

They were given all of Winogrand's prints and nbegatives by his state and have spent somne years combing throughg images. They then asked 6 well known artsist to guest curate an exhibition of his unpublished work. Quite interesting..

John Pfahl will be the "honored educator" at the conference this year in Dallas. Among other speakers will ber Karen Finley, the perfoprmance artist. (The presentations usually are not quite so edgy though

Finley will appear as Jackie Kennedy looking back at her images in pictures.

http://www.spenational.org/conference/conf2009/pdf/flyer2009.pdf

There are also some technical presentations on Adobe Lightroom, CS4, etc.

Many of the second tier presentations are as interesting as the kerynote and other main presentations. Here are some quick examples from last years conference:

Edward Burtynsky

Patrick Nagatani

Lauren Greenfield -

Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield is considered a preeminent chronicler of youth culture as a result of her groundbreaking projects Girl Culture, Fast Forward and THIN. At SPE, Greenfield will lecture about these long-term, multi-platform projects and how they developed and evolved creatively and professionally. Greenfield will discuss the sociological content of her photography as well as its educational component and use for outreach.
This panel discussion, presented by Blue Earth Alliance (BEA), will in concrete terms help photographers turn their aspirations into successful documentary projects.

BEA -

Countless photographic artists have an urge to document issues of social importance. But success requires far more than good intentions and talent. This panel discussion, presented by Blue Earth Alliance (BEA), will in concrete terms help photographers turn their aspirations into successful documentary projects.

As BEA has helped to guide its project photographers, it has developed a large and uniquely focused set of informational resources about how to make documentary photographic projects succeed. In this panel we will offer insights to aspiring documentary photographers.

Audience members will receive a copy of BEA's technical manual, Shooting from the Heart. www.blueearth.org

Subhankar Banerjee -

I will talk about my ongoing project in the Arctic that focuses on indigenous human rights and land conservation issues.

*********************************************************************
Sorry, long post and a bit OT. Maybe I will cut it to another thread later.

Best,
Michael

Dec 23, 2008 at 04:11 AM

butchM
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p.13 #5 · new one light setup

Geeeeeeeee

z why did this thread turn to crap?

The first ten pages were awesome .... great images from quite a number of unique and interesting folks' conception as the use of a single light ...... and then ....

Good ol' CG had to get on his soap box and teach the whole world he knows more than anyone else. When questioned as to why he derails the thread with 20+ paragraphs and a handful of unrelated images and opinion, then goes on with defending himself for a post he now has deleted and substituted an image that some may consider an attempt to mock the thread ..... thank God (yes Chuck, I used uppercase) FM implemented the ability to read previous edits so we don't have to scratch our heads as to what the Heck happened.

Yes, Chuck, many of your points are valid. You also provide a good source of fundamental technique. But c'mon man ... get with it ... we're not morons ... of course we knew very well that the outdoor shots with flash were not truly 100% one light shots ..... That wasn't the point of the thread!

Where did you see the necessity to "correct" us all? How did you sense the "need" to enlighten all the previous posters in this thread that .... we are so unskilled .... so inept .... so oblivious .... that we just didn't get it?

Good grief, man .... you aren't the only person who has a clue as to how light works ... this thread was just to explore the many uses and facets of what can be accomplished by adding a single light to the scene at hand ... and yes outdoors with a few reflectors that can be in reality several light sources .... big freaking deal ... the benefit is there were plenty of images posted here to inspire others to also attempt to spread their wings and use "one light" ... for this they only needed to see a single image for that inspiration .... not read 20+ paragraphs of diatribe as to how the previous 10 pages was just a bunch of hooey ....

If you were so compelled to add information that was in such contrast to the previous 10 pages before your first post, why didn't you just start another thread, instead of sending this into a downward spiral?

But .... this is no different than any controversy you have been a part of on this and other forums ... yes Chuck .... I've witnessed your compulsions long before FM ...

At any point when your view or opinion is questioned by others ... even by full-time pros whose next click of the shutter means the difference of paying next month's bills ... you cry foul and recite verse and statute to prove your point and request the sympathies of the novice's you have helped. IMHO ... most of these differences are because of YOUR intolerance of other's opinions ..... NOT that others are intolerant of you or your opinion.

By all means help others with your knowledge. In the same respect, don't devalue the efforts of others because you feel compelled set us all straight. There is room in this world for all opinions, but there is a time and place for everything.

Dec 23, 2008 at 05:26 AM

Tom K.
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p.13 #6 · new one light setup

580ex, 28" soft box, 135L. I'm still learning.

2012 © Tom K.

Canon EOS 5D 135 mm f/5.0 1/200 sec 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Dec 23, 2008 at 05:35 AM

rico
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p.13 #7 · new one light setup

Sid Ceaser wrote:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 23, 2008 at 06:47 AM

Tom K.
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p.13 #8 · new one light setup

One Light. 580ex, 28" soft box

2012 © Tom K.

Canon EOS 5D 135 mm f/5.0 1/200 sec 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Dec 23, 2008 at 08:04 AM

rico
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p.13 #9 · new one light setup

pnmd wrote:
The Mola perforated diffuser allowed too much 580EX light pass through so I used a mirror under the diffuser to reflect light back onto the white dish surface and got the intended BD effect, ...

Your Mola will throw a completely different light pattern with a bare bulb. BD design gathers most of its light from the side of the bulb (some BD front deflectors are entirely opaque). In contrast, a (properly prepared) Speedlite is entirely equivalent to bare bulb when used in a softbox.

Dec 23, 2008 at 08:25 AM

System6ix
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p.13 #10 · new one light setup

Tom K. wrote:
580ex, 28" soft box, 135L. I'm still learning.

The chosen DOF is excellent in my opinion and I especially like how it's working with her hat. It's wonderful to see your wife is continuing to be such a willing model. I remember seeing some of your posts when you first tried shooting portraits with lights (actually wasn't it somewhere around this time last year?) - you've come a long baby!

Cheers,
S6ix

Dec 23, 2008 at 08:44 AM

System6ix
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p.13 #11 · new one light setup

Ok ladies and gentlemen apologies in advance if this puts you to sleep as the subject matter is admittedly rather boring compared to some of what's been posted.

Profoto Acute/D4 Head with Profoto 3' Octa Softbox

Dec 23, 2008 at 08:54 AM

surly
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p.13 #12 · new one light setup

System6ix wrote:
Ok ladies and gentlemen apologies in advance if this puts you to sleep as the subject matter is admittedly rather boring compared to some of what's been posted.

Looks beautiful to me. Mmmmm two strokes

Dec 23, 2008 at 12:37 PM

Justin Huffman
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p.13 #13 · new one light setup

SB s6 fired thru el cheapo umbrella 90 degrees from model. I could get away with pure side light as the wall made a nice fill card opening up some of the shadows.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 23, 2008 at 12:47 PM

System6ix
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p.13 #14 · new one light setup

surly wrote:
System6ix wrote:
Ok ladies and gentlemen apologies in advance if this puts you to sleep as the subject matter is admittedly rather boring compared to some of what's been posted.

Looks beautiful to me. Mmmmm two strokes

Thanks! Yeah, that smell is becoming a thing of the past in the pro ranks

Cheers,
S6ix

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM

System6ix
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p.13 #15 · new one light setup

Justin Huffman wrote:
SB s6 fired thru el cheapo umbrella 90 degrees from model. I could get away with pure side light as the wall made a nice fill card opening up some of the shadows.

Love it. The texture of the wall and the colors are working really well together. If I had to find something to nit pick it would be fabric? behind her left arm. The shape it's creating and the coloring is a little distracting as it breaks the flow a bit. Have you considered cloning some of the wall over it? Feel free to tell me to shut-up as well... lol.

Cheers,
S6ix

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM

Sid Ceaser
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p.13 #16 · new one light setup

rico wrote:
Sid Ceaser wrote:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Love the rich colors in this shot, and in the shot of the young miss. Your highlights are pretty hot in general, and I don't mean that as criticism. Is that purely stylistic, or do you aim to extend the midrange, or ...?

Its something I do in the studio with my head shots that I have fallen into the habit of doing on location. I like really bright, luminous faces so I end up overexposing a tiny bit so I can get these nice glowing radiant faces. I tend to do that with the rest of my stuff as well. I also like to make things a little more contrasty as well.

Plus, I just moved from a CRT to my first LCD monitor, so I'm trying to get used to it being brighter than what I'm normally used to

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM

prashant
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p.13 #17 · new one light setup

rico wrote:
Sid Ceaser wrote:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:50 PM

shatterkiss
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p.13 #18 · new one light setup

Justin Huffman wrote:
I could get away with pure side light as the wall made a nice fill card opening up some of the shadows.

That's really smart and a great example for everyone else - much like overpowering daylight with a strobe, a lot of time your environment can provide your additional light shaping and moderation rather than needing another strobe.

Dec 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM

Ubuhle
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p.13 #19 · new one light setup

Justin,

I really like this image. She has a look of confidence and class! The wall's tone and lighting compliments the model

Regards,

BLR

Dec 23, 2008 at 03:28 PM

Sid Ceaser
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p.13 #20 · new one light setup

prashant wrote:
rico wrote:
Sid Ceaser wrote:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Love the rich colors in this shot, and in the shot of the young miss. Your highlights are pretty hot in general, and I don't mean that as criticism. Is that purely stylistic, or do you aim to extend the midrange, or ...?
A wonderful image Sid. How do you get that copyright strip? LR script may be?, or?

I've got a little layer I've created and saved in PS. After I resize my images for web I just copy and paste it on each web-image. (I need to rework it as I can see a little flaw where I tried to make the strip longer and didn't make it the same opacity)

Dec 23, 2008 at 03:29 PM

MDteX
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p.13 #21 · new one light setup

Josh Evilsizor wrote:
cgardner wrote:
blah.....

Chuck,
Only speaking for myself, but I imagine others might agree... I don't care how frequently you post, or where you post... I tend to skip right over top of 90% of your replies. Why? My personal opinion is you have no business giving anyone advice outside of technical questions regarding lighting. There's no denying that you are a wealth of information, but your work speaks volumes that you can't execute what you know, and execution is what's key with the majority of people on this forum.

I disagree totally. This is a knowlegebase and Chuck conveys much information to many who need it. Granted many people on this forum know and understand lighting and can skip over Chuck's technical posts. But to others that come here seaking information he is a valuable source.

Keep posting Chuck..it gives people like Josh something to look forward to!

Dec 23, 2008 at 03:32 PM

Ubuhle
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p.13 #22 · new one light setup

Here is another one taken with using an AB800 into a white shoot through umbrella. This little guy moved all over the place and in this shot moved out of the reflector's zone. Thus, the shadow side is a little darker than I intended. The light was camera left. Due to the subject's movement, I shot this in landscape orientation and then cropped for a portrait. One thing with kids is always count on their nose being dirty or runny! After posting this image I noticed that his needs cleaned up a bit.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 23, 2008 at 03:32 PM

dmacmillan
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p.13 #23 · new one light setup

shatterkiss wrote:
Thanks for posting that, Justin. It was starting to feel like the elephant in the room.
Actually, there's an entire herd.

Merry Christmas!

Doug

Dec 23, 2008 at 08:11 PM

calk
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p.13 #24 · new one light setup

There is also an even larger herd of us who don't know their a** from their elbow about lighting or photographing people well and come here to learn. We learn by viewing skillfully captured, artfully processed images and the constructive critique and commentary that follows them. We also learn very much from the carefully thought out patiently submitted comments and instructional contributions of people such as Chuck Gardner and Steady Hand. These fellows, and quite a few more, put tremendous effort into their contributions, conspicuously more than that put forth by the would be detractors here. It would be a sad day for this forum, indeed, if these guys were to become discouraged by the rant those of you who see fit to denigrate their contributions and themselves personally and ceased their efforts altogether.

One could only hope that you who deem the contributions of the aforementioned to be pedantic could simply skip reading them and keep your negative commentary to yourselves. No one who reads this forum is at all well served by it.

Cal

Dec 23, 2008 at 09:28 PM

ESC in KC
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p.13 #25 · new one light setup

I also liked the thread better when it was showing photos...

My son outdoors on a recent dark gray day with a 550EX in a 15"x15" softbox about 8' high and camera left. He was there to assist me with a senior shoot and soon fell victim to setup shots before they arrived:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Dec 23, 2008 at 11:27 PM


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