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From a photo session I did a couple of days ago. Just outside the frame are two of my friends who stood on ladders to either side of the model, tossing the dress into the air on my count to create the flowing effect.
I love using rental studios because they often provide the lighting equipment (such as in this case), making it easy for me to work with expensive professional lighting gear without needing to own it. This was lit using two Profoto D2 strobes; the main light in a Westcott 59” Zeppelin Parabolic, providing soft, even illumination. This light was positioned in a way that it wasn't pointing directly at the model, a technique I've been told is called "feathering", which further softened the light on the model as well as reduced the amount of light spill onto the background. A second light in a 1x4’ Profoto strip box was positioned just below the main light to add additional light to the dress; this was also slightly "feathered" to make the lighting less direct and to also reduce spill onto the background. Positioned to the left of the model (viewer's left) is a large white V-flat for some fill light. While I’m happy with the results, I feel a subtle hair light could have added an extra layer of polish to the final image.
Canon 5D MKIII, Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II lens, set to f/7.1, 1/200th sec, ISO 160.
Daniel I know I say the same accolades with your every post but your expertise in creating a "composition" is so creative yet so simple IMHO!
To have friends to help, using a dslr to create an image that, personally, exceeds any camera now out, and present it the way you do is the epitome of photographic excellence!
Many here do this!
The camera is just a tool, an extension of your mind's eye! You have that ability down pat brother!
Again SUPER!
Dan
To me, the hair disappears into the background. And the whites of the eyes are bright against the darker makeup around the eyes. As you mentioned, Daniel, maybe a hairlight would have helped here.
Danpbphoto wrote:
Daniel I know I say the same accolades with your every post but your expertise in creating a "composition" is so creative yet so simple IMHO!
To have friends to help, using a dslr to create an image that, personally, exceeds any camera now out, and present it the way you do is the epitome of photographic excellence!
Many here do this!
The camera is just a tool, an extension of your mind's eye! You have that ability down pat brother!
Again SUPER!
Dan
Detroitable wrote:
Super nice. I agree with the hair light comment. Lovely shot.
Thank you. Definitely something I'll add next time. I usually use a hair light in studio, but for this shoot I had reference material for inspiration (a recent editorial for Vogue Singapore featuring Lucy Liu) that appeared not to use a hair light, and I initially wanted to challenge myself to replicate it, but in hindsight I feel like the better choice would have been to make it more my own by adding the hair light, instead of trying to completely replicate the source material.
DanielScott wrote:
Thank you. Definitely something I'll add next time. I usually use a hair light in studio, but for this shoot I had reference material for inspiration (a recent editorial for Vogue Singapore featuring Lucy Liu) that appeared not to use a hair light, and I initially wanted to challenge myself to replicate it, but in hindsight I feel like the better choice would have been to make it more my own by adding the hair light, instead of trying to completely replicate the source material.
OK, So I had to go look at the vouge image and I think I like yours better. The one I found cut off her dress on both sides and it looks as if she's floating. The Vouge shot, her dress isn't as shiny which gives yours that extra little glow, Did you remove some wrinkles from the dress?
Danpbphoto wrote:
Daniel I know I say the same accolades with your every post but your expertise in creating a "composition" is so creative yet so simple IMHO!
To have friends to help, using a dslr to create an image that, personally, exceeds any camera now out, and present it the way you do is the epitome of photographic excellence!
Many here do this!
The camera is just a tool, an extension of your mind's eye! You have that ability down pat brother!
Again SUPER!
Dan
Thank you so much Dan, that is so kind and an honor to hear! I do feel that in most situations "simple is best"m and in this case I think it certainly was.
To me, the hair disappears into the background. And the whites of the eyes are bright against the darker makeup around the eyes. As you mentioned, Daniel, maybe a hairlight would have helped here.
Detroitable wrote:
OK, So I had to go look at the vouge image and I think I like yours better. The one I found cut off her dress on both sides and it looks as if she's floating. The Vouge shot, her dress isn't as shiny which gives yours that extra little glow, Did you remove some wrinkles from the dress?
Thank you, that's quite a compliment.
Oh yes, I spent some time removing wrinkles. We used a steamer on the dress beforehand, but there was still wrinkles that the steamer couldn't get out. I much prefer spending some time during or before the shoot trying to minimize more time spent in post production, but in this case it was unavoidable.
