Phamster's Play with Light - Part 1

Well Folks..

i have finally had time to make a post in this People Section..

haven't had time as of late to do any personal work... it just seems, i do my day time job then get a quick bite for dinner and head off on a Client photo shoot.. (seniors and weddings is taking up alot of my spare time... "smiles"

about one month ago i had a 2 day lighting work shop which i taught, lighting and post work.. one image below came from that work shop.. "skylar's shots"

had a great time teaching, really liked talking about my craft and showing the tools and equipment i used... here is the copy paste from the work shop topics..
now i am not saying i am an expert to any of these topics, i just wanted to talk about what i know and how i use these tools to get what you see listed..

Equipment:
Lights (speed lights, Alien Bees, Elinchrom Quadra) advantages and disadvantages
Modifiers (Shoot thru, parabolic reflective, softbox, beauty dish) when to use and why
Triggers (Cactus V4’s, CactusV5’s, radio poppers, pocket wizards Flex TT5’s, sky port)

Understanding shutter speed limitations and how to deal with bright conditions and still be able to use 1/200 shutter speeds.

Why I mix and match systems

Understanding the power of light (inverse square law)
Understanding apparent size and how it affects lighting (soft vs hard light)

Shooting in manual with lights.. but we will work with ETTL too, in manual mode.

Learn how to set up a 1 light system and shoot under 5 mins
Learn how to do a 2 light set up (alien bee and speed lights)
Learn and set up a multi light set up with gel colors ( 3 speed lights and 1 alien bee)


Edge Light Lighting - how to find it and how to use it.. i use this method on lots of sunny portraits

Post processing


but here are some of my favs of recent...

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1 Maddy Senior ~ Golden Art

just getting around to placing the order for Madeline..

this one makes me smile..

lighting was 2 speed lights in HSS triggered by radio poppers..

2 speed lights were about 2 feet apart on separate stands

CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperturef/2.0
Focal Length85 mm
ISO Speed50
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashOn, Fired

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/5699803405/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/5667993242/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …661089864/in/ph​otostream/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …654963607/in/ph​otostream/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …614554357/in/ph​otostream/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …5689584735/in/p​hotostream

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …5510757197/in/p​hotostream

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …711487402/in/ph​otostream/

All of your images are outstanding Pham.

you should make an instructional DVD.

Very nice ones as usual and you aren't afraid to include the details. Great help to others.

It's threads like this that make POTN great. Much appreciated advice Pham.

WELL done indeed.
Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy your style..and your kind sharing of info of the shots.
Thanks again Pham.
Ken

great work Pham, love watching what you come up with

Very clean work , always look forward to your images here and on FB.

PWard wrote in post #12572943
All of your images are outstanding Pham.

you should make an instructional DVD.

I agree...these are more than photographs to me. They have quite an artistic touch to them that is only captured by you....Not just great portraits, great art. I love the individual feel and composition of all these Pham. Good work my friend.

Pham, Thanks for sharing these. Did you add the foreground in first and last? What was done to those 2?

Awesome work, I can't wait to save up a little to invest in some lighting. If you have any documentation as far as training for lighting, I'd love to see it!

Great work, as always Pham

Your professionalism and wiliness to share the skills you have developed separate you from many or your colleagues. As a full time workaholic, part time photo enthusiasts I cannot possibly commit extra time to take classes and/or workshops to improve my skills.
Sharing your set-ups, thought process, helps in ways you cannot imagine.

Awesome work!!

Thanks much for sharing! I would've loved to hear you talk on triggers as that's something i've spent much time researching for future purchases.

ChunkyDA wrote in post #12583059
Pham, Thanks for sharing these. Did you add the foreground in first and last? What was done to those 2?

the foreground and background is real.. just grass and the 85MM @ 2.0 doing the rest for me..

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thanks guys.. i try to keep pushing to better myself in ways of light and creativity.. but don't underestimate the post processing factor too..

if there is anything i have worked on harder in the past 1 year is the post work on my final images.. so don't forget that aspect..