free workshop with Zack Arias streamed this weekend

he was keeping the stands in the exact same place and 95% of the time never changed the power in the light. if he didnt change apertures, most of the shots would never be exposed right, which doesnt really show how the modifiers work. he would then show how he would use the light after doing the same test shot.

im not sure how one would do it any better?

BrassPremier wrote in post #10354490
he was keeping the stands in the exact same place and 95% of the time never changed the power in the light. if he didnt change apertures, most of the shots would never be exposed right, which doesnt really show how the modifiers work. he would then show how he would use the light after doing the same test shot.

im not sure how one would do it any better?

The stand in the same position means nothing. It makes more sense to measure from from front of the light source, not the flash tube. If modifier is 24" deep then the distance from the modifier is different from the modifier that is 14" deep. By changing aperture you're also changing the depth and the way the shadows and transitions are rendered.

Sorry, it's just not the best or most accurate way to compare modifiers. It's more of a rough idea of the differences but the idea of going in and comparing all the pics is just not accurate enough to truly understand the differences.

Oh yes, he was also clearly changing the angles and the height of the light stand wasn't changing so there were way too many variables that were not consistent.

I was one of the winners got lucky and I won a pair of pocket wizards plus II yesterday.

misterc wrote in post #10354960
I was one of the winners got lucky and I won a pair of pocket wizards plus II yesterday.

Cool beans. Too bad they're not giving away that 7' Westcott Octa.

The octa and a grid technique he used to shoot the band is something you don´t often see in seminars, it is an old but not so common technique for bridal photography where you want to keep 100% of the dress detail without underexposing the brides face.

eduardofrances wrote in post #10355215
The octa and a grid technique he used to shoot the band is something you don´t often see in seminars, it is an old but not so common technique for bridal photography where you want to keep 100% of the dress detail without underexposing the brides face.

I've seen it done once before and it is a really nice technique for one light with an accent with all the light coming from the same direction. Too often there are great shots with lights competing with opposing directionality.

I have very mixed feelings about Zack, his philosophy and methods but in the end he creates some nice images and certainly has his following.

Personally I thought the segment with the young model wearing the diamond patterned vest on the damask looked terrible and even though I use fabric scraps and remnants I didn't think there was anything great about that setup and the images were just ok.

TMR Design wrote in post #10355275
I've seen it done once before and it is a really nice technique for one light with an accent with all the light coming from the same direction. Too often there are great shots with lights competing with opposing directionality.

I have very mixed feelings about Zack, his philosophy and methods but in the end he creates some nice images and certainly has his following.

Personally I thought the segment with the young model wearing the diamond patterned vest on the damask looked terrible and even though I use fabric scraps and remnants I didn't think there was anything great about that setup and the images were just ok.

I think he is an awesome shooter and he seems to be a nice person, this said I felt that when pressure rises he loses focus quickly, in the bit of the students shooting it would have been best to give them a guided tour and explain them a bit more on concept as a guide for every bit of what the shoot will be, it is kinda hard to explain lighting without showing them that the guide should be the idea/concept. Conceptless shooting leads to nothing.

The images with the damask were OK although I really think that was a bit too busy to mix the checkered pattern of the vest and the damask pattern they steal too much attention from the subject.

It is nice to see he revised his way of thinking about large modifiers (Gulf photo plus comment about Octas -funny he used a giant umbrella and uses his 50 inches softbox-) and his way of thinking about lightmeters (he is way faster with a lightmeter than chimping even if he doesn´t wants to admit it).

The photos he shot of Zaac are really nice specially the ones on the chair, and there you have what other bits of the seminar are missing: Concept/idea dark-moody photos, kinda introspective and melancholic: lighting, pose, expression, compostion, went together with the idea.

I will not be able to see the rest of the seminar (I am about to go for a cup of coffee and chit chat with a good friend of mine) but I would love to read your opinion about the rest of the seminar Rob if you don´t mind .

I pre-paid last week before it started

Im Curious
I wonder how much money he will make?
At $79 a download and virtually, people from all over the world watching.
If he sold 10,000 downloads, that's $790,000.
Not a bad weekend!

TMR Design wrote in post #10353856
Nothing is consistent. Placement, angle, subject to modifier distance and aperture are changing. With all those changes there's no way to make a comparison or draw conclusions.
It makes no sense at all.

There are camera and lens review sites but no decent lighting review sites. A lighting review site might be a good idea for somebody that knows WTF is up

Gentleman Villain wrote in post #10355880
There are camera and lens review sites but no decent lighting review sites. A lighting review site might be a good idea for somebody that knows WTF is up

Very true Mike... hmmmmmmmmmm

so they will be giving away a westcott 7' octa.... heres to hoping!

i cant say whether or not this is the 'best' lighting workshop out there, but the price sure was right, and ive picked up enough tips here and there to be worth it for me.

a few years ago, i had the chance to grab a nice sekonic light meter for free. i was still new to flash and said nah, im shooting digital, who needs that? now after watching this, im kicking myself...

BrassPremier wrote in post #10355956
so they will be giving away a westcott 7' octa.... heres to hoping!

i cant say whether or not this is the 'best' lighting workshop out there, but the price sure was right, and ive picked up enough tips here and there to be worth it for me.

a few years ago, i had the chance to grab a nice sekonic light meter for free. i was still new to flash and said nah, im shooting digital, who needs that? now after watching this, im kicking myself...

Yes, Westcott agreed to give away a 7' Octa.

One person won a 7 foot Westcott Octo, 50 inch Westcott, and a 28 inch

Pretty cool final prize package.

I enjoyed it, very much so and brought the downlaods for $79 or £54 GBP thats over 30 hours of information!

I agree it got hectic when the studens were shooting and he was doing the band!

I think the live feed team did a superjob - a few mistakes like cross over on the studens mics with zack etc..but for live the quality was really good! Im really happy to have watched!

I missed alot of the later on stuff as it finished at 4am GMT and i could not stay up most nights past 1am

It says the final edits will take a few weeks to be ready, that will be the final cut if you like! i havent had an email yet either so dont panic!