The Company of Photogs

I have always enjoyed the company of photographers, and last week, in a couple teaching stints, I was definitely in the mix with hundreds of funny, gregarious, passionate shooters. Some of whom, as you see below, helped me out by becoming extroverted, unabashed subjects for my camera.

These impromptu modeling sessions have become a staple when I teach, and my search of the audience for faces alternately produces groans, rueful smiles, outright enthusiasm, and sheer unadulterated dread. As a people photog, though, I enjoy the very haphazard search for faces. It has been a search I’ve conducted, literally, my whole career.

The lighting above is dead bang simple. The basic light shaper is a piece of xerox paper, taped to the computer screen. Done deal. You can control the sideways spill of it, if you wish, with a few strips of gaffer tape.

Background is a light on the floor, and the red hair light is a third SB unit, suspended overhead. You can send them signals to behave as TTL lights, or manual lights, and maneuver the exposure at camera to achieve a decently saturated look and feel. One of these days, I’ll take the time to craft a fancy spot light for the front of the computer, but when moving through demos, I don’t take that extra time. This is just a fun few minutes with gels, colors, simple light techniques, and some folks who obviously have some pretty good acting skills.

Have a few more teaching stints this year, mostly for the Kelby group down in Tampa. Here’s link for places and dates.  Also head to Mexico twice. First up, San Miguel, with the Santa Fe Workshops.  Then, in December, I return to Mexico for the PhotoXperience, in beautiful Guanajuato. 

Head to the UK today. Some vacation, and then, GPP PopUP.  All the best, to everyone! More tk….