Lots of comments on the picture of Don Prince on the porch last week. Fifty yards from that old porch was an equally dilapidated field of sunflowers, which offered promise, and color.
Don has a face full of character, charisma, and history. Stephanie Quayle, above, rising Nashville star, has beauty, soft curves and the radiance of youth. I’m not gonna use that sharper, more direct light on her. She mighta busted her guitar over my head.
Light here couldn’t be simpler. Again, the Lastolite rotating tri-flash, holding three flashes, was used. (The sun was blazing out there.) And I put those flashes through what’s called a four in one umbrella, which I helped Lastolite design. Big rounded light flies out of that 51″ source, which I worked to get as close to my subject as the frame allowed. Soft as can be, it graces her face in lovely fashion as she faces the camera, and the sun backlights her. The tall sunflowers actually served as backdrop and as a flag for me to keep the sun out of the lens.
D7200, 16-80mm lens, 1/1000th @ f4. Light to camera left. Three sources, combining to make one light, done deal.
Same thing here, light to camera left, and the same big, easy going umbrella. This shot done with probably my all time favorite middle telephoto, the 200mm f2. Used at f2, 1/2500th, on a D810. Heavy duty Gitzo for support and framing, as it’s a chunky piece of glass.
Thank goodness for the down home character of country music folks. It was over 90 degrees in that sun, and Stephanie pulled it off with humor and grace.
Same day, and a very different light. More tk….
From a gearhead: Can you provide a comment on how/why you went from a Dx setup to a Fx setup? Obviously, you got excellent results from both. Was it just a choice of the lens? Just wondering….
Joe….thanks so much for sharing your techniques, they help us out more than you know! One question, when using the flashes like this with full sun, are you using them at full power to help fight the bright sun?
Very nice work Mr. Joe
Joe, we’re you using SB’s or a. B1????
Joe, looking at your shutter speeds, you evidently used HSS? That’s why the extra power needed with the tri-flash to use beautiful effect of F2?
Hi Scott These were SB 910 Speedlights…
Yep, HSS all the way in harsh sunlight like that. And hence the need for multiple speedlights.
Joe, excellent work as always. It still boggles the mind how you get such striking results from speedlights and daylight mixed, and to do so in what you always make sound like a pretty simple process (you make it look easy).
Fine images. How do you normally trigger these multiple flash units ?
Hi Richard…in this instance, using line of sight triggering…..TTL flash, SB-910 units.
Hey Brandon…thanks for the kind words….sometimes, it all falls into place. Other times….:-))) It can be a real haul to try to figure it out…Joe
The shot with the 810 is such a jem, one of those that makes you smile every time you look at it. Thank you Joe for sharing your wonderful skills.
Joe, beautiful work as usual. Like many above have said you make it look so easy. I was wondering if you used the umbrella without the cover?
Yep, used it as a shoot through….
Beautiful work!!! Nice lighting as usual, gonna try this setup soon!!!
The photographs are amazing. The effect of using three lights is making lot of difference. Many photographers tend to use a flash unit or multiple flash units for the a similar effect.
Hi Joe – is it possible to hand hold that flash and umbrella combination on top of a pole? Or do you use heavy duty stands?
When I am faced with a situation like this, I use a c-stand. But the rig is def light enough and mobile enough to perch on top of a paint pole–use that rig all the time.
Really amazing work Joe, I can take away something from each post you do! Thank you for keeping us up to date in your travels and work, its fun and informative to follow along on your wild life ride! Sending greeting from Australia.. Which you should come out and give a class … hint hint!!
Stunning photos! I love the use of high speed flash here, loves superb! Gorgeous model too
Great work Joe love the look of the first one
Joe, thanks for sharing the insight behind your lighting setup! My wife is a newborn photographer and mainly works from within our studio, However, I think she could capture some really amazing photos outside using your technique. The only difficulty would be keeping the babies asleep. Thanks again for sharing! -Brian