I’ve been putting my cameras on Gitzo tripods since forever, but I had no idea the company was a centenarian. So, when they called and asked me to shoot for their “Framed on Gitzo” campaign and the 100th Anniversary celebration, I was surprised, and thrilled. Open book type of an assignment. Go make a cool picture and use a Gitzo tripod, which is what I do anyway. Timing coincided with a trip to Hawaii. The results are above.
Now, this image is tried and true. Put the light off camera, wait for the sky and flame exposures to match, generate action, put the camera on a tripod. Nice pictures result. And this pic can easily take its place amongst the thousands and thousands of pretty, nice, fire knife pictures. (Tech info- D5, 24-70mm, 1/160th @ f4, ISO 250.)
But I always wanted to shoot a fire knife dancer with a super long lens. So, I trundled a 600mm f4 to the Kona coast. (Tech info for below- D5, 600mm, 1/500th, f11, ISO 250.) If I told you I had planned to have the heat waves from the torch blend into the ball of sun, that would be, in a word, baloney. Had no idea. Happy accident. Also, to make sure we had a path to the sun, the location had to be super specific. Hats off and big thanks to the intrepid Don Slocum and Travis, for leading us to this picturesque set of rocks in the surf.
The shot above was more of a challenge, and definitely an opportunity for the tripod to do its thing, i.e., manage and stabilize a chunky piece of glass. We used a heavy duty Gitzo Series 5 Systematic.
For a bit, we used two Profoto B-1 heads, each fitted with an RFi light shaper.
But, you know what they say about turning your back on the ocean? Yep. One of them went in the drink, never to flash again. So, we used one Profoto B-1 for the final shot, and in the grand manner of all photographic rationalization, I told myself one light was better anyway 🙂
We had done a shot the previous week with a lovely yoga instructor, but it had the sense of having done that before. I had this notion about long glass and a big sun.
So I ginned up another shoot. Ya gotta be tenacious about this stuff. I wasn’t coming back from the islands without a pic I was happy with.
So, happy birthday, Gitzo! Thanks for this job….another adventure! More tk….
Awesome stuff!
Say… speaking of “Open book type of assignments…” are you working on writing any new books? Please say “yes.” Thanks, as always, for sharing!
Damn fine work. I’ve had a Gitzo since 2008 and it’s still going strong!
Yep, working on one…hopefully next spring! fingers crossed!!!
Yes!!! Looking forward to it already!
Amazing photos and inspirational blogs. Joe sir, I wish I was in the US of A and could attend your training sessions. Just by looking at your training videos and perusing your inspirational blogs, a full time software professional like me has reached here : http://www.vardhankalephotography.com
…and there is a long way to go. People crave about meeting celebrities. I crave about meeting you. You need to know that there is a die hard fan of yours in the other side of the globe.
Thank you !
I love my wife dearly. Last Christmas she gave me my first Gitzo. Nothing says true love like a Gitzo. She was actually listening when I was talking about how much I wanted one. Glad they are both mine!
Well that sucks that you lost a ProFoto, but these photos are amazing! I love the drama in them!
Thanks, man….yep, another in a long history of electronic/water disasters….sigh
Perfect lighting! Stunning pictures!
Are there other Tripod Manufacturers? I’m still using a a first generation Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripod. Best thing about it it opens to almost seven feet.
I’m literally praying for a WorkShop with Joe Mcnally here in Brazil. You are my inspiration!
I like the contrast of the really blue night sky with the orange of the flame but then it really works well with the sunset as well. I the fact that you showed the position of the lights with one being more of a fill or textural light.
Congrats! (and happy anniversary Gitzo!).
Loving how you use the long lens to compress the background.
good photos
EPIC! My new favorite McNally. The exposure value intrigued me, D5, 600mm, 1/500th, f11, ISO 250. – for the fire stick or the sun (got a bet going as I say sun) and then flash to balance.
Hi Alex…yep, pretty much. The sun is the driver, along with the surrounding sky. Flames are pretty intense on fire knives, so you look for that sweet spot where everything lines up. Once the sun is down, and you are into exposing for more of a night sky, you run the risk of overexposing the flames to accommodate the deepening quality of the sky. So, it is a bit of a target you have to hit in terms of flames, sky/sun. and then flash exposure. All Best
Awesome photos. Reminds me of our family vacation in Hawaii.
Nailed it good photographic skill
Am in love with your work. They are expressive