Ran a couple fashion pix I shot in Romania in the last year or so, over on our Instagram account, and there were a few lighting questions. So, here we go. Below is Alina, Miss Romania, 2017, in a beautifully worn-out mansion in the city of Bucharest. She’s absolutely lovely, but she is in a big room where all the light is behind her. I turned on the warm chandeliers, let the windows blow out a bit, and set the stage for her to be framed (squarely in the Nikon Z 7) and went to work on a beauty light for her. Main light is a Profoto B1X, fitted with a large Profoto deep white umbrella with a diffuser over it. An umbrella box, in other words. It glows, wraps, embraces–choose your phrase–the sensuous features of Alina in appropriately delicate, open fashion. It is positioned camera left, just out of frame, as close as I can work it to the edge of my picture. Below is a fill board we rented in Romania. And that’s it. Done. She does the rest.
You might note in the bottom corners you can see the fill source a bit. I could have lowered it, I could have retouched it, but, you know, over time, I’ve had lots of bits and pieces of my gear in photos, and well, they end up becoming part of the photo, and I don’t sweat it overmuch. I’m after a feel, a look, a match point between subject, light and gesture. If I feel like it’s rocking in the right direction, as the English occasionally say, I “bash on regardless,” and leave the bits and pieces bobbing in the wake of a drive towards a picture. I grew up feathering a tenth of an f-stop for corporate clients, and still do, to a degree, but at some point, if it’s mostly there, I’ll just get my eye in the camera and go.
We turned this amazing house into a playground for the Z 7 and the S series lenses designed for mirrorless. I emphasized some of the new kids on the block, namely the 14-30mm and the 24-70 f/2.8. The mirrorless adventure with new Nikkor glass coming all the time, is turning into a really fun ride. (Check out fellow Nikon Ambassador Jerry Ghionis and myself as we make an entire portrait assignment, of each other, with just the new 85mm f1.8. Another dimension for the Z system.) Every few months, there’s a new iteration of glass and the potential to take this system further and further increases exponentially. Below is a B&W rendition of the scene with Alina.
Old house, big windows. Don’t forget to take advantage of the studio like aspects of huge window, sunlight and sheer drapery. The below was dead bang simple. Cali is in the corner on camera left with a Lastolite Tri Grip silver sided reflector.
There’s a fun wrap up over on the Nikon Learn & Explore page and a quick BTS video of when we ventured out in the woods for a completely different environment. We did the location two step–outdoor, indoor. Light is light, whether you find it in the woods or make it happen in an old mansion.
We were super lucky with our talent and crew. Fast Ideas Production house is a wonder to work with, and routinely offers miracles of access, permissions and possibilities. Of course, Lynn DelMastro as our exec producer spins all the wheels in the right direction from home base, and excellent Romanian photog Bogdan Para, was amazing, working the set with Cali. Pratik over at Solstice Retouching did his usual terrific fashion treatment in post. Great teamwork, great locations, great talent, all wrapped up with a little bit of soft light.
More tk…..
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Oh my god! What a beauty? I’m pretty sure it’s lighting that brought such an amazing shots.
Good Morning Once Again,
Are you using the Profoto’s more often than the Nikon Creative Light System? I have some doubts about the CLS as they have not supported it with their remote WR-R10. The WR-R10 has been on back order for nearly 18 months. Any comments or corrections to my statement.
Beautiful images Joe. I have a question not related to this post, few years back when you weren’t as well known as now, how did you manage to make personal projects? I find it really hard for people to let me take their picture and there are several projects I would like to do, but haven’t been able because of that, here in my city people isn’t as used to have their picture taken unless it’s a wedding or something of that matter.
I .may have been on of those corporate clients you were feathering f stops for…
Stunningly beautiful. And great light also!
Thank you, K-Man!!!
Hi Marco…I too, am waiting on updates for the CLS system and the triggering thereof. Just don’t know, as all things are upside down now. I have been using Profoto more and more, as my jobs and the scope thereof have been on the more sizable side. Still use CLS, but more sparingly, as my last couple of triggers are pretty precious now, and I use the SB5000 selectively.
Was very proud of my feathering for you, Mark! I still wish we could get out there, you and I with just cameras and a loose agenda, and rock. It would be fun, shooting together again.
Hey Jorge…. It is hard and remains so. I’m very sympathetic on this as I am right there with you. I do have some longevity in the industry and that is helpful, but it still is an uphill climb. I don’t have the big magazines vouching for me anymore, and those creds opened a lot of doors. I still can get some stuff done, but it is harder to convince folks that participating and devoting time is going to be worth it. Lots of places allowed access cause they wanted to see their people or product in Nat Geo or LIFE. Now, I can offer good exposure on the web. I still write proposals and seek funding, and knock on wood, we get our share of work, but it is harder. What you need to do, often times, is get just one tree to fall. Show that to others, and they might sign on. Best, Joe
Love those pics,
Thanks for sharing
Wonderful setup, splendid colours, i love the model look!
First of all, the photos are wonderful! Thank you very much for your useful tips. I hope I will be able to apply those as you described. The explanation of how you used the environment to create these photos was fascinating. It makes everything look so natural.
Stunning work. I love the first one – the pose, the poise, the expression, the light.
Appreciate it…many thanks!
that’s the look we often go for as photogs…we can work very hard to make the photo look simple, effortless, even.
Beautiful! Thanks for share.
Joe sir , you used to take incredible snaps with nikon D700 as well. It’s not the z7. The greatness of photos is due to the person holding the camera. Your big fan from India.
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Nice shot! Amazing colours!