Shoot-a-week #14: Simple lighting
This was another simple week. A model I've worked with before had a co-worker who wanted to try modeling. I needed to get in a shoot, and still wanted to try some things with my two-soft-box lighting setup, so I figured that we could throw something simple together.
This one pretty much speaks for itself. I'm getting the hang of using the two soft boxes, one as a key light and one as a fill. Technically, not a very challenging shoot. No, I take that back - this was the first time I tried using both soft boxes with a black backdrop, so I did have some challenges controlling spill; gridding the key light helps immensely.
All in all, the biggest challenge was relaxing the model. She was very nervous. Quite willing to take direction, but I don't think she actually settled in until something like two hours into the shoot. I don't think I realized just how spoiled I've been, working with experienced models. Still, it all came out well, and it was really good practice for me to have to break things down to their basics. And trying to be my ever-so-charming self, without being a total goofball. (Just the right amount of goofball, though, can work wonders.) The best description I ever heard of theater directing - and it seems to apply to photography, as well - is, "directing is nothing more than acting, just for a more demanding audience."
This one pretty much speaks for itself. I'm getting the hang of using the two soft boxes, one as a key light and one as a fill. Technically, not a very challenging shoot. No, I take that back - this was the first time I tried using both soft boxes with a black backdrop, so I did have some challenges controlling spill; gridding the key light helps immensely.
All in all, the biggest challenge was relaxing the model. She was very nervous. Quite willing to take direction, but I don't think she actually settled in until something like two hours into the shoot. I don't think I realized just how spoiled I've been, working with experienced models. Still, it all came out well, and it was really good practice for me to have to break things down to their basics. And trying to be my ever-so-charming self, without being a total goofball. (Just the right amount of goofball, though, can work wonders.) The best description I ever heard of theater directing - and it seems to apply to photography, as well - is, "directing is nothing more than acting, just for a more demanding audience."