Summer Time
We are well into summer, and while I'm not a huge fan of the heat that August brings, I am a fan of the amount of time we have been spending in the backyard. Grilling, playing and just hanging out has been so nice.
The Smoking Gun - Neon Noir Still Life Tribute
Another evening at home with nothing but ideas, this still life was shot as a tribute to the "neon noir" crime thrillers of the 1980's
Tech Details
Set: In studio, black sheet as backdrop
Lights: Canon 580exII from top left with red gel, LumoPro LP160 with blue gel from below, both gridded with Rogue speedlight grids
Other Notes: I used matches which create lots of smoke when extinguished to get the smoke effect. This image is straight out of camera, no post processing whatsoever.
Guitar - Still Life Product Photography
Sometimes models are hard to come by and you get the itch to make something happen. I had one such evening, so I grabbed my guitar and decided to work on a little still life/product photography. Something a little more artsy than catalog.
Tech Details
Set: In studio, black sheet for the backdrop
Lights: Canon 580exII in a small softbox camera left, gold reflector camera right, LumoPro LP160 camera right with flag covering the neck.
Chelsea - Sunset at Any Time of Day
I invited Chelsea over again to work test out a portrait method. I was getting ready to shoot a morning-to-midday wedding and I wanted to see if I could mimic a dramatic sun set portrait with a pair of speedlights and a CTO gel.
Tech Details
Set: My backyard, 2pm in shade
Lights: LumoPro LP160 with 1/2 CTO gel to rear of subject. Canon 580exII in LumiQuest LTp softbox
Other Notes: I think this was pretty effective. You can spice up your typical "Midday open shade" portrait when natural light isn't optimal by using a pair of speedlights, a gel and a small softbox. Not too shabby.
Joe & Meghan - Engagement Portrait
Joe and Meghan are a cute couple with a very specific sense of humor and style. We did engagement photos at Riverside's Fairmont Park and I wanted to make sure to bring a complementary style to their portraits. Just having both of them stand in the gazebo holding hands, facing straight on would have been a little cliche at this point in couples portraiture, but to apply a little of the Brenizer method and include a significant amount of the environment, plus exposing it such that we get some blown highlights around the outside of the gazebo's creates an atmosphere that is a little magical, more interesting and less cliche. The signature look of the Brenizer method is there, but very subtle.
Joe & Meghan | Engagement Session | Fairmont Park, Riverside CA