When taking pictures portraits on location, you might be depending on the ambient mild—until you deliver your personal lights. I made a decision to make use of flash to overpower the ambient mild. This method allowed for extra variation throughout this portrait session. Let me clarify how.
Many starting photographers don’t notice how a lot management they’ll have over mild with using flash, even throughout a daytime portrait session. Even images with a nighttime look don’t essentially must be shot at night time.
Whereas reviewing the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II, I requested Sanne to hitch me for a portrait session on location. I used two Profoto B10 lights and a distant set off designed for the Canon system. By altering the set off to the X-sync setting, it turned usable with the Sony a7CR. You can find the review of the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II by following this link.
I wish to describe the selections and decisions I made throughout this portrait session. It might assist those that wish to strive one thing comparable however don’t know the place to start out. Extra skilled portrait photographers may take completely different approaches or make different decisions. Be happy to share your strategies within the feedback beneath. We are able to all study from one another.
The Location
For the reason that location I selected had many tall buildings, I knew there could be restricted daylight within the late afternoon. Nevertheless, I discovered a spot with a white wall with some spots of daylight mirrored from close by home windows.
It wasn’t essentially the most best scenario, however with the digital camera set to a slight underexposure, the reflection may stand out simply sufficient. I used the Profoto B10 with a translucent umbrella as the important thing mild, overpowering the ambient mild. For the reason that flash was used to get a correct publicity of Sanne, I may dial in nearly any fascinating publicity for the environment.
Sadly, I couldn’t use the umbrella for lengthy as a result of it acted like a sail within the wind. The wind practically toppled the sunshine stand since I hadn’t introduced a sandbag—a worthwhile lesson for subsequent time. I switched to a Profoto OCF Magnum Reflector as an alternative, which might not catch that a lot wind. Nevertheless, it is going to produce mild that’s extra harsh in look. It additionally improves effectivity a bit, providing nearly one cease extra mild.
Turning Day Into Evening
The second location featured a a lot darker brick wall. My thought was to create a shiny mild on the wall with Sanne silhouetted towards it. The second flash would add directional mild to carry the shadows.
I turned down the publicity to register nearly no ambient mild. Then, I positioned the primary Profoto B10 behind Sanne, directed on the wall. Nevertheless, this didn’t give the impact I needed, so I set the digital camera’s white stability to tungsten. This adjustment turned the picture blue, simulating twilight colours as much as some prolong.
I added the second Profoto B10 to the left of Sanne. To forestall mild from spilling onto the wall, I used a grid. For the reason that digital camera’s white stability was set to tungsten, this mild additionally appeared blue. A full CTO colour gel counteracted the colour shift, leading to a extra balanced colour within the picture.
I created a variation on the identical location by rotating the backlight 180 levels to face the again of Sanne. This acted as a rim mild. The second flash was positioned at a 45-degree angle in entrance of Sanne. There was simply sufficient spill mild to barely illuminate the wall behind her.
The Energy of Flash and White Steadiness
It’s simple to underestimate the affect flash can have. After the darkish brick wall the place I turned day into night time, we moved to a hall for the following session. The solar was about an hour away from setting, casting heat mild on the tall buildings within the background. Though the hall itself wasn’t lit by daylight, it supplied a promising setting.
I used flash so as to add additional mild whereas Sanne walked down the hall. It took just a few makes an attempt to seize the right second the place she was positioned precisely within the flash’s mild.
For the reason that buildings within the background have been bathed in heat daylight, I needed them extra outstanding as a backdrop. I underexposed the ambient mild to darken the hall and Sanne barely. The flash, positioned to the left, mimicked the daylight’s route and was fitted with a full CTO gel to match the nice and cozy tones.
Subsequent, I selected a special angle, incorporating the traces of the hall’s construction into the background. I set the digital camera’s white stability to tungsten once more, turning the background blue. This time, I didn’t underexpose the ambient mild as a lot however ensured Sanne stood out.
Utilizing Present Mild and Reflections
The final location was one other hall, that includes giant window panes with vertical lights behind the window posts. I used the identical method with ambient publicity, counting on flash to mild Sanne accurately. This setup posed challenges because of the flash’s reflection within the home windows. I additionally needed to keep away from distracting reflections from the environment.
To handle this, I held the digital camera nearly towards the glass, capturing Sanne’s reflection between the vertical lights. Different points arose, such because the reflection distorting her physique and face. Discovering the right place to realize one of the best reflection whereas minimizing undesirable ones required endurance.
What Would You Do Otherwise?
This text describes the method and selections behind the images I captured. It’s not the one method to make use of flash on location, and a few issues may maybe be finished in another way or higher. Nevertheless, the top result’s what really issues, not the technical course of itself. One of the best ways to enhance technically is solely to apply. Exit, experiment, strive new issues, and don’t be scared to make errors. Simply take your time to determine what went improper and proper it if attainable.
Maybe you possibly can assist on this course of as nicely. How would you do issues in another way? What could possibly be improved? Please share your expertise within the feedback beneath. I sit up for your ideas.
