Assignment 2 - Group Portrait

You are required to produce 1 portrait of a group of 4-5 people, it is for their self-promotion for their website/cd cover. 

"COLOURZ" 

(Girl band from the 1980s)

Canon 600D 

ISO100 42 mm f16 1/200 (White balance - Sunlight)

Lighting/set up: One soft box/flash to the right of the coach. and another one behind the left of the coach. Camera in front on eye level to the girls sitting on the coach. 

My Analysis/Opinion: I like how black the background is, it gives the colours that they are wearing the vibrance that the 80's had. Good contrast, good composition for a CD cover I think. Not too close together but enough space around the girls to play with cropping and other effects. I would have liked to of had some better costumes for the girls but the clothes they had worked good.  And maybe some props could have been used or a better lighting style but I'm happy with what I have and I think that I would actually use this for a CD cover. 

Chiaroscuro lighting - Using light to convey emotion and drama.

WORKSHOP

Work in small groups and using simple backgrounds and flash lights, produce a range of studio photographs that convey the feel and style of either the great Renaissance artists or that of a film noir. 

Practicing: The light directly above the model on the right of her. Flagged so it wouldn't hit Scotty because we wanted him to be a silhouette. and then a light that had a honeycomb (don't remember the real term) over it so make a back lit background to split up the subject and background.
That is for the first picture.

Canon 60D

ISO100 f11 1/160

 Set up for the next two: Same as the to one but we added a fill/soft light to the left of the model to get some more light on the left of the models face. But I don't think that it worked as well as they would have hoped.  Then we added in a flag in front of the fill light so it wouldn't get on Scotty again.

My Opinion: Could have had some more light on my right hand which has the glass in my hand but I guess that is the style that they were going for.

Canon 60D

ISO100 f11 1/160

Canon 60D

ISO100 f11 1/160

Assignment 9 - Night Photography

1. Using a building that is lit by artificial light, take an image between sunset and last light. Aim for a hero shot with a great looking sky and well exposed building. Find you image early and wait for the right light. 

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm

ISO 3200 f/22 10"

21mm

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm

ISO400  f22 13"

36mm

2. Take a shot with an exposure over 10 seconds long and show some movement in the image. 

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm

ISO 1600 f/16 10"

21mm

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm

ISO 400 f/22 30"

75mm

3. Working in your A and B groups, make one image of your choice. Make it unusual and creative. You may like to paint with light, combine flash with long exposure, create  your own moving lights, its your call. your imagination is your own limitation. 

Simple Portraiture Techniques

Workshop - Mixed lighting

1. In groups of 2-3 setup one constant light and one flash light pointing towards the background. 
2. Mount your camera on a tripod and frame the lit scene. Using  the flash power settings, establish a correct exposure of f11 and set your shutter speed to 1/200. 
3.Using your shutter speed only, attempt to balance the flash and the tungsten exposure. 
4. now hand hold the camera and move it around during the long exposure. 

Jen took all the photos because obviously the model is me. 

Chiaroscuro Research

Definition - The technique of using light and shade in pictorial representation.

How is it done? 
http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/becoming-a-professional-photographer/production-lighting-how-to-do-chiaroscuro-lighting.html#b 

The chiaroscuro technique dates back to the time of Rennaissance paintings. Also sometimes called Rembrandt lighting, it often pertains to having one solitary light source and depicting stark contrasts between light and shadow. This style of lighting may seem minimalistic, but it yields very dramatic results. The high illumination contrast creates 3D depth on an otherwise 2-dimensional surface. Often this technique is achieved by having one bright, solitary light source - usually daylight. But, in a studio set-up, or with a lighting set-up, chiaroscuro can also be accomplished. Here's how:

Step 1: Choose Your Subject

Rembrandt lighting or chiaroscuro is most dramatic on 3-dimensional surfaces, such as the human body. If you attempt to do it on a flat surface, the outcome is not as dramatic. You can, however, choose to cast shadows on a flat surface. To start off with your attempt, choose your subject wisely.

Step 2: Determine the Mood

This lighting technique sets the mood in itself. Given its play on light and shadow, the chiaroscuro is often used to depict mystery and a dark mood tone. Out of necessity, this technique is used for scenes in darkened places like prison and dungeons. But, for mood-setting, one will see this lighting technique in dark, serious movies like The Godfather and Citizen Kane. For your set-up, try and appropriate the chiaroscuro with the right mood. If you're shooting a wedding video for instance, this can be used during the dramatic moments like the bride and father, and more.

Step 3: Remove External Light Sources

One thing that can destroy a good chiaroscuro is unwanted light sources. Check your viewfinder for unwanted light images. One way to remove any spillage is to turn your work area pitch dark. Close the drapes and turn off overhead lights. This way, you can totally control your light source and set up your chiaroscuro lighting properly.

Step 4: Angle Your Main Light Source

Often you will only need one main light source to achieve the chiaroscuro. Depending on your type of set-up, usually the light is angled 45-degrees from the subject. Focusing the light straight in front of your subject will often just give you a flat look. If you angle it, you produce more shadows and more contrast. You can also position the light straight above or below your subject. Both these methods yield different moods.

Step 5: Experiment

The best way to find your preferred chiaroscuro technique is to be flexible with your light source. Place your light at varying angles and heights. You will see that each of these invoke different emotions - dramatic, lonely, foreboding, solitary, mysterious and more. Don't be afraid to move your main light source around and find that which works best for you.

Step 6: Reflect

Having just one light source may not be enough in certain scenes. There may be details that you don't want to completely cast a shadow on. In these instances, it's wise to use a reflector. Make sure to use a very light and subdued reflector so as not to overpower your chiaroscuro technique. 

Example photographs

Photographer - Michael white

Model - Mackenzie

https://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/guest-contributor-michael-white-chiaroscuro-lighting

An example from the youtube clip

Photographer - Michael White

Model - Kiana

https://www.photoflex.com/liteblog/guest-contributor-michael-white-chiaroscuro-lighting

Assignment 3 - Mixed lighting portrait

You are required to produce 1 portrait of anyone. This portrait must use flash AND another form of illumination such as a laser, torch, candle, supanova, post coffee-glow etc.
Make sure that the additional lighting is part of the composition and adds something to the portrait. It should not look like the additional light thrown in as an afterthought.

"The High and Mighty" a.k.a Sexy/Busty Georgina

Canon EOS 600D 

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 

ISO 100 f11 15" 

The setup was soft box on the left of the model in front of the camera. Georgina's body is facing the soft box but head is facing the  camera. There is also a back light behind Georgina's right shoulder. It is high up facing down onto the back of her head. 

The flash on both lights went off with taking the picture. Then we had 15 seconds to do all the light painting. It took about 8-10 goes but we didn't have much time to do it in. We did it many times but we just weren't getting the right look and we ran out of time so I didn't choose the last one we did I chose the 3rd of 4th one we did. 

The blue light looks like a collar and in my opinion looks like a queens collar that she would have on her dress. The green in the background just gives the picture the look that I was after. (re. the examples I had blogged last week - They are obviously not the right colours but it still works)

Thanks Georgina for being the model AGAIN and thanks Scotty for doing the light painting. 

Assignment 8 - Using Monoblocs

In small groups you must make at least 2 portraits using the mono bloc flash kits. 

The first must be taken inside, with a window in the background. Utilising the flash, the exposure must be correct for the subject and the natural light outside.

"Michelle surprised"

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

55mm ISO 200 @ f8 1/100

The second image must be made inside away from any windows. Decide how you want the background to look i.e. dark and mood or well exposed and make a portrait with the subject correctly lit with the flash.

"Daniel doesn't like smiling"

Canon EOS 600D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

37mm ISO 200 @ f8 1/100

Examples of Mixed lighting in simple portraiture

Here are some examples of mixed lighting for my assignment next week. 

Mélanie Elliott by Patrick Rochon

(http://www.patrickrochon.com/archives/1359)

James Boon Photography

(http://www.jamesboonphotography.com/p276494709#h6eaa1089)

Workshop - Group Portraits

Create a group portrait using one light setup (Light behind camera)

Setup is hollywood lighting with a fill background light behind them

Create a group portrait with a two light setup, one off to camera right and a fill light behind the camera

Setup is light on the right of them and a fill light behind them