Workshop Wednesdays Vol.XXV

Workshop Wednesdays vol. XXV

School’s back, Australia Day weekend is behind us… Let the year officially begin! While we are still in the midst of Summer with light lingering in the evenings, it’s lovely to enjoy the longer days and shoot outdoors using natural light. There are a number of modifiers and tools that can be used to shape the light to your advantage and help create that magic shot! As I’ve had to explore a few options myself this week – I thought I would share with you what I’ve found…

HP Tip 1

Natural lighting is a wondrous thing and can be used and manipulated to create many effects all on its own. It’s also possible to include various modifiers that can enhance the natural light in a scene… We will explore these below!

Random Fact

  • In physics, light refers to electromagnetic radiation. The light we normally talk about in everyday life refers to the visible spectrum (the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can see).
  • Other animals can see parts of the spectrum that humans can’t. For example, a large number of insects can see ultraviolet (UV) light.
 

 

In The News

Mumbai, India 

A visitor views images of film stars at the National Museum of Indian Cinema, the country’s first such museum.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images

 

Photo For Thought

(a series of four works)
Alice Mann: 2018 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Award Winner

“Alice Mann (05.09.1991) is a South African photographic artist based in London whose intimate portraiture essays explore notions of picture making as an act of collaboration. Her shortlisted series was shot in South Africa’s Western Province, focusing on the all-female teams of drum majorettes. Alice Mann says, ‘For these girls, involvement in ‘drummies’ becomes a vehicle for them to excel, and the distinctive uniforms serve as a visual marker of perceived success and represents emancipation from their surroundings. Continuing my consideration into notions of femininity and empowerment in modern society, it was my intent to create images that reflect the pride and confidence the girls achieve through identifying as ‘drummies’.’

Judges Comments: Mann’s series is consistent in its evocation of a sustained and intriguing narrative. Each sitter is precisely framed within a carefully considered composition, and the girls confidently meet the camera’s gaze. Their pristine and vibrant outfits jar with the rundown surroundings, lending a surreal and enigmatic atmosphere to the portraits.”

SOURCE

 

Iconic Photographer:

Paolo Pellegrin

“I’m more interested in a photography that is ‘unfinished’ – a photography that is suggestive and can trigger a conversation or dialogue. There are pictures that are closed, finished, to which there is no way in. ”

“Paolo Pellegrin was born in 1964 in Rome. He studied architecture at L’Università la Sapienza, Rome, Italy before studying photography at l’istituto Italiano di Fotografia, in Rome.

Between 1991 and 2001 Pellegrin was represented by Agence VU in Paris. In 2001 he became a Magnum Photos nominee and a full member in 2005. He was a contract photographer for Newsweek for ten years.

Pellegrin is winner of many awards, including ten World Press Photo awards and numerous Photographer of the Year awards, a Leica Medal of Excellence, an Olivier Rebbot Award, the Hansel-Meith Preis, and the Robert Capa Gold Medal Award. In 2006, he was assigned the W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography. He lives in London.”

SOURCE

1. (Above)
CAMBODIA, 1998.Inmates in the Kompong Chhnang prison.
2. (Below)
INDONESIA. Sumatra island. Banda Aceh. After the tsunami. 2005.
3. (Bottom)
CAMBODIA, Phnom Penh, 1998. Phanna, 24 lives in a shanty town on the outskirts of town she has AIDS.

Tip 2

“The world of light modifiers can seem monumental, intimidating, and confusing. In fact, considering how simple wireless flash itself has gotten lately, (with built-in radio triggers on many strobes) it is indeed the flash modifiers, not the flashes and strobes themselves, that are likely the most daunting obstacle that stops beginners from taking their portrait lighting skills to the next level!”

Reflectors & Other Bounce Sources

DESCRIPTION: Uses sun, on-camera flash, or off-camera flash. Flash can be bounced off anything, not just a reflector.

PROS: One of the cheapest, fastest ways to create and control soft light sources. Bouncing flash off a wall or ceiling is also very effective and simple.

CONS: Reflectors can waste light power, (brightness) and your non-reflector bounce options are extremely limited if a ceiling is high, or any off-white color. Reflectors can be difficult to create consistent exposures with, especially if an assistant is hand-holding a reflector and you’re bouncing flash from on-camera.

Scrims & Other Diffusers

USES: Active or fast-paced situations such as on-location sessions or lifestyle portrait shoots, where you want to create soft diffused light but need to be moving around a lot. Reflectors are more practical for sunlight, while on-camera flash-bouncing is more practical for indoor walls and ceilings.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE – VERY GOOD READ!

Tip 3

Explore Profoto lighting options… OK – I have officially fallen in love! Feeling a little tired of my speedlight flash (used on location to bounce fill flash as described above and at wedding receptions), I paid a visit to Camera Pro in Tenerife to look at continuous lighting options.
(Read about continuous lighting here)…
However, as often happens when you visit a store for one thing, I came away wanting something completely different and much more expensive!
Check these amazing portable lighting solutions here:
VIDEO LINK (WORTH WATCHING!)

Story of the Week

Ohhhhh Kate and Mitch how we love you so! It has been an amazing journey to first meet you for your wedding back in 2015. This was our first time photographing at the Brisbane Racing Club and it quickly became one of our favourites venues. You chose so many unique and meaningful touches for your wedding day and I still love our random encounter with the Ruby Ice Cream van!! We also have had the pleasure of photographing Mrs Prince (a beautiful budgerigar seen in a previous WW)… And Leo the infamous Ragdoll. Nothing made us happier than meeting your beautiful baby girl Isobella and I’m sure Leo has also come to love his little human sister (even though he may not be the centre of attention anymore!) We wish you the best for the year ahead and are harbouring (not so secret hopes) of a shoot with Mrs Prince, Leo and of course the three of you!

 

Thank you for continuing the journey with us! We welcome your feedback and ideas anytime. Here’s to being inspired!

Best wishes from:
Hannah and Olivia (and Nic and Charlie)…,