Tonight I decided to try some experimentation with lighting. The following shots were all taken from the same spot. The only variations are with respect to the flash placement and coloration.

Nikon D70 with 70-200 VR (tripod mounted, VR off)
SB-600 and SB-800 remotes triggered wirelessly with the D70's built-in flash (Commander Mode)

Photo 1


Photo 2


Photo 3


Again, I would characterize tonight as more of an experiment than anything, since this was the first time I was using two remote flashes.

Comments appreciated.

 

#1 sucks, but I love number 2. In #2 check out how the light bounces off the mirror cap, that looks super cool

#3s pretty too DiD :smile:

 

Curious about #2 . . . did you use a gel?

 

#2 is deffinitely my favourite too, but #1 has a little mystery to it. Wouldn't say it sucks, imo.

 

Yeah, I like two the best but I also like number one; it's like the big bad wolf lurking in the shadows with the whites of his eyes - the mirror caps - giving him away!

 

#2 and #3 were both shot with colored gels.

#2 was shot with a colored gel on each flash
#3 was shot with one gel (fired from the left) and the other flash was fired without a gel.

 

The yellow is too distracting in #1 I think it really throws it off. #2 is my favorite out of the three but it still seems to be missing something. All though I do like how it kind of looks like an Any Warhol piece.

It is quite neat how differently the same photo can come out with different techniques.

 

Yeah, I agree, #2 still isn't there for me yet. Like I said, this was more of an experiment and proof of concept night than anything.

Another issue for me with this shoot was the location. I like the background, but it wasn't exactly flash friendly (i.e. there it wasn't great for bouncing the flash).

 

Not too keen on #2, I like #1 because of how the mirror sticks out, yet the car is sneakily in the shadows. I really like #3 the best.

 

I like #2 the best. The Mini is emphasized the funky concrete de-emphasized. Very nice!

 

Very interesting experiment...shame the first one is too dark really. We just all love a sharp blue don't we?

 

How about a whiteboard or shoot-through umbrella? (or both)

Sorry for semi belated posting, still looking at these pics 'cause I like them, especially the use of artificially colored light.

 

#2 just looks sweet.

 

This is somewhat related to the photo contest, but given the poor showing of the picture in the voting, I guess it shouldn't influence the outcome too much to discuss it here.

The following photo was taken using the same method as the first three shots (remote flash with a colored gel, remotely triggered). In this case, i was only using one flash (SB-600).



Constructive critique appreciated.

 

What a cool experiment! I really like #2 also as the shape of the MINI is accentuated over the concrete wall at the right.

 

You know Dave, I completely misread this photo. It looked to me like it was a classic Mini on a sound stage lit by a blue gel. The color was so overpowering, and the contrast so strong it gave me that impression. It's funny to see all the different interpretations of this months contest. Now that I know how it was done--in the parking garage with a flash makes all the difference in the world IMO.

 

OctaneGuy:

That's the same classic Mini that I posted previously from the AMVIV photoshoot. The car is in the same location in the two photos, just shot from a different angle and there is a blue gel on the flash.

 

Oh I know "that" now. But when I saw it posted on the contest pages, I read it differently--even though I knew the Mini looked a lot like the one you had photographered.

What I find striking about this picture, and something that wasn't immediately known to me was that this wasn't a Photoshop'd or enhanced picture--but that the highly saturated color was a result of a flash/gel combo.

That in my mind is a better or stronger adherance to the "Use of Color" theme than the highest ranking pix on the contest thread--which unfortunately goes to show that interpretations can vary widely!

 

I want to give some feedback, also being interested in what you're trying to do Dave. (meaning the use of colored gels/lighting)
Aside from experimentation, what was your goal in the blue pic?

I'm still thinking a whiteboard, or some kind of reflector, would help out. You could at least have some kind of control as to bounce, and fill.

I did notice the pic before and saw the seams and imperfections in the background. Perhaps highlighting them might help?

If you had the opportunity to reshoot this image, what do you feel you do different? What successes do you feel you've had lately using the Creative Lighting System?

 

Hey DiD,

I know this is a bit off-topic but, i was wondering if for your running shots if you are using a gyro at all. It's something that I have been thinking about picking up to improve my auto shooting.

As for the lighting experiment, i like them all for different reasons. Obviously , some are stronger than others, but if you don't experiment you can't push the envelope. Nice work!

--Neall

 

First I'll answer Neall's question since it's quick: I'm not using a gyro. It might be interesting to try to incorporate that, but it absolutely isn't necessary to do motion.

The classic with the blue gel was literally the first time I used the colored gel on a short duration (sub one second) photo. I hadn't planned on shooting with a gel, but had one, and decided to try it out after having taken quite a few flash assisted / bounced shots without a gel.

Yeah, I need to get a reflector. I have been meaning to do that.

Because of the way the flash lit up the back wall, if I try to bring out the seams in the concrete, the flash winds up looking a lot more white in the center of the wall, and then fades to a darker blue on the outer edges. I wasn't too fond of the look, but if I get some time i'll try to dig it up and post it.

Now that I have an SB-800 and an SB-600 I would try to get one flash to do the background highlight and one flash to better expose the front/side of the car. I would also dial back the depth of the color, and go with a couple colors that worked better with the underlying tone of the car.

The major success was this shot which was done with a remotely positioned SB-600 with no gel.



I would also count this one as a success, even with the shadow on the left side (shot with a colored gel about an hour after the classic Mini shoot).



Along the way, there have been several shots that I saw a lot of potential in, but that I would really like to reshoot.

Most of my desire to experiment for the sake of experiment, is due to a deep seeded hesitancy to use flash. Maybe it's all the cheaper P&S based flashes that have colored my view, but flash hasn't been my friend very often in the past. I guess I see this as an area I can push my self to learn more and try to get more comfortable with it. One of these days I'll go out with a real "picture" in my mind using colored gels and try to execute it. For now though, it's a bit hit an miss (vaguely reminicent of night photography in some respects).

 

Hey DiD,

I am impressed at your steady hand in those running shots. How do you do it? I have tried a few times and have come up with horrible results.

Also, what are you doing in your shots to remove what I would think to be almost inevitable specular highlights from that sb 600?

--Neall

 

Neall,

running shots: They aren't hand held.

sb-600: I'm not doing anything special in post processing. Both the SB-800 and the SB-600 have a little plastic wide angle shield that pulls out of the flash head. When I shoot wirelessly from a distance (especially with a gel), I pull down the wide angle shield to get an even flash dispersion across the subject. The shield also helps protect the gel from being exposed to the heat of the flash (and rippling/shrinking as a result).

Dave

 

Dave, there's just one cardinal rule you broke in taking the yellow mini pic! You always turn the wheel in so you don't stare at tread!! :smile: it's dark on the right side that it wouldn't matter