Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/04/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dear Ric, Gene and Cedric, Many thanks for your really helpful comments. Maybe I?ll try this a bit more. It?s certainly different to using available light. It?s a bit of a challenge, but it?s good to be able to try something new. This is certainly cheaper than camera GAS. Thanks Charlie Charlie Chan www.charlie-chan.co.uk On 2 Apr 2013, at 11:12, Cedric Agie wrote: > Hi there on the other side of the Channel, > > Since the age of 13 my son, now also 18, showed the same behaviour. This > reassures me and thank you for the technical infos. > > I don't have a DMR yet but I happen to have the same studio lights. Be > careful because they are real bazookas. It's not easy to keep so many kids > together in a studio, in front of a lens and take several good and sharp > shots. Your photos show a good beginning. > > In general you can go high key with kids but not so with adults and > certainly not with elderly people. Going digital recently I soon learned to > underexpose a little bit. With the Leica R-8 & 9 you have the chance to > have a flashmeter in your camera. Go for the faces but keep details in the > highlights and in the shadows. Not easy with digital photography. This > often gives a problem with ladies who don't like to see their wrinkels. So > go for very soft light. > > If you are in a hurry inside a building with one person, there is an easy > trick to begin with. Place your subject next to a window (not from behind) > in a (withe) corner with a reflector on the other side or a softened far > away low power flash. Some experienced photographer call this the Rembrand > portrait. > > You can do the same in a studio. Put the person in a (white) corner and a > softened flash on its side, not in front. Do the same with a black screen > or something else, not too close, behind the subject. Gradually change the > angle of the flash between the side and the front. You can then add and/or > change the direction of a second and even a third flash. Never use them > with the same power and don't put them at the same distance. I prefer semi > translucent umbrellas in most cases. Or use the normal umbrellas and add a > second semi translucent umbrella in front of it. The Elinchroms do have a > second fitting for this. Or use thin withe fabrics or translucent tracing > paper, because most studio flashes are very harsh, especially for > portraits. > > With digital you can learn really fast and also in a studio. > > Good luck and have a lot of fun, > > Cedric > > > 2013/4/1 Charlie Chan <topoxforddoc at btinternet.com> > >> It is rare that I have my nephew and niece visiting, esp when my oldest >> son, Alex, is back from Cambridge. So I decided to have a go at shooting >> them with a pair of Elinchrom 500 strobes. Definitely not my normal thing. >> In fact, this is the first proper portrait session that I have done with >> lights. So, please forgive me if these are a bit hackneyed. Anyway they >> were all game for a laugh (except my 18 year old daughter, Coco, who won't >> go anywhere near me when i have camera). Lots of Easter Eggs certainly >> helped fuel the cocoa sustained frenzy! >> >> http://topoxforddoc.zenfolio.com/p218878823 >> >> DMR with 50 Summicron at ISO100 >> 100cm Elinchrom Octa high up and just to the right >> Second EL500 pointed at the background >> Reflector from the bottom left >> >> Please feel free to chip in. I've got loads to learn about studio >> lighting. >> >> Thanks >> >> Charlie >> >> >> Charlie Chan >> www.charlie-chan.co.uk >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information