Creative Flash 2 - TV Promo In Action

You Might See More Than You Bargained For

The word "flash" has multiple connotations in a place like Times Square.

TV Promo Spot Being Filmed in Times Square

You never know what you'll see in the big city. Expect the unexpected. And always be ready to say, "Cheese!"

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G
Flash:    Nikon SB-910 / SU-800 commander

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Creative Flash 1 - Ballet in the Park

Part One In A Series on Flash Photography

Everyone who works to achieve something owes a debt to those who came before, the pioneers who blazed trails and passed down knowledge that we now take for granted. 

This concept was expressed elegantly by Sir Isaac Newton in 1676: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." (1) The idea dates back to Twelfth Century French philosopher Bernard of Chartres (2) who, even in his time recognized that the knowledge of the ancient world was a great asset to modern thought. 

Artists, musicians, writers, photographers - we all learn from those who came before us. I was a casual snap shooter until the day that I stumbled across an exhibition of nature photography by the late Galen Rowell. 

Rowell's images were like nothing that I had ever seen, full of sharp detail and rich colors. The prints had the shiny, saturated look of wet oil paint. I found it incredible that a camera could produce something so breathtaking. 

It was a life changing experience. I wanted to learn to do what Mr. Rowell had done, or at least to understand the processes that he used in order to create these stunning images. I bought a better camera and set out to learn as much as I could about light and composition. 

From my initial interest in landscape photography, I gained an appreciation for the characteristics and subtleties of natural light. I learned how to predict when and where it would appear in spectacular form and how to overcome the obstacles involved in capturing dramatic light on film. 

Over time, I also gained an interest in artificial light as well, predominantly strobe lighting (commonly referred to as flash). Joe McNally and Dave Black are masters of this type of photography. Fortunately for photographers everywhere, they are also generous educators, each having published a wealth of material explaining the techniques that they use and in some cases, have developed. 

Ballerina in Central Park

One of my objectives for 2014 was to expand my own use strobe (flash) lighting. I forced myself to use flash as often as possible, even in cases where I would not have thought to use lighting before. 

The image of the ballerina in the park benefitted from the use of flash. A single, off-camera speed light filled the shadows and brought out the color and detail of the dancer's outfit. The subject stands out against the background.

By contrast, here is another photo of the same performance. I had taken two shots quickly. The light didn't have time to recharge before the second exposure, so it didn't produce a flash.

OOPS! The Flash Didn't Fire!

The impact of the lack of flash is clear. The details of the dancer's face and outfit are obscured in shadow in this second image. She no longer stands out against the background. (I applied identical post-processing to each image. Note that the background color and brightness are identical.)

Learning something new is always humbling. There are more misses than hits in the early going, and improvement doesn't come rapidly. But every mistake provides an opportunity to learn valuable insights. If you're willing to make mistakes and analyze them with an open mind, you can count on making good progress as well.


Research Citations:

(1) Source: Wikiquote (Isaac Newton)

(2) Source: Wikiquote (Bernard of Chartres)

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Flash:    Nikon SB-910 / SU-800 commander

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Table Top Photography

Sophisticated Results from a Simple Setup

There's an old saying: "It doesn't matter what you did. All that matters is what it looks like you did."

In other words, you don't always need expensive equipment to create a high-quality image. Nowhere is this idea more applicable than in table top photography.

If you look at the photo below, you might assume that I used expensive lighting equipment to create it. I have some nice lights and modifiers, but I was in a hurry on the day when I took this, so I opted for a simpler solution.


The Secret Setup

Below and behind the camera are two sheets of white paper from a large drawing pad. The light came from a highly specialized piece of studio equipment called a window. Yes - a window. You might have a few of those in your very own home. If you look closely, you can see part of my coffee table reflecting in the camera's mirror. (Note to self: drape a dark cloth over the coffee table next time.)

Table Top Photography by Daniel South

Okay, it wasn't a completely el cheapo shot. I used a good camera mounted to a solid tripod. The exposure was close to a full second long, so hand holding was out of the question. Don't expect your cell phone to yield similar results.

Further, there are some limitations to any quick and dirty approach. If I needed to take several shots and have them all look the same, window light would not be suitable because it changes over time. If I wanted to put the camera on a shiny or backlit surface, that would have required more work and resources than a matte white background.

Nevertheless, it's a clean and clear shot that shows the product nicely. I could blow the full-sized version of this image up to six feet wide, and you would see every detail in the machining of the metal lens mount - not bad for ten minutes in the living room on a day when I had a lot of things to do.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G 

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Windmill, Moon, and Flags

Chances and Challenges

I took a lot of shots in order to capture this one image. The biggest challenge was trying to catch the scene it at the precise moment when both flags were extended by the wind. That didn't happen very often, and it never lasted more than an instant.

I was shooting from a small and heavily traveled walkway. There was no room to set up a tripod. It took a lot of control to keep everything lined up precisely in the frame while holding a long lens by hand. 

Then there was the small matter of tourists walking into the shot and standing there. The windmill is on the property of a popular hotel.

Windmill, Moon, and Flags - Santorini

It was a challenging shot, but somehow I had the good fortune to get an exposure with all of the desired elements before the best light faded. (I would have been a grumpy dinner companion if I had missed it.)

But I walked away reasonably certain that I'd captured the shot that I had imagined. I even treated myself to a latte.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Head Strong

Amazing Acrobatic Performances!

A special treat for Post #50!


In New York, it's not uncommon to see young men performing gymnastic and acrobatic feats in the parks and on the sidewalks - even in subway cars. These incredibly talented individuals have amazing skills and muscles to spare! 

Head Strong - Acrobats in New York

The performances are breathtaking, and the guys tell some pretty funny jokes along the way!

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Film Noir Portrait Lighting

Recapturing the Essence of 1940's Hollywood

I was in the studio all night. The camera's batteries were almost drained, and the hot lights were on the verge of burning out. But I pressed on. I had to get the shot - there'd be money in it if I could get the pictures to the newspaper by morning.

I kept a bottle of whiskey as close as I could and still remain sober enough to work. I thought about finishing that bottle as the traffic rumbled on the avenue below. 

She walked in looking as though her last chance at happiness had caught the express train to anywhere but here. She had been somebody once, the trophy of a man with a temper and the wrong type of friends, perhaps. Now she needed MY help, which meant that her luck had run seriously dry. She was hopeless, a desperate dame looking up from the bottom of a cold well, wondering if there was still a way out. She didn't have a prayer, but she had me, and I had the one thing she was looking for.

Self Portrait 2014 - Film Noir Lighting Style

I've always been fascinated by the use of lighting in cinematography. Creative lighting can add a tremendous amount of drama and emotion to a scene. 

The film noir genre of the 1940's showcased an intense lighting style with high contrast and deep shadows. The portraits of the era mimicked this lighting style (or perhaps it was the other way around).

This is my interpretation of the classic look of 1940's portrait lighting. It might have come across as a bit more authentic if I had included swirling cigar smoke, but the studio has a non-smoking policy. And I detest smoke. 

I had to figure out a different way to "light up" the shot. I hope that you'll enjoy the results. 

Thanks for reading, and always keep an eye out for a damsel in distress.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Bryant Park Jugglers

Sights of Summer

A delightful New York attraction, the Bryant Park Jugglers entertain daily with impressive feats of skill and concentration.

Bryant Park Jugglers

Please stop by sometime and enjoy these talented performers. They tell me that they juggle in the park all year long. So even in the cooler months, they'll be here to entertain onlookers with their dazzling skills.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S

Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

http://www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved