Whatever you want…… (well…..)

/23 Comments/in /by

As you might have noticed I’ve been building this blog since last year (when my page was a static one) and it has grown explosively, many thanks for that. The last month the visitor numbers have doubled since the month before, so keep spreading the word.

Maybe it’s nice to experiment with something, let’s give YOU the readers the choice of content for the coming blogposts.
What would YOU want to see on the blog ?
You can ask anything, personal (about me or our team), technique, vision, hardware you name it and I will select the best ones and try to make it into a blog post.

It could be one blogpost about a subject or maybe a few combined into a blog post, so don’t worry if you have a question that you think won’t fit into one whole blogpost I will squeeze it in somewhere else.

So press the comment button and start asking….

Greetings,
Frank

23 replies
  1. Jeroen de Kort
    Jeroen de Kort says:

    Hey Frank,
    That’s sure a nice gesture to your readers/followers!! If you ask me i’m dying to know when to use daylight lamps vs flash lights (small flash, quadra’s, or other). And in which cases do you use them. Most photographers use some kind of flash lights but daylight lamps are popping up everywhere. So i’m curious on this subject.
    Thanks and greetzzz,
    Jeroen

  2. Matthew K
    Matthew K says:

    I would like to know what photographers, past and current, have inspired you in your work. Whose pictures have made you want to go out and take a shot? Whose techniques, style, or attitude have helped you become the photographer you are?
    Thank you.

  3. @jewelzdezine (aka Julie)
    @jewelzdezine (aka Julie) says:

    Frank, thank you for this opportunity. I have loved following you and your work. It’s so inspiring. What I would like to ask is since I am just beginning to build my portfolio gear, and I only have speedlights with the use of pocket wizards, how would I go about setting this up? Use it without any diffuser? Use it with an umbrella? I’m not sure where to start.

    I have to tell you (since you have given your readers the opportunity to use this space) that when I watched you talking to Larry Scott on @kelbytraining, the first class you were spot on about social networking! One thing I totally admire about you is that you try and answer all your followers and I know that could be difficult at times. I have followed many great photog only to see they don’t care and it makes me not follow them. We (followers) are only eager to learn. I’ll never do this for a living. I already have a full time job as a graphic designer, but photography is in my heart, so thanks for sharing your knowledge. I truly admire that.
    J

  4. Frank Doorhof
    Frank Doorhof says:

    @Jeroen,
    I will talk about that in the post.

    @Matthew K,
    I have done a blog post about that already, go back a few weeks to https://frankdoorhof.com/web/?p=759 and you can read all about it 😀

    @Jewelzdezine,
    It depends a lot per person what they like, I use both diffusers and bare, but I will also implement that in the blogpost.
    As I said to Larry I strongly believe that the world has changed and that Social media is something you simply can’t ignore.

    On the other hand if someone takes the time to write to me, who am I to not respond 😀

  5. Richerd Reynolds
    Richerd Reynolds says:

    Hi Frank,
    Excellent work on Kelby training. I’ve learned a great deal from those videos. One thing I discovered (much to my wife’s chagrin), is that I now really want a medium format camera.

    I am starting to build my website/portfolio, but I am having a hard time narrowing down my images. How do you narrow down your selection(s) for what to display in your portfolio? What criteria do you look for in a portfolio piece? And when is it okay to have more than one image from the same shoot?

    Cheers,
    R

  6. Andre Roosenburg
    Andre Roosenburg says:

    Frank, jij laat via Twitter weten dat je op zoek ben naar onderwerpen. Misschien is dit wat. Ik heb en ik denk velen andere fotografen moeite met huidskleuren in de studio. Ondanks een colorchecker passport moet ik toch teveel shoppen om de huiskleur mooi te krijgen. Zeker in de donkere delen vallen ze mij altijd te rood uit.
    groetjes Andre

  7. Sterling
    Sterling says:

    What is your approach to directing/posing when shooting inexperienced models? I liked your tip about centering the eye on Kelby Training. Do you have any other little tidbits like that?

  9. Ton
    Ton says:

    Hi Frank,

    can you tell in general what kind of light setup you use most of the time and why. With some more in dept explanation of the function and the purpose of the lights in those situations?

    Thanks in advance!

  10. Rick Wenner
    Rick Wenner says:

    I am interested in reading more about digital medium format cameras and why you have chosen the cameras you work with. Also, any recommendations you can provide in what to look for in MF (different shutter types, sync speeds, etc.).

  11. Atmikes
    Atmikes says:

    Hi Frank,

    Thank you for sharing al this amazing information already!

    I’m also interested in your view on MF camera’s, is it a good option even if you never have large format prints? Will the amazing sharpness, resolution and DOF show more than with a 5dmk2 or D3 like camera?

    And If you are willing to share something about choosing light-modifiers, where does it happen for you in the workflow, i tend to choose it very early in the workflow but sometimes due to practical issues i have to change it last minute, do you foresee a back-up lighting plan?

    Thank you!

  13. Vince Lagrange
    Vince Lagrange says:

    More info on the Elinchrom Quadra Ranger RX in combined use with Elinchroms’ lightshaping tools like the Deep Octa 100cm and their striplights, both gridded and non…

  14. Tim van Wessel
    Tim van Wessel says:

    Hey Frank,

    Ik las ook je twitter voor onderwerpen. En nou zou ik graag weten hoe een foto zoals jij die op je beginpagina van je portfolio heb staan word gemaakt van begin tot eind. Heb dat soort foto’s/kunstwerken altijd heel mooi gevonden en zou het graag zelf eens proberen.

    Gr Tim.

  15. Miklós
    Miklós says:

    Dear Frank,

    Congrats on your pictures and for your teachings (I checked your training videos at kelbytraining.com. )

    I’m working with Nikon D700 dslr camera with 3 speedligths, but I’d like to jump higher in portrait photography and maybe I could reach the Medium format. Therefore I have to decide my next step carefully.
    Plan A:Invest more into dslr (expensive 85mm 1.4 or 135…)
    or
    Plan B: Start to collect money for a medium format.. or rob a bank….
    ( I’m not going to sell my dslr kit because I understand when and where I should use it. )

    WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION?

    The calling of the perfection of the 12 stop is very strong. And here is my two requests that can be interesting for others too….

    1. Could you show the same studio shot with your LEAF and with your Canon?
    2. What should be the “minimum” medium format gear for portrait work?
    (I’m afraid the basic 80mm lens is not good (too short) for my visual style in portrait work.)

    Thanks in advance,

    Have a nice light!

    Miklós
    from Budapest,
    Hungary

  16. Frank Doorhof
    Frank Doorhof says:

    Hi,
    I love MF but if you have a limited budget you will get a bigger boost by buying good lights.
    MF will show differences in shadow detail and color and of course sharpness, but a 5DMKII or Nikon high end will do just fine.

    When you have money to spend and you want to upgrade than MF is a great step up without a doubt. But I will never sell my DSLR, it’s always horses for courses and the DSLR does all very well, the MF system does a small part of my work superb 😀 but other sections it’s not so good.

    Glad you liked the Kelbytraining videos.

  17. Arjan
    Arjan says:

    Hallo Frank,

    Ik heb ook wel een vraag, waar ik zelf niet zo goed uitkom, en waarvan ik zie dat veel mensen daar moeite mee hebben, en als ze t oplossen, dit ten koste gaat van de kwaliteit van hun lichtsetup.

    Toen ik bij Elinchrom goede modifiers wilde voor op de achtergrond, raadden ze me de background reflectors aan. Deze heb ik nu, en als ik de witte achtergrond perfect wit wil hebben, lukt me dit redelijk, maar wanneer ik een full body perfect wit wil hebben, dan lukt me dit wel bij de achtergrond, maar de ondergrond rondom het model wordt gewoon niet mooi.

    Na veel zoeken op internet vind ik wel iets over plexiglas op de grond, waardoor met reflectie, deze wel mooi wit wordt, maar dan heb je een soort van spiegeleffect.

    Hoe is dit nu op een juiste manier wel goed op te lossen?

    Groetjes,

    Arjan

  18. Frank Doorhof
    Frank Doorhof says:

    Je kan eventueel een extra flitser op de ondergrond zetten, of inderdaad Plexiglas (dat gebruik ik ook vaak).

    Ook helpt het om een GLOEDNIEUWE rol te gebruiken.
    Feitelijk kan het goed als je genoeg afstand houd van de achtergrond en de wide reflectors gebruikt maar je hebt dan wel minimaal 3-4 flitsers nodig om het full body in 1x goed te doen.
    Met plexiglas alleen 2 op de achtergrond en 1 op het model.

  20. Miklós
    Miklós says:

    HI Frank,
    Thank you for your answer.

    My situation changed completely since our posts – I had to leave my primary job (training manager at Toyota Motor Hungary) after nine years!!!! I’m leaving with founder of this company who worked 21 years there. I’m under a shock ( and my wife also) – BUT I think there is a chance to build my NEW life on photography. I know it is not easy and fast… but as a part time I cannot do it.
    I know this situation is is unique but I’m sure your non professional followers are always thinking about the steps of the transition.

    I’d like to shoot artist and musicians portraits and I’d like to buy a studio light set. My budget is limited but I have only one chance – THAT SOULD be ENOUGH!
    As I see nobody is working with Eli here – Broncolor and Profoto is too expensive. In Hungary Hensel is the first non cheap-chinese quality lamp but I’ve checked I can buy Elinchrome at Vienna in Austria, that is 260km from my city. So my question is what should I buy?
    ( I have to do a BIG thing! )

    I think I have to create VERY soft light – and therefore I would go for the Beauty Large Octa with its indirect softness and some harder ligth – I would choose some BD.

    I also don’t know what to buy as a lamp.
    2 500 BXri are in one set with 2 portalite softbox – 1000 EUR – sounds good or should I buy the more flexible RANGER kit and solve the indoor and outdoor start with one step…. ( OK it is mor expensive..)
    Can I use Ranger on a same way as the BXRi???

    What is your recommendation?

    (My kit: Nikon D700, 2 sb800s 1 sb 900, 24-70, 70-200.)
    I’m also going to buy a 85mm portrait lens…

    Sorry for the long letter – and I’m sorry if its too personal, but I need some help:((

  21. Frank Doorhof
    Frank Doorhof says:

    Hi,
    Sorry to hear, but indeed loads of new options.

    Personally I love Elinchrom for it’s modifiers and quality.
    Start out with for example the BXri’s like you already thought add the Deep octa and a striplight and some reflectors with grid and you have a great start.

    Outdoor the ranger RX or ranger Quadra is great but for the studio nothing beats the RX or BXri in my opinion.

    If you have any questions just mail me at [email protected] and if I can I will help

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