Tag Archive for: lighting tips

Behind the scenes during the workshop in Oss with Geekoto small flash

In todays episode of the vlog we take you behind the scenes during our workshop in Oss.
This is the second and final part of the vlog about the workshop weekend that started in Pelt Belgium.

During the workshops the theme was “working with small strobes to create great images”, so we used our Geekoto strobes and accessories from Rogue and Nanlite to show you don’t need to break the bank, and can carry a complete studio in your bag to get great images.

With the Geekoto’s I’m able to bring my camera, lightmeter, 3 strobes with grips, 2 Rogue magnetic systems, Flashbender and Rogue Umbrella, iPad etc all in one backpack or rolling case. That’s very nice if you love working on location but don’t want to shoot different images than in the studio. And with 200-250 and 400W versions supporting ETTL and HSS you will be able to work under almost every situation. If it’s too dark, or if you want to work in the studio, there also is the option of using the build in modelling light.

For us the Geekoto is the perfect hybrid between a speedlight and studio strobe.

 

In case you missed it…
Here is part I

Adding a touch of color

In the past few days you have seen some images from the workshop “on location in Emmeloord” with our model Claudia where we look for interesting locations around our own studio.
Today the final part.

One of the things I absolutely love to do on location (or in the studio) is add a touch of color.
Always remember that color evokes emotion.
Think about watching a movie without any tinting or music, you will probably pretty quickly leave the cinema disappointed, unless of course the story is strong enough. But in most cases the reason we love certain scenes/movies is because of the tinting/music used.

So today let’s take a look at some images where I added color on location.

This image is without any added color.
I’m using a Hensel Porty here with the 14″ reflector.
This reflector gives a lot more light than a standard reflector and makes it possible to shoot amazing images even in bright sunlight.
I’m using a variable ND filter to be able to shoot on a wider aperture. When using the Geekoto system I can chose for the HSS options where you can shoot on faster shutter speeds but with standard battery packs like the Hensel Porty you are stuck with the X-sync which is often between 1/125 and 1/200. In situations like this that means that you are almost always shooting at F16 or F22. By using a variable ND filter you can take away some/a lot of light and shoot wide open or on any aperture you like.

For the next shot I’m using a second Hensel Porty but this one is covered with a thick red gel.
I’m using the black diffusion filter here (from the same kit as the variable ND filter) to create a nice lens flare.

I love both shots, but the second one does give me a nice extra mood/feel.
You might say that you can add this in Photoshop in postprocessing, but I disagree, you can mostly easily see when it’s done in real life or added in post processing.

Now you might remember the blogpost where I showed you the Geekoto system for the first time with the red gels.
Let’s to refresh your memory show some of those images.

These were shot with the Geekoto GT200 and GT250.
Small strobes that can shoot on HSS. As you can see I’m creating a nice Day2Night look here and the red really jumps off ow youthe background.

Now for the next images I’m using the exact same setup in the same location but here I switched the Geekoto for the 1200W Hensel porty system.

The Hensel system does have a lot more power but doesn’t support HSS and as you can see they give you results that are incredibly close to each other.
I think this is one of the most interesting parts of the smaller flash systems like the Geekoto they don’t like like much compared to a system like the Porty but due to the use of HSS they do pack an incredible punch.

Of course they can’t compete with the Hensel on durability, recycling speed, flash duration and raw power. But if you don’t need that raw power I think you can do awesome things with the smaller systems, something that wasn’t possible in the past when we still were depending on speedlights only.

 

Register for the free webinar about capturing stunning colours and achieve a accurate workflow

Register for the free webinar about capturing stunning colours and achieving an accurate workflow

One of the most important things about photography and a reliable workflow is calibration.
In essence, by calibrating your workflow, you make sure you get the results you need. Not just colours but also black/shadow and white/highlights detail. So register now for the free webinar about capturing stunning colours and mor. And if you cannot attend live, you will receive a recording.

In all the workshops I teach it always shocks me how many people don’t use ColorCheckers, white balance tools, or even take the time to calibrate their monitor. And it’s not hard, it’s in fact such an important part of the workflow that the software/hardware is designed to be fast and easy to use.

In this free webinar in cooperation with our friends from Calibrite I talk about :
Calibration of the monitor
Using the ColorChecker Duo
The differences between the ColorCheckers

How colours interact
Why we use light meters
Using calibration when working with gels

You also get to see 2 “live” photoshoots where I talk about lens flares, filling in shadows with color, and using gels for extra impact to your shots.

And that’s not all.
We end the broadcast with several color manipulation tips and tricks in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Register via the link below.
You don’t want to miss this one.

free webinar about capturing stunning colours and achieve an accurate workflow

click on the image to register for the free webinar

When styling and background comes together

Using one of my favorite #clickpropsbackdrops backgrounds, the art botanical for these images.

Sometimes Nadine finds a dress that matches a background perfectly. Together with her styling and poses, she hit the nail on the head! 

I’m using different levels of the red gel to add some mood. As a main light, I’m using a Hensel striplight with a grid and the Rogue umbrella as a fill-in light.


These were shot during the live stream of the Digital Classroom, see the broadcast here, and see how I set this up, plus a complete other set.