Get Pumped Up with Light
Workshop at the Ranch
August, 2006 Edition
Hi and welcome to this edition of
Workshop at the Ranch. I really enjoy teaching photography and
do so through these articles and through a variety of workshops
and lectures each year. Rich Clarkson's Sports Photography Workshop
is quite possibly the finest workshop around. His sports workshop
takes place during the last week of June each year and is located
in the Colorado Springs area where the US Olympic Training Center
plays host to the 60 attendees and staff. There are many other
activities and sports that the students photograph outside the
USOTC like Colorado Rockies baseball and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb
motorsports event plus faculty lectures and presentations, lighting
classes, business discussions, portfolio reviews and in general
a great week of learning and fun. I have been a part of Rich's
workshop faculty for 20 years. During the last several workshops
I have taught arena sport strobe lighting classes at the USOTC
Aquatic Center where students learned how to photograph Olympic
caliber swimmers using sport strobe lighting. This year, however,
I turned that class instruction over to a great teacher of arena
lighting Shawn Cullen from Sports Illustrated so I could begin
a new class on small strobe location lighting using the Nikon
SB800 Speedlights. The new class was very well received as students
learned how to light a subject with these small off camera flash
units.
The class began with basic operation and placement
of the speedlights and then we worked our way up to more creative
lighting situations. We started with one Nikon SB800 Speedlight
on our subject ... then added another and another and another.....
little by little we as a class arranged the speedlights, took
a shot and took a look, then rearranged the lights again and again
until we liked the image being produced. I had made arrangements
to have Andy Haman, the current Super Heavy Weight Mr. Colorado
as our model for the class. Andy was preparing for the Mr. USA
competition and was in great form for our lighting class. His
perfect physic and wonderful attitude brought instant success
to the class. Here are some of my example pictures made before
the class took over the camera and made pictures of their own
portfolios .........
|
Image
#1 Three Light Set Up ... Our class began with some basic
lighting discussion and operation of the SB800 Speedlights
(for additional information and images made with Nikon SB800
Speedlights check out past editions of Workshop at the Ranch).
I used one SB800 (no power output) as a MASTER on the hotshoe
of my Nikon D200 and a Nikon 17-55mm Lens. (NOTE: I could
have used a Nikon SU800 Commander as my Master but I chose
the SB800 to demonstrate to the class the most basic set
up.) An inexpensive bolt of black cloth was purchased at
the local Cloth World and was used as the backdrop. This
would be a collective learning process by which I directed
the students via questions, answers, trial and error "take
a shot and take a look" and some humor to arrive at
this classic three light arrangement. The Classic Three
Light formula ... two SB800s are placed slightly in front
of Mr Colorado, ... #1 is 3/4 angled at his right shoulder
and #2 is 3/4 angled at his left shoulder. The third SB800
is place slightly behind and 3/4 angled towards his back.
The SB800s are in the REMOTE mode and are mounted to Bogen
Lightstands with Bogen 175F Clamps made for small off camera
strobes. Each of these three speedlights are located approximately
4 feet from Andy. The two front SB800s are zoomed to 105mm
(illuminating only his upper body) while the back SB800
is set at 24mm (Illuminating his entire back and legs.)
All remote SB800s are in i-TTL Mode. Nikon D200, ISO100,
1/125 at f4.5, Nikon 17-55mm Lens, WB8300, Three Nikon SB800
Speedlights used as Remotes Power Output 0.0 and One SB800
as the Master (no power output), Bogen Lightstands and Bogen
175F Clamps, Lexar 4G Flash Card.
|
Image #2 Five Light Set Up ... With our class accomplishment
of the classic Three Light portrait we as a class moved forward
in an effort to produce a more creative lighting situation
and a more dramatic image of this years Mr. Colorado. I explained
to the class that I wanted to "highlight" specific
areas of Andy's physic. The zooming capabilities of the SB800
is terrific but I wanted to concentrate the light even more
than the SB800s 105mm allows. The answer was to add a LumiQuest
Snoot to each remote SB800. The difference is evident. As
Andy demonstrated one of his world class poses we arranged
One speedlight to highlight his biceps, One to highlight his
abdominal muscles, One to highlight his shoulders and neck,
One to highlight his lower back and hip, and we used One that
was handheld to highlight his face. Nikon D200, ISO100, 1/125
at f4.5, Nikon 17-55mm Lens, WB8300, Five Nikon SB800 Speedlights
used as Remotes each with a LumiQuest Snoot (power output
0.0), One SB800 as the Master (no power output), Bogen Lightstands
and Bogen 175F Clamps, Lexar 4G Flash Card. |
Image #3 Get Creative ... With this five light arrangement
[4 clamped to lightstands ( 2 on each stand ) and 1 handheld
( by a student volunteer,)] I suggested we turn our subject
around and see his back and shoulders while displaying the
classic "Double Biceps" pose. We did a quick rearrangement
of our 4 lights on the lightstands from the previous picture
to illuminate his arms and legs and also had our student
holding the one handheld SB800 move into a position to light
Andy's face. I took a shot and took a look, and found the
image very compelling. I love the way the LumiQuest Snoot
narrows the spill of light and creates isolated pockets
of light on various areas of Andy's body. Nikon D200, ISO100,
1/125 at f4.5, Nikon 17-55mm Lens, WB8300, Five Nikon SB800
Speedlights used as Remotes each with a LumiQuest Snoot
(power output 0.0), One Nikon SB800 as the Master (no power
output), Bogen Lightstands and 175F Clamps, Lexar 4G Flash
Card.
|
Image #4 More Creativity ... Up to this point lighting
was our key to creativity, but I always want more .... So
I suggested to the class that we explore something besides
lighting to set a creative mood. We settled on a slower shutter
speed and asked Andy to raise his arm into a single biceps
pose. This slower shutter speed (1/13 of a second) allowed
some of the ambient light from the hotel room to slightly
expose our subject. The combination of the ambient light and
the SB800 Speedlight made for a very interesting motion blur
(ambient) and frozen action (SB800) combination. Nikon D200,
ISO100, 1/13 at f4.5, Nikon 17-55mm Lens, WB8300, Three Nikon
SB800 Speedlights were used as Remotes, each with a LumiQuest
Snoot (power output 0.0), One SB800 as the Master (no power
output), Bogen Lightstands and Bogen 175F Clamps, Rear Curtain
Sync was activated on the D200, Lexar 4G Flash Card. We repositioned
our three remote SB800 Speedlights for this pose and had Andy
swing his arm into the single biceps position while we took
the shot. One SB800 with a snoot aimed at Andy's face, One
SB800 with a snoot aimed at Andy's biceps and shoulders, and
One SB800 with a snoot aimed at his hip and leg. I really
like the feeling created with the combination of blurred movement
and frozen action with the SB800 Speedlights.
|
Well, .............. I hope this WATR encourages
all of you to investigate the use of small strobe units off camera.
It just takes a little time and experimentation to see what off
camera lighting can do for your pictures. You will be amazed at
the results that even one or two lights can create when used off
camera.
Many thanks go out to Andy Haman for helping
our class and Best of Luck at the Mr. USA competition.
Attending a workshop is one of the best ways
to learn photographic techniques, business, camera knowledge and
connect with professionals plus add new images to your own portfolio.
Rich Clarkson's Sports Photography Workshop in Colorado Springs
and his Photography at the Summit workshop held in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming during early October and late April are some of the finest
workshops I'm involved with each year. My lighting class session
is only one of many instructional situations that students can
participate in during the week. Rich brings in a great staff of
the nations leading photographers and editors as program instructors.
For more information on Rich Clarkson's workshops logon to www.richclarkson.com
and see if one of his workshops is what you are looking for. If
so, I'll see you there.
Adios, .................... Dave
Past Workshop at the Ranch Issues
July, 2010
"Moto Light"
June, 2010
"West Coast Flash"

May, 2010
"Little Lights, BIG Arena - PART 2"

April, 2010
"Little Lights, BIG Arena - PART 1 "

March, 2010
"Workshop Wonders"
February, 2009
The D3s Advantage
January, 2010
"New Nikon D3s"
December, 2009
"Year in Review"

November, 2009
Return to Neverland

October, 2009
"Dramatic Gym Light"
September, 2009
"Saratoga Light"

August, 2009
"Graduation Class"

July, 2009
"FourSquare Sensation"

June, 2009
"Print On Demand publishing is for you"

May, 2009
"Sports Shooter Academy"

April, 2009
"My New Book is Available"

March, 2009
"The Nikon D3X...Part II "

February, 2009
"The Nikon D3X...Part I "

January, 2009
"Book Ideas Wanted"

December, 2008
Year in Review

November, 2008
Action with the SB-900 Speedlights

October, 2008
Lightpainting Under the Stars

September, 2008
Long Island Photo Workshop
August, 2008
"Best Buy Summit in San Francisco"
July, 2008
"Rich Clarkson's Sports Photography Workshop"

June, 2008
"Seven Photo Techniques"

May, 2008
"Learn Something New"

April, 2008
San Diego TREK

March, 2008
Joe McNally's book

February, 2008
The Nikon D300

January, 2008
Shoot From Where They Ain't (click here)
December, 2007
D3 Questions , Answers and Images

November, 2007
New Nikon D3

October, 2007
Football...A Retro Look

September, 2007
Get Out of the Box
August, 2007
Portrait Session with Frankie Herr

July, 2007
"Cowboy Up at the Double JJ Ranch"

June, 2007
"Light on the Run"

May, 2007
"SB800 Location Lighting in Mexico"

April, 2007
"Take it From the Top"

March, 2007
"Triple Play, Hat Trick, Trifecta" of Design

February, 2007
Principles of Success

January, 2007
Answers to Popular Questions

December , 2006
TREK to Peru and Machu Picchu

October, 2006
Creative Lightpainting (click
here)

September, 2006
Tandem SB800 Speedlight Set Up (click here)

August, 2006
Get Pumped Up with Light (click here)

July, 2006
Sports Action SB800 Lighting on Location (click here)

June, 2006
An Artistic Look At Derby Week (click here)

May, 2006
Lightpainting....from the Beginning (click here)

April, 2006
Workshop 40: Arches Mentor Series TREK

March, 2006
Workshop 39: Let the Games Begin...

February, 2006
Workshop 38: My Moody Blue Location Lighting Formula

January, 2006
Workshop 37: Answers to Popular Questions

December, 2005
Workshop 36: Year in Review...
My Favorite Equipment of 2005

November, 2005
Workshop 35: Building a Portrait

October, 2005
Workshop 34: Game Coverage.....My Way

September, 2005
Workshop 33: Equipment...and How It Can Help A Career

August, 2005
Workshop 32, Fill Flash....It's not Just For Portraits

July, 2005
Workshop 31, Rock On!

June, 2005
Workshop 30, Remote Cameras at Churchill Downs

May, 2005
Workshop 29, Arena Sport Strobe Lighting 102

April, 2005
Workshop 28, Arena Sport Strobe Lighting 101

March, 2005
Workshop 27: Nikon's D2X Digital Camera

February, 2005
Workshop 26: Steps to Success

January, 2005
Workshop 25: Own Your Images!

December, 2004
Workshop 24: Step-by-Step Lightpainting
November, 2004
Workshop 23: The Importance of Recognizing Light


September, 2004
Workshop 21: Covering The 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece
(click here)

August, 2004
Workshop 20: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight
WIRELESS TTL LIGHTING
(click here)

July, 2004
Workshop 19: Location Portrait Lighting using
Nikon's NEW SB-800 Speedlights
(click here)

June, 2004
Workshop 18: Photography - Just Enjoy it!
(click here)

May, 2004
Workshop 17: Documenting the Masters
(click here)

April, 2004
Workshop 16: Scene Setters
(click here)

March, 2004
Workshop 15: THE JOY of FILL FLASH
(click here)

February, 2004
Workshop 14: Sports Strobe Photography
(click here)


December, 2003
Workshop 12: "Product Review - The Nikon D2H Digital Camera
(click here)

November, 2003
Workshop 11: "Be More Than a Fan"

October, 2003
Workshop 10: "More Porrage, Please"

September, 2003
Workshop 9: The Nikon COOLPIX 5700

August, 2003
Workshop 8: Using Wireless Remotes

July, 2003
Workshop 7: Approaching The Event

June, 2003
Workshop 6: To be noticed, to be published, to the marketplace

May, 2003
Workshop 5: What Drives an Image Part Two,
Slow Shutter Speed & Pan, (click here)
April, 2003
Workshop 4: What Drives an Image? (click here)

March, 2003
Workshop 3: Fill Flash Techniques (click here)

February, 2003
Workshop 2: Sports Arena Lighting (click here)

January,
2003
Workshop 1: Lightpainting (click here)
