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Building a PortraitWorkshop at the Ranch Welcome to this edition of Workshop
at the Ranch. For the last several years I have been invited to
teach at one of the best workshops I know. Rich Clarkson's Photography
at the Summit workshop ( www.richclarkson.com
) is a wonderful blend of faculty environment and students that
addresses many aspects of photography while in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
One of my responsibilities is conducting a location lighting class
using Nikon's SB800 Speedlights. The more I use these units the
more fascinated I am with the possibilities to do creative lighting
scenarios. Many thanks go out to Craig Ramsby, Director of Jackson
Hole's Polo program at Melody Ranch who provided our class with
one of his top athletes as a model. These five images are the
step by step progressions our class used to build a portrait with
Nikon SB800s. Rather than do the set up work for the students
I decided to put them to the task by asking their opinion as to
exposure and light positions and power output. I would then agree
or make suggestions in an effort to guide them through the building
of a portrait. Let's have a look..................
I hope you can see how a step by step building process can help you portraiture. I like to make use of some of the ambient light when possible and then add one, two, three, four or even more to reveal my subject with creative lighting using the Nikon SB800 Speedlight system. I would suggest that all these arrangements of camera, exposure and lights be completed BEFORE your subject arrives. No subject will ever wait for you to figure all this out. Bring a friend to "stand in" so you can compose and light the scene well before the star player walks in. With everything ready your subject can walk in, be photographed and walk out in a very short period of time. They will be very happy about your efficiency and most likely be spread the word of how easy you are to work with. Well,......I hope you have enjoyed this edition. See you next time at Workshop at the Ranch..........................Adios, Dave
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Image
#1 My Nikon D2X is set up on a Bogen Tripod to help steady
the camera as the available light was minimal and a slow
shutter speed would be used. Our location is in the barn
area at Melody Ranch. Saddles, Bridles, Polo Mallets and
all the elements that let the viewer know this image is
about Polo is in place. There is one small light bulb in
the barn so I take a few test shots and look at the ambient
light that is created by the one light bulb and choose an
exposure of ISO100, 1/3 at f7.1. This is a very slow shutter
speed but my subject will not be moving and the SB800 Speedlights
will freeze any movement as well. I have chosen a warm Kelvin
setting of 7100K to bring out the warmth in the wood and
my lighting. Our single light bulb is directly over our
subject. His Polo helmet causes most of his body to fall
into shadow. I will use the SB800s to reveal my subject
and the environment step by step.
Image
#2 ONE Remote SB800...The class decided that we needed to
reveal Alberto's face and did so by placing ONE Remote SB800
(designated Group A) on a shelf above the bridles to our subjects
left (maybe 10 feet away). I took a few test shots and powered
the Remote SB800 up and down via the Master SB800 located
on the hotshoe of the D2X. We all took a look at each image
and settled on a power output of -1.0. I pointed out to the
class that an unflattering shadow from the helmet fell across
our subjects eyes. The class decided that a lower position
for the Group A Remote SB800 would be necessary.
Image
#3 THREE Remote SB800s...The class decided to move our Group
A Remote SB800 lower and to our subjects right. I placed
the SB800 on a Bogen Lightstand with a Bogen 175F clamp
in the stall to Alberto's right. I took a few test shots
and powered up and down via the Master while looking at
each image. The class settled on a power output of +1.7.
The lower angle allowed light to fill in under the helmet.
The class also decided to place a second Remote SB800 (designated
Group B) on the near stall gate to Alberto's left. It is
out of the cameras view and after a few test shots and took
a look the class settled on a power output of -1.7. Our
Third Remote SB800 (designated Group C) is positioned high
on the back wall and is aimed to skim across the back wall
in an effort to separate our subject from the background.
A few test shots and the class settled on a power output
of -1.7. I pointed out to the class that some things are
beginning to work well for us but that I believe we can
do better. There is just enough ambient light from the single
light bulb to give a sense of place. Our Group A Remote
SB800 is doing its job but is a little over powering and
is visible in the image in the left stall. Our Group B Remote
SB800 is also putting out too much light. And, the Group
C Remote SB800 is too bright and not very well positioned.
Image
#4 So we made adjustments accordingly and reduced the power
output on Group A to -1.7 and moved it back slightly out of
the camera's view, Group B to -2.7, and moved Group C down
and behind the stall gate to create a low sunshine effect
through the slats at a power output of -1.0. All our power
adjustments are made via the Master SB800 on the hotshoe of
the D2X. Much better. The combination of the ambient light
and the SB800s just adding enough light to reveal our subject
and environment from the shadows is very pleasing, but not
perfect enough for one of the 20 students that attended my
class. He did not like the shadow beneath Alberto caused by
the single light bulb and requested that our subject move
forward a couple of feet so as to cast the shadow created
by the single light bulb in front of him. 
Image
#5 I agreed....The light from the Group A Remote SB800 still
was sufficient on our subject and now the shadow was less
noticeable. I repositioned the D2X so as to re-center our
subject in his new location. I believe this was our best
image of the day. I like Alberto closer to the camera (farther
from the back wall) and I love the way the SB800s illuminate
him and the interior of the barn. A very nice environmental
portrait of our champion Polo player.