The photo above is of Don Senas, Fire Dancer [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/320, ƒ/4, (35mm = 75)]
This week, I have been teaching how to use studio strobes to help improve one’s photography.
Last night was the only time I had the class join me for an actual photo shoot that they could watch, take some photos to help remember the occasion, and primarily have the opportunity to observe pros and what they do on a photo shoot using studio strobes to improve the lighting.
My wife, Dorie Griggs, took a video on her phone of me taking the photos and the students watching. Here is that video:
You can see the strobes off to the side at about 45º from the camera angle.
All those were shot at these settings: [NIKON Z 6, VR Zoom 24-105mm f/4G IF-ED, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 100, 1/160, ƒ/4, (35mm = 24)]
These photos are of Brooke Valle Anderson, a Hawaiian Dancer. She is with Island Breeze. They do luau shows on the Big Island.
Brooke also works with a Hula Keiki (children’s) after-school program where the children learn different dances.
Earlier in the day, I taught the class how to use an off-camera strobe to complement the existing light. Here are some of the shots I took to show them how to do this before they each spent the afternoon shooting an assignment to create an environmental portrait and use the flash to improve the photo.
They were to hand in a before-and-after photo, like I am showing here.
I also gave them a PDF for the assignment. Here is a link to the project if you’d like to try this.
Here are a couple of examples I showed them that are “Environmental Portraits”
Here are some that would also work for this assignment from my photo shoot at a Chick-fil-A. All of these also utilize a strobe to enhance the lighting.
This was my final assignment during my time on the Big Island of Hawaii, where I taught students in the School of Photography 1 at the University of the Nations. The last assignment they did is the one that I do more than any other lighting setup.
I am adding just one light off the camera to help light a person’s face to help draw the audience to them quickly in a photo.
“If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.”
–– Jim Richardson
