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 have had the class join me for an actual photo shoot that they can watch, take some photos to help remember the occasion, but primarily have the opportunity to watch 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 did to show them how to do this before they each went and spent the afternoon shooting an assignment to do 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 that project if you want to try this.
Here are a couple examples I showed them that are “Environmental Portraits”
Here are some that would also work for this assignment from my photo shoot in a Chick-fil-A. All of these also use a strobe to improve the light.
This was the last assignment of my time here on the Big Island of Hawaii, teaching the 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