Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The blessings of Christ abound around us. I’m thankful for my family, my customers and my colleagues. Here’s a little collage of self portraits we made in the studio yesterday. It would be tough to send cards to everyone since I know so many people.
Since this is the Pro Photo Show edition, I’ll talk shop a little. I did these self portraits with the 5D MKII. I used a white paper backdrop and two Alien Bee’s strobes in the studio. One aimed low and behind us to totally whiten the paper and another in front aimed downwards and bouncing off the floor to fill the front.
The layout was done very simply using InDesign just like I would do a wedding album page, though on an 8×10 layout. That’s all there is too it. Nothing amazing, but I did have fun.
Lastly don’t forget about the PPS Christmas contest. It’s our gift to you, and even if you don’t win one of the big prizes, everyone who enter will receive a free effect goodie pack from PPS and Seim Effects early next year. You can’t lose, so if you haven’t already, go here to enter.
Again merry Christmas to you all… Gav
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thanks for everything you’ve done this year.
Thanks Eugine, Merry Christmas. Thanks for being part of the PPS community… G
Great photos, although having attractive models always makes it easier =).
You really seem to have the strobe ratio down. Were the power levels on the key and background lights the same or did you you have more or less in the background? I always have trouble deciding how much power to give the background on white paper (usually I don’t do enough). In the upper left photo it looks like you have a slight blue cast. Is there a window in your studio camera left (it could just be my eyes)?
Anyways, Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing and giving back to the photo world all year long.
Thanks. Cyrus and Sondra are so easy to photograph, so it does make the job a lot easier.
You’re right though Jesse there is a slight blue cast on the one. The kicker was low and at a higher power than the fill. I was getting a bit of overspill so I I guess I didn’t crank it up as much as I should of.
To be honest I’m not an expert at this (yep I’m actually admitting it 😉 I know how to do it, but since I don’t do nearly as much studio work as I do on location I don’t practice this high key lighting enough.
I’m sure we have readers that do this all the time. I welcome some feedback on your various techniques for the best high key light. I’m thinking I’ll do some more research on the subject since I really like the look it gives.
Merry Christmas to you too. Beautiful Family.