Behind the Scenes | off camera lighting

Behind the Scenes Part I

 Behind the Scenes | off camera lighting

Lately,  I’ve been shooting more behind the scenes photos to show what goes on when the camera isn’t in my hand or just to how this photo was made. Mostly just snapshots using my iPhone by or just having the assistant or makeup artist grab a few shots for me.

I thought I’d share the Process behind some of my latest photos using off-camera strobe lighting. First, when I say off camera I mean using a light source that is not attached to the top of the camera. Strobe meaning a flash lamp that produces high-intensity short-duration light.

Both photos were taken using model Alexia and only ONE light.

Lighting gear used
Elinchrom Ranger Quadra
39′ Rotalux Octa

photo set two,

Alienbee b1600
22 white beauty dish
Vagabond Mini

Sekonic L-358 light meter
(links to gear used can be found here In The Bag)

This first shot was from a previous shoot HP and the Big Pink Skirt, with Alexia and the Alienbee strobe.

Camera Settings

Start by metering the sky,  by pointing the camera up towards the sky and getting the correct exposure to say like f/11  at 1/100 and ISO 100.  That gives me correct exposure for a nice blue sky.

I’d then set my camera so it is at -1. That might be like f/14 or f/16 that give you a slightly darker view, more dramatic sky. That always looks great when there are clouds.

From there I’d get out my trusty light meter and meter off the strobe.  adding more or less power till my meter read f/16

I moved the light to block the sun out of Alexia’s face, that stopped her from squinting. This was a shot where the strobe did not fire.

(below) Final image. and it looks good

Here we used the same formula but with the Ranger Quadra system for our lights.

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Donte Tidwell Photography is a Los Angeles Photographer.

Donte Tidwell Photography specializes in boudoir, portrait, fashion, and fine art pictures.  To see more work from Photographer Donte Tidwell, check out his website at  http://www.dontetidwell.com or visit the facebook http://www.facebook.com/dontetidwellphoto or instagram http://www.instagram.com/dontetidwell.