Strobes, Speedlights and Studio Lights: Sensational Strobing Workshop
The second Sensational Strobing workshop for 2010 kicked off with a bit of a bang!
No, it wasn’t an exploding strobe. It was the sound of thunder on the horizon as the cold front brought the prospect of a storm into Fremantle!
Photo by Jacinta Mathews
The overcast day with gusty winds and patchy bouts of rainfall did not deter seven photographers working with two fantastic models from creating eye-popping portrait photographs with their flashes! Granted, we took a lot of photos in the dry and warm setting of the studio, but ventured out for some on-location shots in the arcades and back alleys of Freo.
Sensational Strobing focuses on the art of strobing – the use of speedlights and studio flashes – to create images with impact and drama. The photography workshop, designed for photographers keen to come to grips with a working knowledge of their strobes and strobe lighting, covers everything from using speedlights in eTTL (through the lens aka automatic) modes, to setting up and triggering speedlights manually, to working with studio lights and studio lighting techniques.
Share on FacebookThe not-so-secret secrets to running an effective photo workshop
Having attended and run a number of photography workshops, I’m now more than aware of the gamut of styles of workshop presentation and organisation out there.
Some of them work. Some of them work spectacularly. Others don’t. And yet others fail dismally, leaving participants uninspired and, worse, bored!
What gives some photo workshops that extra zing and pizzaz, and why do others just make you want to push that “sleep” button and catch an extra couple of hours nap time?
I believe that it boils down to four main things:
- Outcomes
- Structure
- Content
- Engagement
Studio maternity portraiture – a Studio Stay-and-Play session
We held a very special Studio Stay-and-Play session on Sunday afternoon, with a maternity shoot for Michelle and Matt Hort.
Family friend, David Winch, a keen photographer, has been photographing Michelle’s maternity journey over the last few months, and wanted to give the couple a special photo shoot as Michelle nears her term.
The Studio Stay-and-Play session allowed David and the Horts to work in a relaxed and intimate setting. We went with three different studio set ups for the Horts: a fairly traditional setup with two lights, a low-key shoot against a black backdrop, and a high-key shoot to inject a bit of fun and energy into the sitting.
David was able to bring his experience of photographing Michelle at various stages of her pregnancy to bear in this studio sitting. Being able to work with lights gave him greater flexibility in setting up each shot, ensuring that lighting was pitch perfect for the image he had in mind.
Share on FacebookMeet the Mitchells – Studio Stay-and-Play photo session
Earlier today, I posted about a Studio Stay-and-Play session with the Mitchells: Brad (Dad), SallyAnne (Mum) and seven-year old Thomas.
The Studio Stay-and-Play session is part workshop and part fun shoot, allowing photographers of all levels to participate in their very own studio shoot, taking portraits of their family, mates and better halves! The Mitchells’ session was geared around the Mitchells taking photos of each other, and even I stepped in and snapped a few frames of the whole family as I found out that they have never had a family portrait done before.
If you’re a photographer keen to get some studio photography experience, check out Studio Stay-and-Play for more information.
Here are the photographs from their session — thanks to Brad, SallyAnne and Thomas for sharing these pics with me!
Studio portraiture made easy: Studio Stay-and-Play
For a few months now, I’ve been quietly running a series of informal one-on-one photo workshops under the banner of Studio Stay-and-Play.
Studio Stay-and-Play conbines a fun studio photoshoot with a personalised guided introduction to studio photography. It’s easy to do, very accessible, and available for pretty much anyone with a DSLR and a love for portrait photography!
