The Dark Side of Light - Lighting Boot Camp - C&C Welcomed

[KimC]

This was our other focus during the Boot Camp -- using light to get drama and texture. I know "dark" is not everyone's taste - Cliff even mentioned that during the session. Once again, he provided us with some tips (not settings) and then it was about experimenting, looking at what we have, thinking about how the camera will see it (in 3D).

All of these were taken with natural light only - no flash, reflectors or assistants.

#1 This was taken in a hotel room.



#2 Taken in a public building in Philly (yes he did have to get permits for us)



#3 Taken in a public building in Philly



#4 Taken in a public building in Philly

[NorthernFocus]

All nicely done, Kim. Highlights against dark BG make for some very dramatic photos. Good examples here.

[mknittle]

These are my favorite type of portraits Kim, very nice.

[KimC]

Thank you Dan.

All nicely done, Kim. Highlights against dark BG make for some very dramatic photos. Good examples here.

[KimC]

Mine as well Mark. Thanks for your comment.

These are my favorite type of portraits Kim, very nice.

[mknittle]

I forgot to add #4 is my favorite. I feel that black and white works well on this one.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[IzzieK]

All nicely done, Kim...and also for your mentor's tips. I am enjoying your experience. I'd have to take a look at his schedule. You seem to be having fun in his workshop. It shows on your work.

[Dave A]

Really nice images. The best way to express my compliments is to honestly say I wish I was at a skill level to be able to capture images of this quality.

Dave

[KimC]

Thank you for your comment Mark.

I forgot to add #4 is my favorite. I feel that black and white works well on this one.

[KimC]

Thank you John

Nice series.

[KimC]

Thank you. One of my best experiences ever Izzie! I wish I could attend something like that every month. It was worth the investment.

All nicely done, Kim...and also for your mentor's tips. I am enjoying your experience. I'd have to take a look at his schedule. You seem to be having fun in his workshop. It shows on your work.

[KimC]

What a nice compliment Dave - thank you. What helped me most was practice, practice; all the great people on this site who have provided honest critique; having a real desire to be the best I can be (and investing in myself to get there); and, figuring out where my passion was.

Really nice images. The best way to express my compliments is to honestly say I wish I was at a skill level to be able to capture images of this quality.

Dave

[mknittle]

All nicely done, Kim...and also for your mentor's tips. I am enjoying your experience. I'd have to take a look at his schedule. You seem to be having fun in his workshop. It shows on your work.

Hell, if It weren't any fun why would we volunteer to do it. Which proves that there is a lot of people that thrive on frustration and anxiety.

[rpcrowe]

Very nice group of shots.

Just one nit-picky comment on image #1. I opened the image in Photoshop CS6 and used NIK Viveza plug-in; Placing a control point on the shadow area around the bride's nose and adjusting the circle to encompass the entire head. I then used the shadow adjustment slider at +25%. This opens up that shadow just a TAD and really doesn't impact the rest of the face...

[Rebel]

These are great Kim, I love these type of portraits too!

These are perfect examples showing that you don't need all the excess equipment to get beautiful portrait shots.

[KimC]

Thanks for your comment Richard. I actually sent Cliff one with a lot of shadow that I had taken -- I wanted to know if it was too much. He shared that it was more about the quality of light on the subject... and then the shadows you have to ask yourself if you like or not. There were some that I was a bit uncomfortable with even thou the quality of light was good; this one I was ok with, but appreciate it's open to everyone's own interpretation.

Very nice group of shots.

Just one nit-picky comment on image #1. I opened the image in Photoshop CS6 and used NIK Viveza plug-in; Placing a control point on the shadow area around the bride's nose and adjusting the circle to encompass the entire head. I then used the shadow adjustment slider at +25%. This opens up that shadow just a TAD and really doesn't impact the rest of the face...

[KimC]

Thanks Matt -- appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Yes, he was all about you don't need a lot of stuff. With the flash, he also told the wedding photogs that one flash was fine. The only thing he did stress to them was, if using off camera flash for a wedding, an assistant to hold it works better than a light stand.

These are great Kim, I love these type of portraits too!

These are perfect examples showing that you don't need all the excess equipment to get beautiful portrait shots.

[bnnrcn]

All very nice and artistic shots Kim The vertical bright stripe above the man's head in #4 looks a bit distracting and I would fix it if the image was mine.

[KimC]

Yikes Binnur! Absolutely - how did I not see that. Thanks for your comment and mention.

All very nice and artistic shots Kim The vertical bright stripe above the man's head in #4 looks a bit distracting and I would fix it if the image was mine.