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Day for Night Shooting
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Summary:
In this FotoTV film photographer Ralph Man will discuss two topics; using a leaf shutter and how to shoot pictures during the day and have them result as if shooting at night. This tutorial begins with an in-depth description of the
technical aspects of apertures and shutter sync times and how to change daylight shootings while utilizing a leaf-shutter.
A common problem with a 35mm DLSR camera is that usually 1/250 sec is the shortest flash sync time making it nearly impossible for photographers to create the day into night image effect. Ralph Man resolves this issue while discussing and demonstrating the usage of a middle format camera and leaf-shutter lens.
Ralph Man does an excellent job explaining and demonstrating the specific techniques associated with a leaf-shutter. Photographers new to leaf-shutter applications will find this comprehensive hands on tutorial very informative and easy to understand. Photographers already working with a leaf-shutter will find Man’s excellent tips extremely useful, especially his insider tips on how to change a daylight shooting into night.
The Nikon CLS System
Summary:
In this film Patrick Ludoloph, professional photographer and blogger, shows us how to implement the Nikon CLS or Creative Lighting System. Patrick explains to us the inverse square law and the importance of correct flash intenstity.
If you are working alone and need to move your flash around a lot, this is the film for you as Patrick shows us how to do exactly this without having to change the flash intensity with every repositioning of the flash.
This film explains all the camera settings you need for this system and how easily it can be implemented.
So have a look how Patrick explains all of this without too much technobabble and learn how to use this system with only your camera´s built in flash and one more flash that supports the CLS system!
The 4th FotoTV Christmas Carol
Summary:
Eberhard Schuy is back again with now his fourth annual Christmas card film. After a trip to the cellar to gather some decorations in preparation of the season, he serves us up with a collection of three red christmas tree balls, merrily hung in the studio.
He starts off with this simple set covering the basics of framing and lighting the scene. Then, bit by bit, he begins applying the principles of some of this past years contrasts themes. All the important lessons can be applied in one way or another. Moving the existing scene to the right and setting a decisive fourth ball in the upper left, gives us both the foreground and background, plus the leading lines.
There are substituting colors for color contrasts and sharp unsharp contrasts presented as well as a final twist with motion contrasts. And just to keep us all on the straight and narrow, there's the post processing overlays to adhere to the Golden Rule of thirds and the balancing of the composition with the golden triangle as well.
So jump in and make your own Christmas cheer.
Using the Ring Flash II
Summary:
In this FotoTV series photographer Ralph Man will discuss the Ring Flash for use in beauty and fashion applications. This first installment begins with an in-depth description of the Ring Flash and all that it can do.
Ring Flash offers a stylistic approach to creating nearly shadow free images. Unlike other flash light sources the Ring Flash is attached onto the optical axis of the camera and lens offering shadow free image results.
Ralph Man does an excellent job explaining and demonstrating the specific techniques associated with the Ring Flash. Photographers new to the Ring Flash will find this hands on tutorial very informative.
Background Effects Using Flash
Complementary Color Contrast
Shutter Priority as a Composing Tool
Summary:
In this FotoTV film photographer Dirk Wächter of D-Forum community is here for a third installment to create another exciting special effects photography tutorial dealing with specifically backgrounds.
Today Wächter discusses how to set-up backgrounds using electronic flashlight. In two previous segments we learned how to create colorful background effectively and how to make backgrounds out of focus using movement. This time Wächter wants to top his previous installments by showing viewers how to make the backgrounds out of focus using a lot of light and how to prepare for such situations and how to make great business portraits.
This tutorial is good for photographers who have to travel to a client to make business portraits or for photographers are unsure of what awaits them at the location. Wächter methodically goes through all the tech specs he uses to show the users how to get a great useable shot in any kind of condition and any kind of background.
Shutter Priority as a Composing Tool
Summary:
In this FotoTV film photographer Dirk Wächter of D-Forum community is here to create another exciting special effects photography tutorial dealing with color contrast backgrounds.
Today Wächter discuss backgrounds and all the problems they can cause. Sometimes backgrounds do not turn out the way a photographer envisions and Wächter is here to help photographers better understand backgrounds and all that can be done with them.
The idea is simple; out of focus backgrounds with nice gradations of color in the background. Today Wächter uses a regular colorful rain umbrella that his model Catherine will hold on her shoulder and twirl it around as Wächter shoots. This results in a dynamic out of focus background with movement and beautiful color gradations. This is a beautiful contrast to the crystal sharp clarity of the foreground.
Wächter makes several test photos throughout the shoot and explains in excellent detail all the technical aspects he used to create the dynamic results. This tutorial is good for photographers that want to take control of their backgrounds and make dynamic images without having to use a ton of expensive equipment or expensive studio. The great thing is that Wächter ideas can be recreated anywhere.
Softlight with Shoe Mount Flash
Summary:
In this workshop professional photographer Martin Krolop shows viewers how to get the best results using a window as starting point and a key light source, while using a shoe mount flash to illuminate his model to create a fantastic studio like atmosphere.
Using several photographic and style techniques Krolop explains easily, step-by-step how viewers can recreate this type of shooting using very few options such as a camera and white wall, along with a shoe mount flash. Krolop discusses the importance of keeping the light from directly falling onto his subject as well as listing all the types of situations that could ruin his portrait shooting. The key here, as we learn is that the flash should never fall directly onto the subject being photographed to yield good results and a neutral looking lighting scene. True indirect lighting can have some very interesting results that can change the whole feel of the shooting. When the model has a line of sight to the shoe mount flash, or when some of the light falls directly onto the subject the reflection or spark of light will change in the models eyes, either the light source, or light spark will be higher or lower in the eyes respectively.
Shooting in a room with just a window and white walls is easy to find and they are practically everywhere to be found, giving all photographers an equal starting point. Just add flash--as most photographers have a shoe mount flash to accompany their cameras. Bare rooms and white walls are everywhere, and are waiting for photographers to recreate a small portrait studio wherever they are.
Complementary Color Contrast
Summary:
In this FotoTV workshop Dirk Wächter, Director of the renowned D-Forum is here to discuss and explain another spectacular color shooting. Today Wächter is going to show viewers a premium color workshop that can easily be recreated, not only in the studio.
The most important aspect we learn today is how the color wheel is a great tool to study for creating premium photo shoots. Using the basic primary colors of red, yellow and blue and mixing any two primary colors will yield a color that is a complementary color contrast with the color opposite it on the color wheel. Wächter explains all of this while working not in a studio, but in a room that can easily be recreated, giving all photographers the opportunity to create high end results.
Using a complementary color contrast from the color wheel, Wächter chooses blue and orange as his set-up. Blue in the background and orange from the foreground using a Lee #204 orange color filter to place over his shoe mount flash. Working with color temperatures can be daunting for some photographers, but learning to work with color temperatures is a must for any photographer looking to expand his knowledge of color photography techniques and Wächter does a fine job explaining his methods and techniques in easy understandable terms that will give photographers an extra edge when preparing for an upcoming shoot.
Understanding the basic camera and flash setting are the only prerequisites for this workshop. It will give photographers a look at how to create special effects, from beginning to end. Wächter also gives viewers an insight on the make-up applied to the model to best complement the lighting situation.
Using the Pop-up Flash
Summary:
In this workshop with Martin Krolop, Krolop will discuss and demonstrate how to make the best photos using a pop-up flash pre-installed on a camera.
The pop-up flash has the reputation of ruing photos because of the position in which one shoots with it. Mainly people are photographed vertically because they look better lengthwise and the face comes out better. But when shooting with a pop-up flash ugly asymmetrical shadows appear and it makes the photos look amateurish and unprofessional and as if the photo is lit from below.
Krolop show viewers several tips how to remedy the ugly side lighting that comes from using a pop-up flash. He simply shoots horizontally and crops off the image from both left and right sides. He also adds contrast by changing the settings on the camera to monochrome and adjusting the flash to overexpose the areas he would like to be burnt out. All this trickery makes a professional looking photo. Just by changing a few settings and shooting horizontally the photos come out looking like high-end photography.
The Digital Pinhole Photography II
Summary:
Martin Timm is back with part two in his series on digital pinhole photography. Here he has gathered all the necessary ingredients to cook up a pinhole adapter that can fit any digital SLR.
The techniques used to construct it is right out of your grade school handicraft's hour. This amazingly simple approach using toilet paper rolls, tin foil, rubber bands glue etc is carefully explained. The result: a ready to use handy-dandy pinhole attachment for your digital camera that's ready to use.
So now it's time to get your feet wet..literally. Martin takes it outside and gives a hands-on demonstration using the pinhole adapter to compose a great picture, demonstrating it works too. So check it out!