Portfolio 4 (Flash Photography)

DESCRIPTION:

This unit, we looked at flash photography. This branch of photography is mostly done indoors, in a studio. This way light can be controlled and it can help the photographer create art. Flashes can be used in many different ways, as I will discuss in the next section.

NOTES:

On-Camera Bare Flash

Off-Camera Bare Flash

Off-Camera Bare Flash w/reflector

Diffused Flash

Snoot

Grid

Flag

Cookie

Gel

Multiple Flashes

In class we looked at terminology that we needed to be familiar with for this project. Some were parts of the actual flash. Strobes and speedlights are synonyms for flash. Head, body, foot, shoe and contact points are all parts of the actual flash. We also learned the three ways to activate a flash. One way is the electrical trigger, where the flash is either mounted on the camera, or is connected to the camera by a cable. Another trigger is the optical trigger, where a strobe flashes when it senses another one go off. The third trigger is the radio trigger. A radio is mounted on the camera, and it sends a signal to the flash when the shutter button is pressed on the camera. We also looked at different accessories that can be used. Umbrellas are used the most usually in studios. The can be either reflective or diffusing. We also looked at other accessories like diffuse lights, reflect lights, block lights, filter lights, snoots, grids, gels, flags, cutters, and cookies.

RESEARCHED IMAGES:

A snoot was probably used to simulate sun rays passing through a window. The light is harsh, not soft as real sunlight would look like. The light in the background serves as a leading line to the book, the subject of the image.

The studio was set up so as to only light up one part of the boy’s face. A snoot or grid was probably used, because the light is harsh, no smooth as it would be if a reflector or diffuser was used.

More than one flash was used in this photo. One had a blue gel covering it, and the other had an orange gel. The flashes were probably high, because no light reaches the area immediately under his cap.

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY CONTACT SHEETS:

I used different subjects during this shooting. I also used more than one flash. I used different subjects. I used the 10 techniques that we were supposed to employ. All of them were taken in a corner of a cross-like object, so as to avoid distractions.       I used the plaster head because I wanted to use something that looked human, so I could at least some experience if I ever needed to take a portrait in a studio.

FINAL SELECTION:

In this image, I used one flash through a diffuser. Since the flash was close up to the diffuser, the change was minimal. The left side of the head’s face is lit, but as the light reaches his nose, it starts to dissipate. The right side of his face is completely invisible. This is used for more dramatic portraits.

In this picture, I placed a flash by his left side and one behind his head. This is similar to the technique I used in the previous photo, but the light from the left is more diffused and the light from behind outlines the shape of the head. The light also makes a halo-like circle behind the figure.

DESCRIPTION OF LEARNING:

During this portfolio, I learned that the only way to improve photos, is to keep taking, nonstop. Each time you take one picture, you think about how to make it better, and you improve it every time.

DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS:

In the future, I want to take pictures with shadows. This will make pictures more dramatic, and will make leading lines.