Light.....

Though it seems like an eternity since my last photo shoot in the Lord and Quinn Studio, even though it was only three weeks. I really wanted to create images with a warm feel, nothing to fashion oriented. This shoot was stripped down, and all about the mood created by the light, and the body language from the model, Solomon Phillips.

The lighting was incredibly simple, nothing to complicated. My intention was to recreate the feeling of being lit by a large window.  Two large 42" umbrellas stacked on top of one another with the dome of the umbrellas pointed towards Solomon to soften the light on the right side. On the left side I used a 48" reflector disk to give separation from Solomon and the background, while still embracing the strong shadows and soft gradation of the light.

I also have a yellow filter on the camera to warm up the photograph though I desaturate about 50% of the yellow in photoshop. I set my Shutter speed to 1/250 to allow as little ambient light as possible in the background. When you are using strobe your F- stop controls your strobe lights while your shutter speed controls your ambient (existing) light. The slower your shutter speed, the more exposure to the background. The faster your shutter speed, the less exposure to your background.  Keep in mind some cameras will not allow you to use that high of a shutter speed when using strobe or electronic flash. 

When I create a photograph I try to keep the lighting as simple as possible. Always trying to enhance the photograph with the lighting. If you know the function of each light, and why you are using it, I honestly feel it will help you in creating the images you envisioned.