Last Sunday evening, after shooting Manuel, I met up with my friend Jorge and his family for an informal portrait session. Jorge is a San Francisco lad and was keen to be photographed with a San Francisco icon in the background so we headed into the Marin Headlands and used the Golden Gate Bridge as the background.
This session was a real learning experience for me, trying to balance the flash and the still bright ambient, shooting a small group, dealing with glasses, thinking about other locations etc. I think I took a lot away from this shoot and I’m very grateful to Jorge and his family for being so patient and just going along with my ideas.
Lighting Info:
Alien Bees ABR800 ring flash (rented from Borrow Lenses) with 30″ Moon Unit, 1/16th power, powered by Alien Bees Vagabond II, sun to camera right.
Really nicely executed this, mate. Looks like you’re learning a great deal – it shows in the results. What’s a Moon Unit (apart from one of Frank Zappa’s kids)? And would you recommend using ring flashes for portrait work, over standard flashes?
Not that I have the discipline to undertake a project of this kind but it’s nice thinking about it
Thanks Mark!
A Moon Unit is one of these, basically a big shoot thru softbox. It catches the wind pretty well too!
It was the first time I’d used a ringlash (rental) and I liked it. It’s very difficult to avoid glare in glasses when using it though as you are lighting directly from the front. If there are no glass wearers in the shot then it’s pretty nice and easy to use.