Light Walk

If it weren’t for light, we’d have no photographs… Aside from that, it’s important where the light comes from and where the light doesn’t come from; light directionality brings shape and interest to a photograph. One of the distinctive features of a beautiful portrait is the difference between light and shadow and where the light falls on the subject. In the case of people, it is generally more realistic and natural for light to fall on the person from a different direction than the camera. If the light comes from the camera direction it’s usually very “flat”; there is no shape to the face and we don’t see something that looks like reality. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where all light comes from when you use a simple point-and-shoot camera; the flash is right there on the camera!

When we photograph people, we shape the light so that the portrait has a natural look to it. Here are some examples:

Light is coming from a large flash on the ground to the left of Cindy. Note the shadow on the left side of her face.

The light is coming from a small flash to camera right, creating a nice glow on Adam's left side.

Light for the floor is coming from camera left, creating a nice shape on her face.

We have light coming from directly behind Halei as well as from the general direction of the camera, creating a nice hair glow and sunset burst.

We've hidden a small flash in one of the windows to cast light directly on Halei's face.

I was brought in by another photographer as part of a photo shoot for a consulting company holding a business retreat at Horseshoe Bay recently, and here are a few of the images I made. These are meant to illustrate the company and what it does for their web site; open for business, getting down to the issues, able to help, etc. The people were great and didn’t mind my constant photography during their planning and operating meetings. I enjoyed working with these guys.

This kind of photography is a lot like wedding posed shots and reception work; everything is moving fast, people have other stuff to do and you really don’t want to interrupt the flow of things too much. Dynamic is the tempo here. I love working with people, especially when they are engaged and doing what they love and we can capture what makes sense together. Light is what “makes” a photograph and in these situations it is always a challenge to capture the moment with the right kind of light, whether the event is a reception, a meeting or a party. I use several off-camera lights strategically placed around the scene, fired by a radio remote on the camera to light the scene. This kind of lighting is one of the hallmark differences between the results in a professional photograph and a quick “candid” shot.

Business meeting in progress

Impromptu meeting

Managing for Results

Halei Looks to Her Beloved

This past Thursday we went out to a fantastic place for photography: Villa Antonia. There are so many wonderful scenes there! We photographed Halei inside for a while, then went outside and braved the incredible wind; this is one of my favorites from inside. Halei’s personality is so warm and fun we pretty much could put her into any scene and find a portrait waiting to be photographed. The Villa is just out RR 1431 from Leander.

Congratulations, Halei, on your journey; we’re getting close to The Day!

Yesterday I photographed a local business in Cedar Park to help build a new set of images for their web site. It was great fun (if you ignore the incredible heat outside that was making us all more than a little warm) and we came away with some great images. Here’s one I like:

A Happy Server is a Happy Client

I’m back from an intensive week-long course up at UT Arlington called “The Power of the Classics”. This was an awesome group of dedicated professional photographers learning more about “the art of portraiture as it has been practiced since the renaissance era to the present”. Gabriel Alonso is a Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman in the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). I found the course to be very helpful and inspiring. My brain is full and looking for ways to infuse my everyday photography work with these ideas, although I’ll likely apply most of it to in-studio work with children. Check out Gabriel’s web site for an example of this kind of work.

I can’t post images from the photography, but is a shot I took while on break:

Wary Squirrel Watches Me

One of the main sponsors for the school sent the whole group (1038 students!) to Six Flags for an evening. While I didn’t actually ride anything, it was great food and I grabbed this shot of some classmates:

Wood is Strong?

My favorite kind of photography involves the subject not spending their attention on what we’re creating together, but rather on enjoying life and relating to others. So when I take someone for an environmental portrait, the goal is to forget I’m even there. We create a playful place and enjoy. Portraits that come out of this approach are always more real when we’re done.

Keeping my eyes on the ball...