The Concept Driven Lighting

Two photoshoots in one day, each one different from the other.

There was a time in my photographic career when my idea of a terrific lighting would always include an umbrella or a soft box.  It's a safe bet and you could almost never go wrong.  Everyone loves soft light.  It makes skin look creamier and softer because light virtually "wraps around" your subject, hiding some signs of aging and imperfections on almost anyone's skin.  Shadows blend smoothly to highlights, it's simply beautiful.

It's just a shame that a lot of photographers can't get past this stage.  To those, every light has to be soft.  I've seen a good number who would light in the same way whatever the concept is, wherever the location is and whenever the shoot is.  As if, it's the only lighting technique anyone needs to know.

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Group Portrait - The Beats and Bytes Dancers

To those who do not know, the Beats and Bytes Dancers are celebrities in the Filipino community in Qatar.  They are regular performers to almost every Filipino community event including celebrations, grand opening of restaurants and even major concerts of Filipino singers.  One the dancers, Leah, organized this photoshoot with a specific concept.  She happened to be a good friend of mine.

The concept required that a telephoto lens be used to compress perspective and make each one of them appear pretty much of the same size.  That's something unachievable with the usual wide-angle lens we use where people closer to the lens appear bigger than those who are farther.  Not a problem since I've got a dependable Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM II  - currently my favorite lens for portraiture.  However, I am shooting a big group and that means I will have to shoot from a great distance to fit them all in one frame.  A big venue is now necessary to execute the photoshoot.

Fortunately, Beats and Bytes have got some connections at the American School Doha so they were able to secure the school's gymnasium for a one-hour photoshoot.  I used 2 Speedlights, both with umbrellas and one on each side.  There was sufficient ambient coming in from the windows so instead of using them as main lights, I just used them as supplements - to boost ambient light power and fill-in the shadows.

Me in the center holding the Certificate of Appreciation they awarded me after the photoshoot.

They were all pleased with the results.

Cheers,

alexdpx

Same Place, Different Look

For the second time in just over a week, we did a second photoshoot at the beach in Jumailiyah Ruins - this time with Lizie.  But the weather was not as clear as the previous week - there was a slight haze or perhaps sand storm.  Doha was covered with sand on the same day so what we saw is probably from the same sandstorm but because we were on water, we did not felt dust on our skin.

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Action Air

"Extreme Workout" by alexdpx

First off, there is no lighting technique to be shared in this article.  We did nothing special here, just 1 speedlight in balance with ambient - which is the blazing afternoon sun.  This is all about the experience of a photoshoot which is different for both myself and the model.

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Tips on "The Blue Hour" Photography

Doha Corniche, Qatar. Taken just after sunset. The twisted building shines and stands out from the rest as it reflects the remaining daylight. Luckily for me, a bus, with high-mounted tail lights, passed by during the 10 seconds exposure providing added interest to the picture.

Blue Hour - This happens just after the "golden hour".  To those who are not familiar what I'm talking about, twilight is what photographers now call as the blue hour.  It is that time just after sunset (golden hour) when daylight fades and darkness takes over.  At this time, the sky turns into a deep dark blue and artificial lights  - building lights, street lights, etc. - gets turned on. 

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"AVAILABLE" Light

Cove lighting down to the floor in one of the museum's corners to highlight the texture of this feature wall made for a nice background - and lighting, of course.  The pose was Leah's idea.

Common knowledge tells us that available light is synonymous to ambient light.  While ambient light is beautiful, it is not always perfect and for this reason I chose to redefine the meaning of "available" light.  To me it is whatever light is at your disposal - including speedlites in my hands.

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Event Well-Covered . . . With A Point-And-Shoot

Well, it's actually more than a point-and-shoot.  It was my ageing Canon Powershot G7 that I chose to bring to our club's (Doha Pinoy Shooters Club) 2nd Anniversary Party.  Much have been written and said about that so I will not tell the story again.  Instead, I will concentrate on sharing the experience of photo-covering an event without my precious DSLR.

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A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

There are photos that makes you look because they're "nice" and "pretty" and "astig".  And then, there are IMAGES that intrigues your mind because they tell a story - or stories - and begs that you ask questions.

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