Amanda
Recently, I made a trip to Los Angeles to visit and photograph my friend Amanda. Since I began photographing Amanda in 2011, she has become a very close friend and an incredible model.
Recently, I made a trip to Los Angeles to visit and photograph my friend Amanda. Since I began photographing Amanda in 2011, she has become a very close friend and an incredible model.
There has been a steady transformation from our first shoot until now. She's always had something special about her that was very evident from the beginning. Through all her significant life changes, Amanda has stayed grounded while maintaining an infectiously positive attitude. I was honored to create some images in this next chapter of her life as a new mother to a beautiful baby girl Nakano and wife to the talented actor Wilmer Valderrama.
I was fortunate to have my good friend and photographer Skip and the amazing make-up artist Ernesto on this shoot. Having a talented crew makes the difference between a good image and a great image. Working with somebody like Ernesto for make-up has transformed my images and pushed my work to the next level. Skip is much more than an assistant; his extra pair of eyes and collaboration frees me to focus on the moment, knowing everything else will be handled. Amanda and Ernesto have worked together several times, and he knows her style and always has outstanding ideas when working with her. I'm so fortunate to have Skip and Ernesto along, and I couldn't have done it without them.
Is that a flashlight in your hand?
or many years now I've been using alternate sources of light in my photography most notably flashlights.
It started many years ago while walking down the isles in Costco and I came across one of the first reasonably priced LED flashlights after asking permission my wife allowed me to add it to the basket. I consider this one of my first evolutions in lighting. At first I just kept the lights in my bag in case I needed it. Finally one day on a portrait shoot I pulled it out to see what I could do and was very surprised by the power and how the color temperature was very close to daylight. For the next several years I continued exploring this style of lighting. Fast forward to today and it's like we're in the golden age of lighting. LED flashlights are so powerful and inexpensive that they found a permanent place in my lighting kit. Recently I've been using flashlights made by “O Light” they have an extensive variety of lights on their website, if you're into flashlights it's worth checking out.
For many years now, I've been using alternate sources of light in my photography, most notably flashlights.
It started many years ago while walking down the isles in Costco when I came across one of the first reasonably priced LED flashlights; after asking permission, my wife allowed me to add it to the basket.
I consider this one of my first evolutions in lighting. At first, I just kept the lights in my bag in case I needed it. Finally, one day on a portrait shoot, I pulled it out to see what I could do and was very surprised by the power and how the color temperature was very close to daylight. For the next several years, I continued exploring this style of lighting. Fast forward to today, and it's like we're in the golden age of illumination. LED flashlights are so powerful and inexpensive. They have found a permanent place in my lighting kit. I recently started using flashlights made by a company named "O Light" they have a wide variety of lights on their website. If you're into flashlights, it's worth checking out.
Thanks for the BTS skip!
Marauder 2 by O Light
The flashlight I used on this particular day was the Marauder 2. Some of the crazy stats are an 800-meter spotlight beam from the central LED and a 14000-lumen floodlight beam from 12 surrounding LEDs.
An intuitive rotary knob switch to turn on the light and circle through 7 output levels.
It's undoubtedly an impressive light.
For this shoot, I spent the afternoon with my good friend Morgan, she and I have worked together quite a few times, and I always enjoy our sessions together. The goal for the shoot was to walk and find the light. The camera I'm using is a Nikon Z6 II with a sigma 35 mm 1.4 lens. I could talk extensively about how much I love that lens, but I'll save that for another time.
Below are my results in using the flashlight as the main light and the sun as a backlight.
ISO 50 • 1/640 • f 3.5
I found the color temperature pleasing, and it only required a little white balance adjustment to bring it back to daylight.
ISO 50 • 1/320 • f 3.5
I'm going to test some other flashlights from O Light soon, and I'll be sure and share the results with you all.
ISO 50 • 1/320 • f 3.5
Top Doc
I am excited to wrap up the year with another cover for Sacramento magazine.
The assignment was for the "Top Doc" December issue.
Dr. Christopher Bayne
I am excited to wrap up the year with another cover for Sacramento magazine.
The assignment was for the "Top Doc" December issue.
The assignment on this one was to photograph two doctors, one for the cover and one for the inside. As always, Gabriel gave me good parameters to go on but left the lighting and treatment up to me.
Working on my inspiration, I looked to one of my favorite photographers Dan Winters. I love his lighting style and treatment. After I settled in on what I was going to do, I did a few lighting tests with my son Ethan. I am pleased with how it worked out.
Ethan Engle
For the two portraits, I had to have Covid compliance. I put my set in the studio's opening to minimize the need to come too far inside. It's definitely an advantage to have a large rollup door at the studio.
The final lighting set up was between two and three lights for each shot. I didn't need to light the whole body, so I was able to use smaller modifiers.
Dr. Laura Kester
This is another image of Gabriel that was a test before the doctors arrived.
Gabriel Teague
I can't emphasize enough the power in testing and working with your stuff before the actual shoot. The last thing I want to do is be messing with my lights while I'm trying to connect with my subject. All of the tech parts need to be out of your way before you push the button.
Color Test
I received an assignment, and in the description, the art director requested super-saturated colors for all the images. The one thing about gels and colors there are a million different combos and saturation levels. So glad I tested, his version of saturation was WAY more than mine. These are the test that got us on the same page..
I received an assignment, and in the description, the art director requested super-saturated colors for all the images. The one thing about gels and colors there are a million different combos and saturation levels. So glad I tested, his version of saturation was WAY more than mine. These are the test that got us on the same page..
Light setup Phottix
Camera Nikon Z6
Lens Sigma 105
I am now shooting the assignment for the next two weeks.
Model: @trinwoodward
