Posts in Category: strobist

Classical Nudes

For quite a while now, most of my work has trended towards high key lighting, almost to the point that it’s become somewhat of a signature for me. As an example, these are the out-takes from a set called “A Sleazy Drag King Shoot” due for publication next month.   Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been pushing my lighting experimentation in the other direction. Low key, softer and more subtle lighting. Below the fold are a couple of nudes from last week that give a strong sense of the classical painters of the last century. Even though the lighting is very simple (1 strobe with softbox and a single incandescent in the room), and with just a little bit of work in Lightroom, I’m very happy with how these came out.

Implied nudity behind the fold. May or may not be NSFW depending on how picky your HR department is.

New gear, getting ready for a new year.

I recently had a bit of monetary windfall and decided it was time to upgrade the gear. Out goes the venerable (and tough as nails!) Nikon D50 and in comes a shiny new D7000. The Alien Bees I’ve been using for the last three years have gone back to their owner. Replacing them are an SB-910 and a Yongnuo YN-560 II. Wireless slaves, snoots, beauty dishes, grids, etc. All kinds of toys.

Below are a few images from my couple of days of experimentation getting familiar with and relearning some old tricks. Enjoy.

Galen and Wendi on the couch.

D7000, 1/60 @ f/6.3 21mm ISO 100
SB-910 at 1/4 powers with 1/8inch grid to camera left and back about 4 feet from the couch.

Portrait of Galen.

D7000, 1/60 @ f/5.3 66mm ISO 800
SB-910 at 1/2 power in 16 inch beauty dish with diffuser sock. Dish was immediately to camera left and about 3-4 feet from Galen.

Tequila, bourbon and rum bottles on black table with light glowing through them.

D7000, 1/125 @ f/11 34mm ISO 200
SB-910 @ 1/2 power in 16inch beauty dish w/ diffuser to camera left and up about 2 feet, pointing back to bottles.
Slave strobe @ 1/4 power with 1/8inch grid on stand behind and slightly above bottles to through light through the bottles to get color.

Lego pirate on pipe next to rum, tequila and bourbon bottles.

D7000, 1/125 @ f/1.8 50mm ISO 200
ND-8 filter on lens to get DOF where I wanted and bring the focus back to the pirate.
SB-910 @ 1/2 power in 16inch beauty dish w/ diffuser to camera left and up about 2 feet, pointing back to bottles.
Slave strobe @ 1/4 power with 1/8inch grid on stand behind and slightly above bottles to through light through the bottles to get color.
Bumped up the contrast and dropped the blacks slightly. The ND-8 left things looking a bit hazy.

Bottles with light behind and above, showing good glowing color.

D7000, 1/125 @ f/1.8 50mm ISO 200
ND-8 filter on lens to get DOF where I wanted and bring the focus back to the pirate.
SB-910 @ 1/2 power in 16inch beauty dish w/ diffuser to camera left and up about 2 feet, pointing back to bottles.
Slave strobe @ 1/4 power with 1/8inch grid on stand behind and slightly above bottles to through light through the bottles to get color.
Only modification was a slight crop.