Exercise 3: Experimenting with light & Exercise 4: An Active Portrait

OCA – People and Place

 

Exercise 3: Experimenting with light

 

This exercise required you to use the same model and take at least four photographs that are very different in lighting effect.

The locations used were at home and Hampton, Peterborough and they are a mix of indoor and outdoor backdrops.

A Nikon D300 camera with a Nikon 18mm-200mm telephoto lens and a Nikon D700 with a 24mm-70mm lens were used during this exercise.

 

Photograph 1 – Outdoor with Flash & Reflector      

 

 

 

 

The photograph was taken in the centre of a large underpass in Peterborough. There was very little natural light, only dirty overhead lights. I used a Nikon SB600 flashgun with a reflector propped up between myself and the subject to highlight the neck and chin and remove the shadow. The flash has increased the lighting through the whole photograph.

Photograph 2 – Outdoor with Natural Light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photograph was taken in the same location as photograph 1, although we have moved to the entrance of the underpass. I only used natural light to highlight the right hand side of the subject, leaving the left side in shadow.

 

Photograph 3 – Indoors with High Key & Soft Box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photograph 3 was taken at home using a white background and studio light with a soft box attached. This has blown the highlights in the background and left a slight shadow to the right side, the light situated to the left of the subject with the subject at a 45 degree angle to the camera.

 

 

Photograph 4 – Home Studio using Low Key and Snoot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photograph was taken at home using a black velvet background and one studio light with an attached snoot. The snoot then focussed the light on the subject in a small area.

This then provides greater contrast and shadow on the subject, who was placed at 90 degrees to the camera.

 

OCA – People and Place

 

Exercise 4: An Active Portrait

 

This exercise required you to find a potential subject carrying out a natural activity. The aim was to concentrate on the person and the facial expression.

 

The location used was a local car workshops and the subject was one of the mechanics working at this premises.

 

A Nikon D800 camera with a Nikon 24-70mm lens was used during this exercise.

 

 

Final Photograph

The subject is looking away from the camera, but I liked the concentration on the face whilst working on the engine.

It’s as if the subject is in a different world with his expression and concentration.