Mono Light

Posted by: Graham Law | January 16, 2012

Hannah’s 18th

Last weekend I was invited along by Hannah to take some photos at her 18^th party. I was a little apprehensive because its been so long since I’ve used my camera in anger. – as you may be able to tell by the lack of blog activity?

I borrowed Gwyn’s grey background roll and set up a little studio with a couple of speed lights in diffusers plus a kick/hair light all fired off pocket wizards. It worked beautifully once I had the power setting and position of each light set.

Here are just a few of the shots from Friday night…..

They are very low resolution, so if you were there and would like a print please leave me a message below and I’ll get back to you.

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Posted in Flash, Portraits

Posted by: Graham Law | October 17, 2011

Caersws MTB downhill

A couple of weeks ago I went along to a local Downhill mountain bike track to practice some action shots using my new pocket wizards. I left it a little late in the day to move around the hill and experiment with different locations and flash positions, so I pretty much stuck to one location and tried different settings to control the ambient light levels. As you will see if you look at the full set (Link) some riders are over exposed and some under. Although PW’s have full TTL capability I was using them almost exclusively in manual. This was because I wanted to get used to using the AC3 zone controller and work out how I could balance the power of each flash. I have attached Day-Glo tape to the zones and to the flashes so that I can quickly see which channel to adjust if the power level is not just right.

One thing I tried not to do is to put the flash where the riders would be looking as they charged down the hill. If they get a full power zap, and are blinded I would hate to be held in anyway responsible for the ensuing crash! The event was the ‘Halo BDS Round 5 Caersws‘. Lots of write ups on the series to be found at southerndownhill.

These shots were taken late in the day on Saturday during practice. I did drop by on Sunday but just as I set out I could see the weather was looking rough towards Caersws so decided to leave my camera at home in the dry.

If you have come across these photos and would like the full resolution files please leave a message and I’ll get back to you. Please browse the full set of images here to see if you are amongst my set. (Link)

All the following shots were taken at the same jump, just as the riders come off the side of the hill, and entered the section through the trees. (See the above text for a link to all the photos)

I wanted the flash in the background to be hidden by the rider, and produce a rim light. Sometimes it shone through in just the right place to be believable?

And sometimes I was a little late on the shutter button!!

Almost killed the ambient altogether here

My colour coded Pocket wizards. The Red and Orange are a bit too close in colour to tell the difference easily at a distance - I'm going to look out for Blue if I can find one

Low resolution images are here if you are looking for a shot of yourself or a mate…. (Link) Please contact me if you want a full res version.

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Posted in Flash, Outdoors, Sports

Posted by: Graham Law | May 21, 2011

Into the Light

I’m not exactly a regular Blogger! … Some while ago I did my third Workshop with Damien Lovegrove and Martin Hill. Damien had secured the services of the wonderful Vicky Waghorn to do the make up for our two models for the day. The location was Kingscote House Gloucestershire. As delegates we were guided in how to read and use the light that was available on location, and also how to add light to enhance the photo. We shot a variety of locations, to create a selection of frames using Natural, Speedlight, Broncolor and also continuous light from a 1200w Lupo.

Double Speedlights were used to give Rhi punch and to highlight the dress.

A powerful stance and the beautiful sky give this frame the Wow factor

By now we had moved on to using the bigger more powerful Broncolor gear.

Next we moved inside to shoot some natural light frames just using the light from a single window. Katy was such a star for the day. A delight to work with.

We were shown that the un-lit areas of the frame are just as important as the lit areas.

Back outside and using speedlights

We finished off the day using the Lupo1200 on the stairs. Damien can construct a photo from the dullest of locations and give it a real punch.

My next training day is booked with Marko. I’m not ready for this yet, before I go I need to explore the world of Photoshop so that I have some idea what it is about!

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Posted in Flash, Portraits

Posted by: Graham Law | February 27, 2011

Hannah, Ken, Sarah

Ken and I have been trying to arrange a shoot for some while. A week or so we eventually got together with my Photography buddy Gwyn and took a series of frames in a local industrial area. I’m very pleased with the results. We used either Gwyn’s Lowel continuous light, flash, or a combination of the two + a little natural daylight thrown in. The day after this shoot I flew out to Germany for a couple of days work, and have eventually found some time to process and blog the results.

Next month I’m booked onto a training workshop with one of the leading Photographers in the UK. It will be the third workshop with Damien Lovegrove. The leap in confidence and knowledge I gain just cant be quantified!

The best if the natural light shots I took on the day.

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Posted in Flash, Portraits

Posted by: Graham Law | November 22, 2010

Halloween pictures

Its been a while since I’ve posted anything on my blog. Not that I’ve not been busy, just haven’t had anything suitable to show. Anyway, time I did, so here are a few pics taken on Halloween in Newtown. – That’s me in the Skull face paint. The funniest bit of the night was when a girl next to me at the bar looked twice, then thought it was a mask and tried to lift my face. She ran off screaming when she touched my chin. Just too funny? Was great to see so many people make the effort and dress up. A pretty good night all in all. – I left before it got too messy. Not a good idea to be walking about with an expensive camera?

A shot of me, taken by Dave in the Exchange. Cheers Dave

Then a few shots of the party crew in the local night club....

With the flash held low I got the haunted look of shadows under the eyes.

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Posted in Flash

Posted by: Graham Law | October 3, 2010

Back Road Home Shoot

A little while ago I did a shoot for Inspector Gadjo so they could use the images on their CD and flyers. (Link..)If you are into Jazz then have a listen.

Following on from that shoot Will asked if I could do another for Back Road Home. (Myspace Link…) Here are a few of the images. First few were taken in Will’s Garden and the others at the Crown and Anchor Vaults (Known as ‘The Vaults’) in Bishops castle (Link..)

Left to right - Brian, Will, George and Tommy. All together Back Road Home

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Posted in Bands

Posted by: Graham Law | September 12, 2010

Speedlight Mastery workshop

What a simply awesome day? I was lucky enough to be able to book on a Damien Lovegrove (link) workshop held in Manchester during August. Damien’s style just blows me away! During the day we shot at about 9-10 locations, and at each one we were shown how the lights were rigged, and adjusted to get the look being aiming for. Most importantly, for me, Damien would help all the delegates to look for and capture the moment of each shot. The fantastic Chloe Jasmine Whichello was our model for the day, and what an inspiration she was? Always on the move, just pose after pose after pose – a real delight to work with.

I was shattered at the end of the day, but my head was spinning with inspiration and enthusiasm for more photography.

First location of the day - The worlds biggest pebble - When Chloe heard this she said 'If thats a pebble, I'd love to see the beach' A shot into the sun, with Flash at full power from the right hand side. 1/250th f22 iso200

Black and white works here too.

A fantastic tiled pub provided the location for a series of shots. Some flash lit, like this one, some natural light reflected form the building opposite, and others with the Orbis ring flash.

A beautiful fine art shot. Just after I took this, Damien noticed thet Chloe's leg was not lit well and adjusted the speedlight. Unfortunatly I didn't have the opertunity to re-shoot.

Natural light shot using a beam of sunlight bouncing off an office block window behind me.

Two point flash lighting. 200/200 f8 - Simples?

This was shot under the Meto Link rail line in Manchester. 60x60 Softbox from the front, and two speedlights with CTB gels proved the blue kick lights. Fashion Magazine front cover? – very nearly? It is great to have locations like this where it doesn’t matter if its raining.

Kick light provided by the sun, and Chloe's desire to climb made this shot.

Single gelled key flash, and the camera stopped right down to almost cut out the daylight. Colour temp was set on the camera to give the cold blue look to the railings. The Gel corrected the colour falling on Chloe.

I can’t wait for my next Lovegrove workshop. Saving hard, and worth evey penny.

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Posted in Flash, Outdoors, Portraits

Posted by: Graham Law | August 20, 2010

Crash Music Festival

This is the first year the Crash festival has been held. It is in recognition of the 17 who died in a rail crash just outside Abermule in 1921

I was lucky enough to blag my way into a local festival last weekend. This is the first year it has been put on, and I have to say the organisation was fantastic. The Festival was run in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ format where local judges and the audience vote for who they think were the best bands on the day and the winner received a cash prize. There was also a prize for the junior section who were on in the afternoon.

A heavy storm blew over in the middle of the afternoon which paused the fun for half an hour or so, but after sorting a couple of technical stage problems the organisers got everything running again with some very talented musicians performing. I was so busy shooting away I didn’t get a running list of the bands, so I’m afraid I cant blog who they are. Oops! There’s a lesson to learn?

One menber of an early band on stage. I love the composition of this. f2.8 to get the background as out of focus as I could.

Just before the sun set behind the hill I had about 15miniuts of fantastic light. I took the opportunity to wiz round the field taking candid shots of the audience. I would always show my result to the whoever it was I captured, and if they didn't like it I would delete. Yes I know I have the right to keep the shot, but that’s not a good way to get invited back.

A candid shot taken back stage as the heavens opened.

Kick light from a gelled up flash fixed up high. I think a blue gell would have worked better, but hey?

Tried shooting through a lighting stand to get the forgroung out of focus here. Good strong zig zags make this work for me. Again f2.8 on my much loved 70-200mm.

I took a couple of candid shots of this group, showed them, then they wanted to pose. Who am I to refuse? Fantastic back light. F4 at 1/250, ISO400.

Spectacular red hair, nails and lips. A sparkley jacket, and a fantastic voice. This girl has the lot. As I said, I wish I had grabbed a play list and could tell you who the performers are. 1/80, f2.8 and ISO400. . . .getting dark now!

Great sunset over the field. Don’t ever remember seeing such a classic fan of sunbeams as Saturday evening. Such a shame that more people didn’t come along.

For such a new event, the organisation, lighting and performances were 1st class. If anyone is reading this and decided not to go – You missed a treat!

Lets just hope that the event is put on next year, and that more people come along. A full field would have been a superb sight. Why weren’t YOU there?

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Posted in Bands, Portraits

Posted by: Graham Law | August 4, 2010

Will Barnes Jazz Musician

A little while ago Will approached me and asked if I would shoot some pictures that he could use for Promotional material and a album cover for his up and coming CD. Will plays in a band with George on the drums and Tommy playing bass. Collectively they are Inspector Gadjo. If Jazz is your thing then I’d say its well worth checking them out. Fantastic musicians, all three of them.

Anyway, I found this online the other day, and after speaking to Will he has used some of my other frames inside the CD case, and will be using more when his site is up and running.

Full review of the CD here (link). I’ve not had a chance to listen yet, but am looking forward to getting a copy.

Here are a few other frames I took of Will during our session back in May.

Flash from the left, sunlight from the right. Most fo these were taken at a farm just across the road from where Will lives. Many thanks to Tom whos farm it is.

Deliberately framed this so that there was room to the left for text in the CD sleeve, or if was used on a website.

Waiting for the stage door to open? Not quite, its actually an ally at the side of a bank building -but why spoil the illusion? (1/200, iso200 at f7 with two flashes.)

This is the one Will has used for the Album cover. It was a bit of a rush taking it since the rain was threatening, and they were on stage very soon after. So just a little pressure?

I think this one has been used on the CD sleeve also. Not seen it at the time of blogging, so it could be the other similar shot?

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Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Graham Law | August 1, 2010

Will Killeen. Friday 23rdAug Exchange Pub – Newtown

My camera has been off to be fixed recently. Came back on Friday, only to discover another fault had developed. I think I have resolved that, just need to see how it goes over the next week to get some confidence. While mine was being repaired my good mate Gwyn kindly lent me his spare camera body. Huge ‘Thanks’ to Gwyn for that. TOP BLOKE!

Now its Gwyns turn to use the repair service, since it looks like his 24-105 f4L lens is faulty. Eeeek? Canon’s service centre is doing all right out of the two of us just now!

Took a couple frames of Will Killeen at the Exchange pub last weekend. Similar shots to the banner I’ve used on this Blog. What a fantastic musician? A real joy to listen to. It was so obvious how much he loves playing and to watch his face light up to the audiences applause was so good to see. I also printed off the banner shot of Will and gave it to him in a frame, just as little thank you for letting me photograph him. Also remember him saying that he doesn’t read his email so was unlikely to see the pictures I took before. He said he really liked the shot, and bought me a pint! Cheers Will, much appreciated J