Personal Work - Model Shoot: Hazel Clarke

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Last Friday evening I had the pleasure of photographing Model: Hazel Clarke for the second time.  The shoot was part of a Friday night event at a local studio (Ian's Studio) owned by a Friend of mine, the studio has events run most Friday nights as well as workshops (I have run a few). It's handy as the studio is local and if I fancy shooting on a Friday but have no model booked I can see what's happening at the studio.

Back to Fridays shoot.. the location was Vernon Park in Stockport which was also part of the location for the following days shoot with my right hand man Mark Boadey but I will save that for another post.

Vernon Park is relatively small park  but has plenty of potential for backgrounds and portrait locations like Stairs, Bridge and small tunnel to name a few. Having photographed Hazel before in the Park I wanted to get a few different shots this time round using different elements in the Park.  Traveling fairly light for me I took a small back with the following kit.

Canon EOS 500D   

Canon EF 50mm F1.8   

Canon EF 85mm F.1.8 USM   

Canon EF-S 18-55 IS (this lens has to go, more on that soon)

Canon 430EX II 

Yongnuo YN460   

Westcott 28” Apollo Softbox   

Opteka 1/4 and 1/8 Grids for the speedlites.

Whilst listed like this it may seem like allot, trust me its light compared to what I can take on a location shoot.

I also had access to a few other Canon lens since Mark and a few others were part of the shoot.

So what did I manage to get out of all this kit?  Thanks to Hazel some great shots.

First up is a set up shot for the next few images in this post, Mark doing his thing as a VAL (Voice Activated Light Stand) and Hazel ready to rock the poses.  In the shot you can see the Westcott 28” Apollo boomed on a light stand, inside the softbox was a Canon 430EX II triggered by a Cactus V4. Oh I also want to say thank you to friend Kevin for the loan of his Canon 24-105 F4L for these shots.

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Here are a few frames from this set up. (No 1 & 2)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Hazel has a great look and I love that red hair.

When shooting lit stuff against a sky background remember you always have the option of turning the light off, or in this case removing the Cactus V4 trigger off my cameras hot shoe.. the result a cool silhouette. (No 3)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Using the same location in the park we set up a few more shots using the bed of Fern but I moved position to the top of the hill. (No 4 & 5)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Needed a bit more light in the eyes. So I re-positioned the light for the next frame.

Then one final pose in this location before I let Hazel move to the other photographers set.    (No 6)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Whilst the others were shooting I was watching the sky/sunset waiting for it to get to where I wanted it in exposure value.  The next set of images were shot on a hill top in the park (near the bridge) again the same sky, you will notice how the sky changes throughout the series of images in not a great amount of time. All the images were lit using the Westcott 28” Apollo, Canon 430EX II using either the Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM (head shots) or the Canon EF-S 18-55 for the wide shots.

Burrrrp!

Burrrrp!

Smile

Smile

First was a test shot to dial in exposure whilst the Model was on another set.  Thanks Mark for standing in

1/200sec, F7.1, ISO100 and I was dialled in first try. sorry Mark not only did I post this on flickr I also put it on a blog post.  (No 7)

The first shot of Hazel was a head shot (I always shoot head shots on a shoot) against the amazing sky during sunset. The Softbox was camera right slightly higher than the model. (No 8 & 9)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Same set but two different shots due to the change in expression.  The one on the left is my Favourite and made Explore on flickr.

A quick change of lens and a rather dramatic change in the sky and we have something a little more dramatic. (No 10)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

A change in pose. (No 11)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Then finally for this set a a change in perspective/angle. I simply moved around the light stand and tilted (Dutch Angle) the camera, not something I do that often. (No 12)

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

The final set was shot at against a hedge, which met to form a corner.  As soon as I saw the hedge I know how I wanted to frame the shot and I also had the Idea of shifting the white balance to tungsten to make the sky go a deep cool blue.  Problem was I needed a CTO gel to colour correct for Hazel after the white balance shift, rats left mine at home!  Luckily Kevin had one with him (thanks Kevin).

These next few frames were shot using a YN 460 speedlite (the 430EX II was in the Westcott) with a 1/4 Opteka Grid modifier which restricts the light in to a focused beam, a little softer than a snoot (which has a harder edge) I love these grids. I have only posted 2 images from this setup but I did shoot more, thing is I have found it hard to pick my proffered frames so may be you can let me know in the comments.  I decided to just post the 2 which grabbed me most. Thanks must go to Mark for VALing the light on this one also.

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Model: Hazel Clarke

Thanks everyone for a great evenings shooting, and to Hazel for her work on the night.  I am looking forward to working with Hazel again soon on a personal Natural Light only shoot.

Let me know your favourites in the comments (images have been numbered)

Related post -  Something from seemingly nothing

RB

Gear Review for Lighting Rumours–Pixel Kings

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Pixel King Triggers

Back in June I reviewed a set of new wireless triggers, the Pixel Kings for the Lighting Rumours website run by David Selby.

For the full review head on over to the Lighting Rumours site.  Click the image above or this direct link.

In the review I explain my thoughts on the triggers and my choice for my next wireless triggers, I will write a more detailed post about my decision when I purchase the next set of triggers.

Thanks David for letting me review the trigger for Lighting Rumours.

Rick

Something from seemingly nothing…

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Looking through some images from a recent shoot, I found a rather underexposed grab shot of my Friend and right hand Photo man Mark Boadey whilst he was getting in position to VAL (Voice Activated Light Stand) the light for me.  I was in the process of finding my exposure for the sky (one stop under exposed) before asking the model to move in to place,  spotted this silhouette shot but screwed the exposure up some.

I like this frame for a few reasons, composition, memories from the shoot, its got a cool silhouette of a good friend Smile and the branches and fern point or lead to Mark in the frame. 

Underexposed.

The way I shoot is in Camera, by that I mean I try to get it right in camera as much as I can and as a result I can sometimes be too picky/harsh on my selections. With that said it does not all have to be pixel perfect, well exposed,lit, composed all of the time..sometimes there is a more important things to consider.

Now I am normally quite brutal with my image selection process in Light room and delete from disk the files I don't want. But something struck me about this frame.. it was interesting, I like the composition and it reminded me of a good evenings shooting.  It also inspired this blog post so kudos for mistakes!

If you click on the original image you will see a 1200px wide version which will hopefully show enough detail to see its underexposed and as a result a little noisy, even at ISO100 (Yup it happens, so exposure is key for clean files).  You will also see a few bugs/flies/err.. sensor dust spots as well as a small leaf/branch centre top of the frame,  I decided to remove these first because they don’t add anything to the image and also can’t be seen in one of the edits anyway.

Lets take a look at a few versions of this file, first up is the Version I will name Oh The Noise.

Something from nothing Data in that RAW

 

This version has been processed in light room to show how much Data/detail was captured in particular in the shadows, yes yes it looks like CRAP but it shows that shooting RAW can help, imagine a good exposure and how much Data you would have to play with compared to JPG.

On that note here are a few edits of the above original file one of which I will have framed or put on canvas.


Second Edit – Colour Silhouette

something from nothing Colour

 

It had a fair bit of pixel punishment done in Light Room listed below. I have not added figures or values as well frankly they don't matter, you don't have this RAW file to work with.. it’s like those questions you get “Tell me what camera settings for outside and inside?”  Anyway…

  • Exposure Boosted
  • Clarity Increased
  • Strong Contrast Curve, then curve processed on lights and darks
  • Vibrancy & Saturation Increased
  • Noise Reduction
  • Black Levels, Contrast and Brightness Increased

Third Edit – High Key Silhouette

Something from Nothing Shilloette High Key

Similar post production to the above apart from exposure being pushed further and blacks increased more, also used an adjustment brush to whiten a few small patches.


Fourth Edit – Silhouette B & W

something from Nothing B&W

Processing is similar to the colour version but of course converted to black & white, well it would be rude not to include a B&W version.

I need to pick one of these to print and frame and will also name the print, so suggestions in the comments.  The take-away from this post is I hope, that it does not all have to be perfect

Perfect Exposure (no such thing anyway)
Light
Low Noise
Best Lens
Best Camera
Composition

Sometimes its about something far more important than all that crap, its about the memory or moment. Who knows you could end up with something from what seemed like nothing.

Rick

Oh if your wondering what I shot of the model Hazel here ya go,, just a quick edit. Separate blog post for the shoot on its way.

Hazel Clarke