From The Ground Up

So in the last lesson (Lesson 1), I talked about and gave some examples of inexpensive items for you to consider purchasing in order to get yourself a basic portrait lighting setup.

Today I want to go over how to assemble it all when you're ready to do your first portrait session. A lot of things in life come with instructions, but I found the Impact brand of products that is made solely for B&H tends to come with little to no instructions.

If you chose to purchase other versions of the same items i.e. a different brand, then these instructions will likely be similar but could easily change. For example, the cord that comes with the Vivitar 285HV is different than the cord for any other brand of small flash unit.

So let's get started:

Step 1: Correct the problem with the umbrella bracket.

When you first open the box to your umbrella bracket, you'll find that the two threaded screw thing-a-ma-jigs on each each end of the bracket were installed backwards (before you do this step, make sure your's were shipped backwards by referring to the third photo. If they weren't, then you can disregard this step). What I mean by this, is that if you use the bracket as it comes in the box, the adjustable elbow doesn't function properly. The elbow should be used to angle the flash head and the umbrella all at once. If you bought a different brand, look at the final photo for this step and ensure it matches. If not, you probably need to follow a similar set of steps

Step 2: Attach the umbrella bracket to the light-stand

Step 3: Expand the legs on the base of the light-stand

In case of heavy winds on an outdoor photo-shoot, you can tent stake the stand to the ground if you are on soil, or you can use sandbags if you're at the beach or on pavement - see note on image.

Step 4: Attach the umbrella to the umbrella bracket

Step 5: Attach the flash head to the umbrella bracket

Step 6: Locate and setup the flash triggering cords (PC male-to-female & Unique pointy cord that came with the Vivitar 285HV)
NOTE: SKIP THIS STEP AND GO TO STEP 7 IF YOU CHOSE THE WIRELESS ROUTE USING CYBERSYNC TRANSIMITTOR/RECEIVERS AS OPPOSED TO THE PC MALE-TO-FEMALE CORD METHOD OF FLASH TRIGGERING

Step 7: Setup the flash to trigger wirelessly with the CyberSync wireless transmitter/receivers
NOTE: ONLY DO THIS STEP IF YOU CHOSE TO GO THE WIRELESS ROUTE AS OPPOSED TO USING THE PC MALE-TO-FEMALE METHOD LISTED IN STEP 6

Step 8: Note how to use the elbow to angle your flash head and umbrella (regardless of whether you chose step 6 or 7)

Stay tuned for Portrait Lighting Lesson 3. We'll be discussing one of the most common lighting setups: 45 degree lighting.

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I hate to start a post like this but...in the nature of the photos being of "celebrities," please remember that I maintain all rights to these photographs and that if you wish to use the photos for ANY reason, I ask that you contact me first. Thank you!

So a few months back I'm talking with my good friend Bill, and he mentions some festivals that he has lined up to photograph. I told him that I'd love to help with the events if I happen to be off work when they happen. Sure enough, I was off work for the Patriotic Festival this past weekend in Virginia Beach, VA. Earlier in the week I got a call from Bill reminding me of the event, and I managed to get home from work just in time to make a mad dash to the beach (less the sitting in Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel traffic for an hour).

When I first met Bill through Flickr, he mentioned he worked in radio and told me a few stories of different celebrities he'd met such as Shania Twain, Jay Leno, etc. I guess I knew he had a lot of contacts due to the nature of his job, but it didn't occur to me how rewarding that would end up being for him and I as up and coming photographers.

I knew I'd get to get relatively close to the stage and take some shots of the bands, but it never occured to me that "All-Access" meant more than just center-stage shots. Bill and I were the official photographers of the Patriotic Festival in Virginia Beach for 2009. With that came photographing the meet and greets, access to all backstage areas, etc.

So here's how it went: I'll just kinda list my 2 day event in a schedule like format

FRIDAY
-Arrive on Friday afternoon and take photos of the fans, booths, beach, etc.
-Go on the stage and photograph all the instruments, equipment, etc.
-Photograph the Zac Brown Band (Chicken Fried) from right down front
-Meet the Zac Brown Band after the show, get there autographs on a CD for my brother in Afghanistan
-Photograph the Zac Brown Band signing fans memorabilia
-Get photo taken with the Zac Brown Band
-Make a dash back to the front of the stage to catch photograph the second half of the Gary Allan concert
-No meet and greet with Gary Allan was available for anyone, including photographers
-Go back to Bills and spend 3 or 4 hours sorting photos, keeping good, trashing bad, making minor edits, etc.
-Put photos on jump drive to give to the event hosts (needed by Monday A.M.)
-Make the 1.5 hour drive back to Gloucester to be in bed by 3 A.M.

SATURDAY
-Woke up at 12
-Headed back to VA Beach
-Sat in traffic in the tunnel again
-Shoot photo session of Miss United States at the nearby Cavalier hotel
-Go to event area and shoot more booths, people, etc.
-Go on the stage and photograph all the instruments, equipment, etc.
-Photograph a meet and greet with David Cook (brought the lighting equipment the second day)
-Photograph David Cook & band with small groups of fans
-Photograph David Cook $ Band with the Wounded Warriors who biked down from D.C. (tough lighting situation - 43 people in the shot)
-Have my photograph taken with the band...something to prove I was there (David Cook's a nice guy but I don't really know any of his music and I never really watched American Idol)
-Dart to front of stage to catch the last half of Matt Nathansons concert and photograph it (managed to catch the songs "Laid" and "Come on Get Higher")
-Make our way up to the event coordinators 8th floor suite balcony at the Beach Quarters hotel to get some "Aerial" shots of David Cooks concert
-Matt Nathanson was escorted straight to his hotel room after his show so no meet and greet with him.
-Ran back down to the front of the stage and literally had to fight off women to try to get any shots. Those women were just plain evil if you got in there way
-Finished photographing his performance and headed back to Bills again
-3 or 4 hours of sorting, editing photos, etc.
-1.5 hour drive back to Gloucester to arrive in time to hit the hay at 3 A.M. again

Let me just say WOW! What an amazing experience this was as a photographer. I actually felt like I was a somebody with all that unlimited access. If things go well and the pictures were well taken, we anticipate being the event coordinators concert photographers for future events.

I took just over 1000 photos during the 2 day period and was able to provide him with close to 500 keepers. That's just me... not sure how many Bill ended up keeping.

I'm a big Zac Brown Band fan, so getting to hang out with them for a bit, photograph them with their fans, get a few autographs for myself and my brother....let's just say it was an incredible weekend.

As for being a "Star Hound," it's definitely easy to do during your first event. I can however see how you'd get used to it after awhile. On the other hand, it's going to be hard to go to concerts now and just be a fan. I'm gonna want the All-Access VIP status lol. I thought this was going to be a cake walk but honestly it was pretty hard work. I was completely spent by Saturday evening. Then to top it off, I had plans to do a photo-shoot with 2 gorgeous women on Sunday afternoon. After getting very little rest, getting up early to help my step-dad tar paper the shed roof that he's building, wash my car, then make my way over to York River State Park....I still managed to have a great shoot with the ladies and I anticipate all of those photos being posted by weeks end.

Below is a series of shots from the weekend that I've done some editing to. At the end, I've included the one shot I've finished editing from my photo-shoot with Sharon & Kate (gorgeous ladies mentioned above).

USO Skydive Team