Blog
How to Create Soft Light: Move it close! REALLY close!
Blog, Tips + Tricks 
0
Tue 04.10.2012
Tune in at 1:30 Pacific time today on TWiT TV for a live demo of this particular tip and guest of the show, Photographer Agent Frank Meo.
Here’s the deal. The softer a light source is, the more attractive it appears when lighting a subject’s face and skin. Soft does not mean flat. You can still achieve plenty of drama by changing the ratio between your fill light and your soft key light. Softness is a factor of various elements. One if these elements is size … (now here is the important part) … with respect to the subject. This means you can have a small softbox and if it is literally on top of your subject, it will achieve a softer light than large octabank that is 10 feet away.
Why does this happen? The inverse square law is why. Because of how measurements in three dimensional space work, light sources become four times smaller and less bright when they are moved twice as far away (and 9 times smaller and less bright when they are moved 3 times further away, etc.) So if you have an 8 foot diameter octabank (Big, right?) that is 10 feet from your subject and a 2ft by 3ft softbox that is 2 feet away, the small softbox will appear much bigger to your subject and therefore will be much softer.
Don’t miss a chance to watch or listen to your favorite photographers – download the TWiT Photo podcast on iTunes for free :)
Top Model Release is coming soon!! Are you ready for it? This cutting edge app incorporates iOS 5 technology – if you haven’t updated your device yet, get on it! I’ll even make it easy for you with the below simplified steps. It is free and easy to do, upgrade today and be waiting on the cloud for Top Model Release.
What? You haven’t heard of iOS5??? Please click on the image below to watch a short video from Apple explaining all of the benefits and changes.
Step 1 – Make sure you have a device capable of running iOS5 – iPhone 3S or later, iPad, iPad2, or iPod touch – third generation or later. If you don’t have one, I’m sure your local Apple store would love to help you out.
Step 2 – Make sure iTunes is up to date. The latest
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Step 3 – Back up your device!! Nothing should go wrong during the update, but it is always better to be safe!
Step 4 – Update! While iOS 5 is downloading and installing, you can start on Step 5.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1456 or go to iTunes and Check for Update
Step 5 – Setup iCloud – this will let you share information between devices – including PC’s. Contacts, photos, documents music, videos, apps everything is automatically shared.
For more detailed instructions please see the links below:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1162925/how_to_upgrade_your_ios_device_to_ios_5.html
http://gizmodo.com/5849160/the-complete-guide-to-updating-to-ios-5
TWiT Photo 50: Elevendy
Blog, TWiT Photo 0
Thu 03.29.2012
Don’t miss a chance to watch or listen to your favorite photographers – download the TWiT Photo podcast on iTunes for free :)
Is it photography or 3D animation? A common question for creative masterminds, Dave Cox and Wil Wells, of Elevendy. Disregarding the mantra “get it right in camera” this creative production house makes their own rules. Learn the importance of planning, how to hide discreet meaningful messages in your images (including star wars characters), and how to get a client buy-in for off the wall concepts. The dynamic duo will also reveal the process of their Addy winning Sacramento Kings “Defend Your Honor” campaign.
** Bonus – In-studio shoot with both “C-Sharp” and Leo. See the concept drawing and shoot in action. Final result to be revealed in future episode!
Guest: Wil Wells and Dave Cox of elevendy.com
Tip from Elevendy:
“Pre-visualize your composite, planning leads to success”
In the world of compositing images, like anything else, chance favors the prepared. We’ll use a variety of “pre-vis” techniques depending on the project, the general idea/setup we have in mind, the budget, and most importantly the timeline we’ve agreed to for completion.
Below you’ll see some examples of the different types of pre-vis we’ll typically do. They range from rudimentary sketches, to decently fleshed out 3D models.
The main things we accomplish by pre-visualizing a shot:
Lighting Placement
Isaiah Luke Cage
Concept buy-in from Client
Thornton
Prop planning
Supermom!
Location scouting
Rovatron
Find out more by watching the video here or on iTunes. Next week: award winning celebrity and fine art photographer Michael Grecco. Have questions, suggestions or praises? Please email photo@twit.tv.
TIP OF THE WEEK: The Science of Shapes
Blog, Photo of the Week 1
Tue 03.27.2012
The image featured here was taken at the 2008 Burning Man Festival, a 30,000+ arts and culture gathering that takes place every September in the barren desserts of Black Rock City in America. I rendered this portrait as a metal print, which recently won first place in the WPPI NYC @Photoplus 16×20 Print Competition in the Individual Portrait Category. Here, you can see me with the metal print and winner’s award :)
TIP OF THE WEEK: Shapes–both singular ones and patterned, repetitious ones–often govern the composition of good photographs. They create compelling images because a sense of intrinsic order and inherent design reigns. The background of a subject isn’t always just there as a secondary element. Here, the patterened “background” exemplifies and supports the circular and triangular shapes of this man’s hair, glasses, and necklace. The design elements come together to create not only a cohesive, but a visually arresting, whole.
Don’t miss a chance to watch or listen to your favorite photographers – download the TWiT Photo podcast on iTunes for free :)
View Sports Illustrated Staff Photographer Bill Frakes’s astonishing portfolio as he shares insights on how he often carries & triggers 25+ cameras, how he went from LAW school to one of SI’s Top Shooters, and why preparation & storyboarding are key. Winner of the coveted Newspaper Photographer of the Year award his clients include everyone from Nike to Apple and his editorial work has appeared in virtually every major general interest publication in the world.
3 TIPS from Bill Frakes:
1. When you have great light, always look 180 degrees in the opposite direction. The light will extremely different but equally wonderful.
2. When you’re shooting sports, pay attention to where you are physically. You have to be careful to never impact anyone else in the stadium–from the athletes to the spectators to the officials to your colleagues.
3. “Doing video capture always use supports.”
