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Mike Washington says
This is awesome! Can’t wait to try it.
Can you comment about light power level and distance from model? Is the dish slightly feathered or dead on?
Thanks,
Mike
Martin says
Hi Joe, why don´t use a Softbox instead, it´s more comfortable to travel with and maybe also more versatile thinking of the fantastic elinchrom rotalux.
Do you would notice a big difference after smashing the light through a big 3×3?
best wishes
martin
David says
Elegance marries simplicity. I love it… as usual!
Konstantin says
Great blog! Detailed sketch and particular description! 🙂 Thanks a lot.
Todd says
You misspelled numb-nuts lol
petetsai says
Great post Joe! Yet again super jealous you had models at these fabulous locations. Was the 3×3 right up against the dish or slightly air gapped? I ask because it has a slight feel of a fill light that I was thinking might be coming from the spill areas of the dish adding just a slight kiss to the larger area of the 3×3 while the directly lit area is the key. I like the side by side key-fill look although I never think of doing it in the field.
Joe McNally says
Hi back…yep there is a gap. I slide the 3×3 as close to my subject as I can. No real fill I can recall, unless as you say, there was a touch of spill here and there, organically providing additional lift to the light….best, Joe
Joe McNally says
Hey Martin….I do, occasionally, for sure, go right to a softbox. Here, I had the beauty dish set up already, and it felt too poppy, so in the interests of time, I jammed the 3×3 in there….all best, Joe
Patrick Downs says
Joe: Interesting! I love my white MOLA Demi 22″ dish which, in my experience, offers a quality of light that is better than almost/every dish I’ve seen it compared to. Their Setti (28″ iirc) and Euro (33″ iirc) are bigger dishes with their own strengths but too large for location use mostly. If you want to soften the light you can “sock” the front of the dish with the cloth diffuser, but I don’t often do that. Some of their dishes are silver/soft silver but much more specular and as you point out, work better on “perfect” faces or for more contrast.
What you’ve done (correct me if wrong) is to take your dish and turn it into a larger light source, much like using a 3X3 softbox, yes? Since the dishes are nice outside (less prone to wind) it gives you a two-for-one — just add the 3X3 panel if you need to enlarge/soften the dish/source. Like a softbox without the sides. I’ll have to remember this and add it to my toolkit.
Here’s a recent portrait with my MOLA dish, of an 84 y/o friend with a classic “manly” face. I wasn’t concerned with trying to make him look pretty. 🙂 http://patrickdowns.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Portraits/G0000jznsqnE9sn8/I0000dVf_o3eWhWo
John A. says
Beautiful portrait! …and that background is pretty killer too! 🙂
Marios Forsos says
This is sooooo freaky…I had exactly the same thought (I even went so far as to sketch it) for a shoot I am doing on Saturday…(nd to be honest, I didn’t think the softbox would create the same light…I think the beauty-dish and diffuser material will have a different, edgier behavior…
Michelle Fairless says
Hi Joe,
Just discovered your work through a friend. The photos of the ballerinas choked me up. Absolutely beautiful work! I’m instantly obsessed with you!!!! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your work!
Michelle
a.Muerte.Guy says
No, Bro., u misunderstand slang, it isn’t supposed to be the hierarchy of speech brohami, thats what makes it street 😉 thats how we spake back in da hood, numnuts! He has teacheth thy mind to follow the light, lest you could do, is thank the man!
Younes Bounhar says
Masterful. Period.
alim says
Joe-
Great post, thanks.
Did any of the remaining outfit changes also result in using a Tungsten white balance with a warming gel? Imagining how that would have looked.
Again, great as always! 🙂
Cheers.
Mark Umbrella says
Hi Joe! Its near perfect of course, just, I would have remotely triggered 2 SBs in that tunnels down the wall, with very warm gels, to add more drama there, and also, you would have probably break the record for the longest set ever. Haha. Cheers, Mark
Michael Bartens says
Necessity is the mother of invention.
I really like how you showed us that you don’t need a dedicated type of light for every occasion but just “run with what you brung”(not a real word but should be) and see what works.
Very cool.
The best part, besides the photo, is the napkin drawing. LOL
Toni says
Phenomenal! Love the diagram and the detailed explanation. Thanks so much for sharing all this!
Jim Donahue says
Thats a winner
Joe McNally says
Hey Patrick…great job on the portrait! I have used Mola dishes on a rental basis, and they are really nice light. On this one, I was traveling as light as possible, so the collapsible 3×3 made location sense as I was racing the light. Thanks for taking a look! Best, Joe
Patrick Downs says
Thanks, Joe. I know what you mean about the dishes and traveling light … I can’t fly with it unless I get a bass drum hard case, so it will stay at home unless I am driving. I haven’t checked out Chimera’s collapsible “dish” yet as a travel solution.
Someday I hope to take one of your speed light workshops. I had hoped to come over to Seattle a few weeks ago to see you at ASMP, but had a conflict. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Joe McNally says
Yep, they’re tough to travel with. I left the one I bought in China back in China with my client! Best, Joe
Stevie Purves says
Fantastic as usual Joe and what a location too! The light is beautiful!
Jedna Chwila says
thanks for sharing and… nice photo!
Bob Davis says
Hey Joe,
I agree…. Many times there’s not enough time to set up the perfect mix and so you improvise, that’s what we do! Face the challenge head on, get the image and salt & pepper to our taste. Well done.
Cheers,
Bob
downloads says
i like it so much
Joe says
I don’t suppose you had a video guy documenting this China trip? It’s time for another lighting video, I mean, Christmas is coming!
meisha says
Hi, Your pictures really cool. have a good model with pro technique must be awesome for the results. I hope I can learn more about taking pictures here 🙂
mark Alper says
Loved this photo ?
Do you use and Hdr effect in this photo ?
Where on the great wall was this taken ?
The light on her face is amazing…
Andor says
Amazing shot as usual 🙂 – and an even more amazing lighting idea!
Robert Lowdon says
I like how the by using the beauty dish the light is still crisp but softened with the panel. Also the light is nice and concentrated rather than spilling everywhere like with a softbox.
Thanks for the info i’m going to have to try this. By the way do you know where I could rent a wall like that? lol.
Photographer tarifa says
Beautiful image…
Arved Gintenreiter Photography says
Thanks for another informational post! Great sketch – and wonderful shot!!
Marian Majik says
Perfect light and of course amazing shoot
Ved says
Hey Joe..is it possible to add a next and previous buttons at the end of each post? Makes it easier for reading through the archives…thanks for sharing your knowledge..you’re a legend!