Portraiture Video: Think you need a lot of gear?

and · 03-19-2008, 02:33 AM

wow, how good is this guy. Such a simple setup and such amazing images. Especially note his skills at posing the models, posing is so important!

Note the equipment he used:
Canon 5D
70-200 f2.8
1 canon 580EX flash fitted with sto-fen, fired by commander unit
1 video light (constant) /w barn doors

The video: https://www.theicesociety.biz/?module=blog&page=46&category=2

"I was about to take my first shot when Michel looked at my camera gear and asked, "Is that all the gear you have?"

I only had my Canon 5D with a 70-200 f2.8L IS USM Lens, Canon 580EX Speedlight and a Lowel id Video light. "This is all I need" I replied. My main light source was daylight coming through a single skylight."

vievetrick · 03-19-2008, 05:20 AM

Interesting, very good work and use of light.

TomInJax · 03-19-2008, 07:43 AM

Wow! He is a very talented photographer! Beautiful work, and creative poses!

and · 03-19-2008, 08:04 AM

Somehow I get the feeling that if I had gone in there with a k10d, 50-135, 540fgz and the same video light (ie same setup as him), I wouldnt have gotten anything even near as good

if I saw the shots I wouldnt have guessed the setup was so simple.

btw, how cool is the furniture they had there? couldnt ask for more suitable props

TaoMaas · 03-19-2008, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by and

Somehow I get the feeling that if I had gone in there with a k10d, 50-135, 540fgz and the same video light (ie same setup as him), I wouldnt have gotten anything even near as good

if I saw the shots I wouldnt have guessed the setup was so simple.

I'm sure any of us could have done the same thing if we had the same gear. Heck, we could have even done BETTER if we had a full light kit. After all, it's the gear, and not talent & imagination, that is the determining factor in our images, isn't it?

(Sorry...had to throw that in.)

aegisphan · 03-19-2008, 12:40 PM

This guy definitely knows how to work his gear. I probably need to watch the video 10 more times to truly appreciate the minimalist's approach.

MRRiley · 03-20-2008, 09:29 AM

Just proof that its how you manage the light you have that counts. He didn't need a fancy light setup because the basics were already in place. There appeared to be excellent ambient outdoor light coming in balanced by good inside lighting (which was probably daylight balanced). This is almost a given in a high-end store like this. After all, the store wants the purchaser to get a good look at how the gowns will look.

The use of his video light simply allowed the photographer to create the key lighting he wanted and resulted in some great images.

and · 03-20-2008, 09:48 AM

he also used the color temp of the video light for a warm orange glow effect in some of the shots. he was shooting with daylight wb or close to it.

03-19-2008, 02:33 AM	#1
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476	Portraiture Video: Think you need a lot of gear? wow, how good is this guy. Such a simple setup and such amazing images. Especially note his skills at posing the models, posing is so important! Note the equipment he used: Canon 5D 70-200 f2.8 1 canon 580EX flash fitted with sto-fen, fired by commander unit 1 video light (constant) /w barn doors The video: https://www.theicesociety.biz/?module=blog&page=46&category=2 "I was about to take my first shot when Michel looked at my camera gear and asked, "Is that all the gear you have?" I only had my Canon 5D with a 70-200 f2.8L IS USM Lens, Canon 580EX Speedlight and a Lowel id Video light. "This is all I need" I replied. My main light source was daylight coming through a single skylight."

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03-19-2008, 05:20 AM	#2
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	Interesting, very good work and use of light.

03-19-2008, 07:43 AM	#3
TomInJax Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 531	Wow! He is a very talented photographer! Beautiful work, and creative poses!

03-19-2008, 08:04 AM	#4
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476 Original Poster	Somehow I get the feeling that if I had gone in there with a k10d, 50-135, 540fgz and the same video light (ie same setup as him), I wouldnt have gotten anything even near as good if I saw the shots I wouldnt have guessed the setup was so simple. btw, how cool is the furniture they had there? couldnt ask for more suitable props

03-19-2008, 09:15 AM	#5
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by and Somehow I get the feeling that if I had gone in there with a k10d, 50-135, 540fgz and the same video light (ie same setup as him), I wouldnt have gotten anything even near as good if I saw the shots I wouldnt have guessed the setup was so simple. I'm sure any of us could have done the same thing if we had the same gear. Heck, we could have even done BETTER if we had a full light kit. After all, it's the gear, and not talent & imagination, that is the determining factor in our images, isn't it? (Sorry...had to throw that in.)

03-19-2008, 12:40 PM	#6
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	This guy definitely knows how to work his gear. I probably need to watch the video 10 more times to truly appreciate the minimalist's approach.

03-20-2008, 09:29 AM	#7
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Just proof that its how you manage the light you have that counts. He didn't need a fancy light setup because the basics were already in place. There appeared to be excellent ambient outdoor light coming in balanced by good inside lighting (which was probably daylight balanced). This is almost a given in a high-end store like this. After all, the store wants the purchaser to get a good look at how the gowns will look. The use of his video light simply allowed the photographer to create the key lighting he wanted and resulted in some great images.

03-20-2008, 09:48 AM	#8
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476 Original Poster	he also used the color temp of the video light for a warm orange glow effect in some of the shots. he was shooting with daylight wb or close to it.