Lighting Lessons: Testing Lights

I purchased a new reflector yesterday to play around with for my Profoto strobe heads.  The new addition is the Profoto zoom reflector and I'm curious what I can do with it so today I decided to put it though a series of test to see first hand want it looks like.  I have a new intern as well, so it was the perfect opportunity to get her started with learning to see light.  

Before using any new equipment I believe in doing a series of tests and recording them for my records.  This is something I did years ago when I was a full time photo assistant and now I have my interns do the same.  No matter how much I think I know about light, my tests always show me I have so much to learn.

The following images were all shot with the Sony A900 with an ISO of 160.  The lens used for the test was the 35-70 Carl Zeiss zoom lens.  We did a series of test with the new reflector bare and then added a 40 degree grid and a 10 degree grid.  All test were done at the same height and distance so I can have a direct comparison to judge and make my decisions.  This series of test were done in a living environment vs a studio as I am looking for different lighting techniques to use on location.

The test consists of 18 images total but you can do more if you choose.  I will share six images here but describe the entire test, and more tests will follow in the coming weeks.  Being consistent is very important to this test but the advantage of doing this on digital is that any mistakes can be erased and corrected.  Take notes on your tests so you can look back in the future.  You will need the following to do this test.

Camera (digital or film)

tape measure

light meter

light shaping tool - zoom reflector set to position 4

10 degree grid

40 degree grid

Light:  1 Profoto strobe head with Profoto Zoom Reflector

              (Zoom set to position "4" for entire test)

1)  Light positioned 45 degrees on camera right side with Zoom 

     Height- 7 Feet

     Distance - 6 Feet

2) Height - 7 Feet

     Distance - 8 Feet

3)  Height- 7 Feet

      Distance - 10 Feet

This is the part 1 of your test:  Check to make sure you're recorded all information correctly.  As you adjust your distance you will need to meter each time as the exposure will change as the distance changes.

Part 2

exactly the same process, but add the 10 degree grid

part 3

exactly the same process, but add the 40 degree grid

part 4

Change height to 4 feet and keep everything else the same:  

part 5

no grid - three images

10 degree grid - three images

40 degree grid - three images

Once you have completed the test you can download the images and view them to see the quality of light and discover the position you like best.  I use Adobe Lightroom because I can view the images together in groups of three to compare.  Again, more tests will following in the coming weeks.

Always Dream Big,

Matthew Jordan Smith

48 Hours

I've been talking about my secret project now since I started working on it, but now I'm only 48 hours from knowing if my dream will become reality or if I'll have to try harder.  My lit. agent saw my proposal yesterday sent an email that she's call me first thing in the morning, so today I got a call at 7:00 a.m. my time and she told me her agency is meeting today to discuss my book proposal and I'll have word in 48 hours.

I believe if you have a strong project in mind you have to put yourself on the line and put your whole soul behind it.  If you don't believe in yourself then how can you expect someone else to?  I don't have a publishing deal for my project yet, but I'm working full steam ahead to bring it to life and putting my own money into it because I believe in it so strongly.  

Last week I was in NYC for a Microsoft event but stayed after to work on my personal project.  I went to DC for a day and then back to NYC to complete more of the interviews and photo shoots.  I received a post on one of my earlier blogs saying that some of my images looked like anyone could do them, but to be honest anyone can.  I work very hard at times to make images look simple and beautiful but at the same time I want to make sure each image is as powerful as it can be.  For my personal project I'm traveling alone and doing most of the shoots by myself without an assistant.  This means I have to travel light but I don't want to compromise on the quality of the images for lack of equipment.  For this reason I purchased a new reflector today.  I will test it tomorrow with my new intern and post those images from the test for all to see.  

Until then.........Always Dream Big!

Inauguration Day

What an amazing day!  It isn't often we get to witness history in this manner and never before have any of us witnessed an occasion like today's.   

This morning as my girlfriend and I prepared to rush out and watch the Inauguration it was apparent we had different things on our minds.   She is from Japan and looking at todays events from a different perspective, but for me today was a very proud day in a different way.  Yes, she was proud and happy too, but my roots make today an incredible day for a million reasons.  I am one of a handful of African-American photographers in my field across America.  Even Black celebrities who meet me are shocked to see a Black photographer in my field, but I hope this will all change in the next generation and that no one will look surprised at any race in any field.

It was wonderful to share today with my girlfriend and with some good friends I hadn't seen in a while.  My friend Eriq invited us over to watch the Inauguration at his house and it was nice to share it in an intimate setting.  I took my camera simply to document those moments, and the images here are simply to remember the moment.

In an hour I will leave for the airport.  I fly on the redeye on my way to New York to work with Microsoft on a project at Splashlight Studios in Manhattan.  I hate the redeye, but didn't want to miss the Inauguration so the redeye was my only option.  I'll arrive tomorrow morning and head straight to the studio to shoot all day so but I'm blessed to have these opportunities. Thursday I'm back on track with the secret project and off to D.C.   Wish me luck!

Oh, wasn't Aretha Franklin amazing today at the Inauguration!

The Dawn of a New Day

Today is the start of an historic week.  Years from now people will ask the question, "where were you when Barack Obama became President of the United States".   We will all be able to answer that question, but many will not have a photographic record of it.  

I was in New York during 9/11, and in India during the Tsunami and I can tell you it's very important to photograph your personal moments of historic events. The images we create are also documenting our own personal history so during January 20, 2009 make sure you turn the camera on yourself and document your special moments.  20 years from now you'll be very glad you did.

This week I will spend the entire week in New York and D.C. and document as much as I can through my eyes.  I hope this post will inspire you to do the same wherever you are in the world.  As I write this post it's 75 degrees in Los Angeles but it was 4 degrees in New York yesterday so I will have to pull out all my serious winter gear.  :-(

I've been very busy the last few week working on the secret project, but I am almost ready to share it with you all.  Yesterday the proposal for my secret project went off to my literary agent.  It was a lot of work putting the proposal package together and after it was complete I prayed over it, took photo with the package in my hands and went to fedex.  Now, the proposal is somewhere between Los Angeles and New York and will arrive by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning on my agents desk.  I am very proud of this project and as soon as it's official I will share every detail of the journey so you can also one day bring your dreams of producing projects together.  

By now you know my secret project is a book project, and the process of creating a book is very exhausting and all consuming.  My girlfriend has had to make me stop and walk away at times, but I believe when you have momentum behind you the universe helps to bring your creations to life.  I do have one word of advise and that is to always follows your first thoughts.  When I first had the idea for my project the first thing I thought was to have a confidentiality agreement signed by all whom I involve.  I did not do this and one of my good friends whom I've involved in the project has told everyone about it even though my first words to her were, "this is confidential and please share it with no one".  Lesson learned for sure but I hope by sharing this with you it will help you from making the same mistake.  You can find free confidentiality forms on line, but always protect your project.  If you have a great idea everyone on the planet will want to get involved and this project has proven to show that.  

The Proposal

Once you have an idea for a book it's very important to figure out a few key things.  Will anyone want to see a book about your subject?  Who is it catered to?  Do you have the resources to make your book and how long will it take.  Once you answer these questions you can start putting your idea on paper and setting the process in motion to make it all come together.

Very Important

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't make your dreams come true.  As you share your ideas some people will tell you that you can't do this or do that, but remember they are only sharing their fears, and you have your own vision.  In my first book I asked my subjects, " Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "hitch your wagon to a star", when starting your career do you thing it's important to surround yourself with people who are doing what you'd like to do"?  The answered I received that its more important to surround yourself with positive people no matter what they do.  Build a strong core of positive people around you and you'll be surprised how fast your dreams will become reality.

Always Dream Big!

November 18, 2009

America's Next Top Model Days

People are always asking "what's it like to work on ANTM" (America's Next Top Model) so tonight I thought I'd share some of those experience's.

I've been on ANTM four times and each one was a ton of fun.  Three of the four times I worked as a photographer and also as guest judge.  The photo parts are fun for sure but the judging segments were the most enjoyable for me at times.

The first time I shot Top Model was in New York City for season three in the early days of the show.  The photo segments are not like a normal shoot because it's being done for TV and that changes everything.  A normal photo shoot is an all day affair and the photographer is running the show but because the show is TV is a very different beast and I actually get very little time with each model.  Still it's enough time to get a sense for each girl and her personality.  

My first segment was shooting girls on roller skates and we shot at the Roxy in NYC on the lower east side of Manhattan.  However, the day before the concept was to shoot at Coney Island so one of my assistants and I went to scout Coney Island but by the time we arrived at the beach we got a call that the location had changed.  When we arrived back in Manhattan it had changed again so at the last moment my assistants were running around changing my equipment order.

The skating ring segment was a lot of fun shooting and the girls were falling all over the place.  After the shoot I had to give my opinion of each girls.  When the episode aired I got a lot of flack for my comments about Tocara but I actually liked her a lot and thought she and Eva had the most personality of all the girls that season.

My favorite segment was shooting the girls dressed as a celebrity couple.  I had to shoot each girl twice as they played the male and female part of a celebrity couple.  I've received the most emails about that episode and still get stopped on the streets about it from time to time.  

I loved the judging segments the most because that was the time I got to hang with the other judges and catch up with Tyra on our lives.  The judging day is usually the day after the photo shoot and it was less stress than the photo shoot.  Most of what I said was usually cut out in editing but still it was fun and something I will always treasure.

Of the rock climbing series my favorite girl was Lisa and I still don't know why she didn't win to this day.  She was simply stunning.  I think that season had the most raw talent out of most of the seasons but looks alone won't make you a model.  One of the girls whom I thought had such potential had a horrible attitude and I sensed it before I was even introduced to her.  Her energy was negative and she ended up quitting the show on her own.  I could not believe she throw away a life changing opportunity and just gave up.  Talent alone will never make you successful.  You have to have a strong desire. 

"Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration."

Evan Esar

To learn more about how to become a photographer check out this great instructional videos.
 CLICK HERE

Thanks Tyra!

Big Bear

It's the New Year and already I'm burning the candle at both ends.  Interview and shoot late last night with a couple in Beverly Hills for my "secret project", then up early this morning to drive two hours to snow covered Big Bear just outside Los Angeles.

The subject for todays and interviw was a mother and her six month old baby boy.   I  decided to kept the lighting simple but brought both my battery powered  Pro 7B pack by Profoto and my Profoto Acute packs.  It's always better to have the option to shoot in different ways and I wasn't sure if I should try to take a mother and baby outside in the snow, but I wanted to be prepared either way.

The drive to Big Bear was beautiful as I climbed the snow covered mountains to my subjects house.  She lived right by the lake and it was covered with ice and snow and I thought it would be a perfect backdrop for a photograph but not such a good idea for a baby.  I decided to simply shoot them inside their house.   The moment I walked in I knew where I wanted to photograph them and started setting up.  Like last night I used only one light.  I brought two camera bodies as always and four lens but ended up using only two of the four.  I love the Carl Zeiss 85 so I used that then switched to my 35-70.  The zooms are new for me as I have used prime lens most of my career as I believe they are sharper, but I've fallen for this zoom and today I used it again.

After the shoot I set up my recording device and made sure to bring plenty of batteries this time so I wouldn't repeat last nights embarrassing mistake.  Once my subject and I had our microphone on I started the interview.  Normally I don't like crowds outside of my crew but my subjects had a house full of family to witness todays events and they were elated to watch the process.

The shoot and interview lasted about two hours and then I broke down my equipment and started back down the snow covered hill towards Los Angeles.  My next subject will be the actress Debi Mazar so once home I'll give her a call to set up a time to photograph and interview her.

Stay tuned!

Camera:  Sony A900

Lens:  85, 35-70

Strobes:  Profoto Acute

Light reading:  F5.6 @ 1/125

 

Secret Project

Last nights shoot and interview were amazing!  I love this process of shooting and doing interviews.  I used Profoto strobes last night however, and very glad I did.  

Equipment wise I used the Profoto 2400 acute pack with one head on an umbrealla.  I loved the results.  After the shoot we went right into the interview but I learned a very important lesson.  Always have backup batteries.  I carry ton's of backup for all my camera gear, but not for my recording devices.  Last night I learn a hard lesson but was saves by my subject who had an extra AAA battery in his TV remote control.  Thank you John! 

This morning I'm off to Big Bear, two hours away to do another shoot and interview.  I will post those images and details when I return.

Always Dreams Big

Equipment

Camera:  Sony A900

Lens:  35-70, 85, 135

Strobe:  Profoto Acute 24000 pack

Camera at the Dinner Table

Every since I was a kid I've been dangerous with a camera.  My family has been tortured for years as I've photographed them eating Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving dinners, etc.  This Christmas was no different except this year my girlfriend took the camera and gave me a bit of my own medicine.  I actually enjoyed it because I've learned I'm never in the images looking back over the years.  

Nothing beats family and getting away from work and reconnecting with your roots.  These images are simple fun images at Christmas dinner in South Carolina.  I'm sure my family will call about these images but that comes with having a son who loves photography.  :-)

I love my parents and this year I had the chance to photograph and interview them in a way I've never done before.  I'm holding the images back on this one so you can view them in the "secret project" with fresh eyes.  However, I will share the behind the scenes images of me interview my parents.  Nozomi shot these images and I love seeing her eye for photography.

If you want to have fun photograph and interview your family members.  You'll learn things you never knew!

After viewing all the images of myself from behind the scenes I'm officially on a diet!  I know, I know!  No more carrot cake!  :-(

Always Dream Big,

Matthew Jordan Smith