(Note: The first in a series of behind-the-scenes timelapse videos from portrait shoots by Sports Shooter Academy instructors.)nI had a fun,...
(Note: The first in a series of behind-the-scenes timelapse videos from portrait shoots by Sports Shooter Academy instructors.)nI had a fun, cool portrait shoot with Pharrell Williams recently in a small suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Most of my celebrity portrait assignments are in hotel rooms and the first thing you have to consider when you arrive is: How do I turn a room I've seen a thousand times into a photo studio?nnSo I set up a GoPro to make a time lapse to show what we have to go through before we shoot a single frame of a subject. Strip the room of all of the furniture. Move in the lighting gear. And begin the process of constructing lighting that is interesting, dramatic and helps tells a little something about you subject.nnMichael Der and my wife Deanna assisted me with this shoot and I cannot emphasize how important assistants are in freeing me up to concentrate on the shoot during the set up process. nnThe first thing we had to do is clear the room of all of the furniture. Even with a bare room, it was a pretty tight squeeze to get a backdrop, lights and still have enough room to shoot.nnAs you can see in the timelapse, we changed things as we went:n-Moved the key light several times n-Tested a white background for a second look (which we rejected)n-Using a 20-degree grid on a boom as the key light (which we also rejected)n-Repositioning the two background lights several times (which changed the tone of the Lastolite backdrop from medium grey to almost black)nnThe other thing we had to consider: I also had to shoot a 20-minute video interview in the room immediately after the portrait shoot. Usually we have separate setups for the still portrait shoot and the video shoot. There was no room to have the video lights and two tripods set up in advance, so we had the gear ready to move and in far corner of the room. nnOnce I finished photographing Pharrell on the backdrop, Michael and Deanna moved the Dynalites out, adjusted the backdrop, set up the Lowel video hot lights, tripods, chairs (for Pharrell and USA TODAY entertainment reporter Andrea Mandell) and the mic kits... all in less than 5 minutes. During this time I had to get a Nikon D4 (with a Nikkor 105mm f/2) and Nikon D600 (with a 50mm f/1.8) ready to shoot the interview --- compose, check focus, check audio, check exposure and color balance.nnRobert HanashironnTIMINGnSetup time: 90 minutesnPortrait shoot: 8 minutesnVideo interview: 20 minutesnnTECH NOTESnLighting Gearn-2 Dynalight M1000x power packsn-Main light: Chimera medium softbox with a gridn-Back/side lights: 2 PhoTek Softlighter II modsn-Backdrop: Lastolite (stretchy fabric)nnCamera Gearn-Nikon D3Sn-Nikkor 70-200mmnnCREDITSnPhotos copyright USA TODAYnMusic by audionautix.comnnWant to see and learn about portrait lighting?nTHE LIGHTING WORKSHOP APRIL 16-19, 2015 IN SO CALnhttp://www.sportsshooteracademy.com/#!/p/about-the-lighting-wnnThe Sports Shooter Academy's NEXT COOLEST photography event --- The Lighting Workshop April 16-19, 2015.nnThe faculty includes: Tim Mantoani, David Honl, Matt Brown, Shawn Cullen and Robert Hanashiro.nnThe Lighting Workshop is a hands-on, educational program that will take participants step-by-step through the process of creative portrait lighting. Know the difference in the quality of light between a softbox and beauty dish? A grid spot and strip light? What is the best use of a ring flash … or is there one? Does size matter? Can speedlights do the same job as a set of studio strobes?nnThe Lighting Workshop will feature classroom sessions on modifiers, working with your subjects, understanding light and shadows, with an emphasis on how this applies to the work you do.nnTwo days of shooting under the guidance of the workshop faculty, utilizing both studio strobes, portable lighting systems and speedlights, follows the day of classroom instruction. Workshop participants will receive one-on-one critiques from the instructors each evening.nnThe Lighting Workshop will conclude with a slideshow and discussion of the participants’ work, followed by a roundtable discussion.nnAs with all Sports Shooter Academy programs, the interaction between the faculty and workshop participants provides a unique opportunity for learning and inspiration. Less
