Home Grown

I'm currently in Lamar, CO shooting an assignment for a long time client of mine.  We're here in the south eastern portion of the state photographing the fine folks of the small town of Holly, Colorado.  My client is in the process of seeking approval to build a new power plant in the area of Holly.

My subject was being interviewed by the client for use on there web site and print material.  I used one SB-800 mounted on a Justin Clamp, and placed on the fence post about 10 feet from my subject.  The flash was gelled using a full cut CTO to simulate late afternoon light.

More later regarding this assignment, time to hit the sack!  DT

Small Strobes, Big Results Video

I just put together is short video showing what it's like at a Small Strobes, Big Results workshop.  If you have not attended one of these fun and informative workshops, what are you waiting for?

Our next workshop is in Denver Jan 10th, 2009. For more info visit the Small Strobes web site.

Looking Back These Past Few Months

When I'm not shooting or testing various lighting set ups, I'm trying to keep up with all my image files in Lightroom.  Yesterday I found myself working with all my images shot thus far in 2008.  I put together a web gallery in Lightroom and have post it HERE.  I'll be narrowing down these images to just a few of the winners for 2008 at the end of the year.

If you see an image in the web gallery you'd like more information about, let me know.  I'll be happy to discuss how the images was created, the lighting and what ever else you'd like to know.  

I have lots of video to go over, all shot while on recent assignments and I hope to post those and more details about the individual images created at the Indy workshop of Small Strobes, Big Results.

Hope your having a wonderful weekend.  DT

Indy Workshop Results

What a wonderful Small Strobes, Big Results workshop we had in Indianapolis, ID. I want to extend a very special thanks to our host Polina Osherov. for opening her studio to us and for having such a fantastic location to shoot. Polina's studio is located in the Stutz building in Indy, If I lived in Indy, I'd have my studio there. For sure.  Check out Polina's post about the workshop HERE.

We had a full house at the workshop, my apologies to those that wanted to go but could not attend. Unfortunately we could not accommodate all of you that wanted to attend. I really like Indy and hope to return for another workshop sometime in the future!

The building where the workshop was held is fantastic! It use to be the manufacturing plant for the Stutz automobile. They use to have the famous saying "The Car That Made Good in a Day". Really neat space to shoot in, for sure.

It was a pleasure to meet all the fine photographers who participated in the workshop. This group really got into shooting all the the lighting demos that I did for them. Each of them had opportunity to shoot and work with the models. Janet P. had some truly beautiful variations by changing her angle of view and moving around. Way to go Janet.

I'm looking forward to seeing the other attendees work from the workshop. After the workshop we all went to dinner where I was able to answer last minute questions regarding work flow, lighting, business etc. This was a fun workshop guys, thanks for coming and I hope you learned a lot.

Here are a few images from our one day workshop in Indy. I'll be making full posts regarding the lighting of the images and such. We also shot video and will be posting that as well.

If you're interested in leaning location lighting using small strobes, looking into getting yourself to one of my workshops. Small Strobes, Big Results workshops are informative, fun and it just might shave a few years off your leaning curve. Our next workshop is being held in Denver on Jan. 10th, 2009.

What's coming up: I'll be leading my first Mentor Series Trek to Death Valley with fellow photographer Bill Durrence from February 18-22, 2009. On March 19, 2009 I'll be in Philadelphia speaking to the local chapter of the ASMP and on Friday the 20th, I'll be conducting a Small Strobes, Big Results workshop at Eastern State Penitentiary. Yes, at the Penitentiary. This is going to be really cool, more about that later. OK I'll show you what the place looks like, just a few shots.

Here are some of the photos I created for the workshop in Indy! Enjoy. DT

Bee Keeper Photo Shoot

I was recently commissioned by St. Mary's College in California to photograph bee lover Jennie Durant. I met up with Jennie in Boulder, Colorado to photograph her in an environment suited to bee keeper... beehives.

We had about 45 minutes with Jennie and I wanted as many different poses I could get during that time. These photos I was taking for St. Mary's where going to be for inside use of their magazine. I wanted to provide my client with plenty of choices allow them a place to put copy within the photo. I shot both horizontal and vertical orientations and I placed the subject on the left and right side of the image.

We also shot video that day and I've posted that at YouTube.

The lighting for these photos where as follows: I mounted 3 SB-800 strobes on Justin Clamps and than clamped them onto the speed ring that the octabox box was mounted too. I set each of the strobes to Remote, Ch 1, Group A. I fired all of the strobes via my built in command unit on my Nikon D700. I had no trouble in the bright sunlight sending the pre-flash info to the strobes from the camera.

When ever possible, I choose to use the Nikon CLS system when ever the distance and workability of the system allows. I always carry sets of Pocket Wizards with me for those times when distance is an issue. The key to using small flashes on location is to honestly think of them as you studio strobes. Use the same modifiers as you would with your studio strobes, just outfit them with your smaller strobes. Here are some of my favorite images from our shoot.