Strobes, speedlights and studio lights: Sensational Strobing

Strobes, speedlights and studio lights: Sensational Strobing

The second Sensational Strobing workshop for 2010 kicked off with a bit of a bang!

No, it wasn’t an exploding strobe. It was the sound of thunder on the horizon as the cold front brought the prospect of a storm into Fremantle!

The overcast day with gusty winds and patchy bouts of rainfall did not deter seven photographers working with two fantastic models from creating eye-popping portrait photographs with their flashes! Granted, we took a lot of photos in the dry and warm setting of the studio, but ventured out for some on-location shots in the arcades and back alleys of Freo.

Sensational Strobing focuses on the art of strobing – the use of speedlights and studio flashes – to create images with impact and drama. The photography workshop, designed for photographers keen to come to grips with a working knowledge of their strobes and strobe lighting, covers everything from using speedlights in eTTL (through the lens aka automatic) modes, to setting up and triggering speedlights manually, to working with studio lights and studio lighting techniques.

For this workshop, participants worked with models Goyder and Wild Kat and learned about the creative use of bounce lighting, metering for strobe light, balancing strobes and ambient light, and providing art direction. The workshop concluded with a photo challenge, where punters had to complete two photographic briefs, to put what they have learned about strobing and studio portraiture into practice:

• Brief 1: Create a CD cover for Wild Kat, the latest musical sensation
• Brief 2: Take editorial photographs for a magazine feature on Goyder, the new Australian action hero who is starring as a swordsman in the next Hollywood blockbuster.

It was great to see each participant gain greater confidence not only in using both speedlight and studio strobes, but also in working with and directing our models for this workshop. Kat made a great rock-chick, in her leggings, jacket and leopard-print heels, while Goyder glowered as the imposing swordsman.

If you missed out on this workshop, another is scheduled later in 2010. To be informed of the next Sensational Strobing workshop, please contact Seng.

Have a look below at the photos created by Sensational Strobing participants Jacinta Spry and Jacinta Mathews. My thanks to Goyder and Kat for their great modeling (as always).

Photo by Jacinta Spry

Photo by Jacinta Mathews

Photo by Jacinta Mathews

Photo by Jacinta Spry

Photo by Jacinta Mathews

Photo by Jacinta Spry

Photo by Jacinta Mathews