Zeltweg Workshop

Still working hard in Austria.  I am now in Vienna, for two speaking engagements at a local University. Yesterday I was on a military base conducting a Nikon NPS workshop in the town of Zeltweg.  We had 15 participants involved and a wonderful location.

I spotted this wonderful old radar counsel and thought I could make a photo there.  Here is the actual abient exposure as the camera saw it. 

I next under expose the ambient by 3 stops, turn on my lights and bingo!  I used a set of barn doors on the key light and a blue gel on another flash for the rim and councel lighting. Here is the lighting set up.

Here is another photo from the top of the stairs above the display of planes.

 I shifted the white balance to tungsten and under exposed the ambient by about 2 stops from a "normal" exposure.  The key or main light was a small soft box with a full CTO to balance for the tungsten w/b on the camera.  Let's have a look at the set up, below.

Once we finished with the Zeltweg workshop, Eric and I drove to Vienna for my two speaking engagements, and another Nikon NPS workshop.  Later. DT

Dornbirn, Austria

Dornbirn:  This was the second time I have been to Dornbirn, what a beautiful place and how charming the people are. Dornbirn is located in western Austria near the Swiss boarder.  We had 12 participants at this two day event, we were hosted by our friend Elmar Elbs. The first day was held at Elmar’s studio where we discussed lighting theory and I provided a few lighting demos.  The second day was spent shooting at Harry’s Hotel, a really cool boutique hotel in downtown Dornbirn.

Here is a photo of David Vryghem from Lausanne, Switzerland. One medium Octa held by student Petra. You will notice in the third photo below, she is looking around the softbox making sure she can see the far eye of David. This insures that light will be seen on that side of the face.

I just love this image that Eric Krugl took during the workshop.  He placed Lars in the open door way and shot at high speed sync with a Radio Popper Jr. with an off brand China made strobe. Shutter speed of 1/500 @ f/4.0.

Here is a portrait of Elmar our host in Dornbirm.

This is Lars, Elmar's studio partner.

And the set-up shot, beauty dish as the main light, barn doors for the light on the heater register and another projecting the studio logo on the wall.

Here is another shot demonstrating artificial sunlight.

This is what the room looks without direct sunlight... Elmar tells me they never get direct sunlight in this room.  Perhaps he should set up a large HMI light to provide some.

I've been busy here in Austria, next is Vienna speaking engagement at a University, two Nikon NPS workshops and a two day in Graz.  I'll keep you posted.  DT

Innsbruck Workshop

Yodal la di who, yodal la di who!  Sorry, I just could not control myself.  I guess Innsbruck just bring out that sort of behavior in me.  

We arrived in Innsbruck in the dark of the night with a light rain falling.  By morning, we had 3 inches of snow on the ground along with broken limbs from trees everywhere from the heavy wet snow.  We had 15  participants for this 1 day workshop.  Thanks so much for making me feel so welcomed, I had a blast!

Next city after Innsbruck is Dornbirn, Austria. Dornbirn is in the western part of the county and very close to the Swiss boarder.  Let's have a look at a few of the images from Innsbruck.

Here is the set-up for the photo above.

This first shot establishes my base exposure for the ambient light.

Here is the just the rim light.

This last photograph was to demonstrate a proper bounce techique.

Headed to Innsbruck

We're all packed and headed to Innsbruck!  Tomorrow will be my second workshop here in Austria, after Innsbruck we're headed to Dornbirn, near the Swiss boarder for a two day workshop.  My very good friend Eric Krugl has done a smashing job arranging my workshop tour.  This is actually my forth year touring.

We thought about taking a more economical electric car called the Twizy but decided on something a little larger.

Puchberg/Wels, Austria

I've just complete my first two day workshop in Austria, I'm having a wonderful time!  We had a great group of students and my German is getting better! I can now order 2 large beers instead of just one.

Wow, what a wonderful way to start my Austrian Workshop Tour.  My good friend Eric Krugl is my European manager who arranges my workshops. He once again, he out did himself with this one. The workshop was held in a wonderful castle located just 20 miles south of Linz.  This workshop was a two day event with a total of 14 participants.

Here are a few images from the first workshop.

Let's have a look at some of the participants photos.

I am off to Innsbruck tomorrow for another workshop, see you there.  DT

Shooting In The Kitchen

I'm fortunate to have a home which allows a clear unobstructed view of 50 feet. I use this open space to shoot portraits for clients that want an office like environment when they have none.  Perhaps they work out of their home or they just don't have type of environment suited to their needs.

Let's take a look at the set up of the lights and the general setting.  

You can see that I used two lights for this set up.  I shot thur the open doorway, you can see the tripod by the piano. This is a classic bounce technique, the main or key light is on a light stand next to the refrigerator. I have a foam flag on the flash which prevents RAW light from striking the subject. When doing a proper bounce technique, the only light reaching your subject should come only from the bounce surface.  Here is what the bounce looks like.

You will also notice the flash ion the left, this is my rim or separation light.  This flash is fitted with a grid to only strike the subjects hair and shoulder. Below is a photo showing the view from my shooting position.

Here is what one of the final images look like.