by Gregory Daniel FDPE, FSA, M.Photog. CR., CPP, F-ASP
Sometimes we just need a little help from our friends… our equipment in this case. As most of you already know, I am not one to use additional strobe lighting for our environmental style. Because most of our commissions are designed and planned for ideal conditions, I am grateful for all of the master educators that poured their knowledge into me for so many years. They are responsible for filling up my photographic tool box of knowledge to handle just about any situation I encounter. Although I prefer not to use additional strobe lighting, there are occasions when conditions are not perfect and additional strobe lighting becomes necessary. Let me share an example where I had to dig into my tool box for a solution.
A perfect time to pull out my Elinchrom Quadra Ranger RC Hybrid is when a lack of strong backlight exists to create depth and dimension. Melanie Porter at Arlington Camera helped me with just what I needed in this portable strobe. It has been the perfect light not only in this situation, but is the only light I take with me on location to fill any lighting needs I run into. In the application shown here I used it to emulate the sun splashing through the leaves and creating a lovely kick light on our subject. In this case, I like to use a ¼ CTO light warming gel to closely match the appropriate sun rays color. I know this because Russ Harrington said to use that filter! It works perfectly every time.
As you can see, with a full tool box, it is a piece of cake to turn undesirable lighting situations into beautifully lit scenes. You have the learning resources at your fingertips, with the best learning experience on the planet, with Texas School each year. This is where I spent many years filling up my tool box and I bet if you talked with others they would say the same time. I would encourage you to invest in yourself, sharpen your saw and learn from the best. I hope this little tip helped and hope to see you at Texas School next year!
Greg Daniel and his wife Lesa are internationally recognized for their artistry. Though he is one of the most awarded photographers in the United States, Greg has the utmost privilege of living out his passion every day alongside Lesa in operating their portrait photography galleries in both Indialantic and Titusville, Florida. He has achieved both the title of Master of Photography and The American Society of Photographers Fellowship. In addition, Greg was one of the youngest members to be inducted into the prestigious Cameracraftsmen of America in 1991, a proud founding member of the International Society of Portrait Artists (ISPA) and on the Board of Directors for Professional Photographers of America.
