Including Flash Heads In The Portrait
99.9 per cent of the time, I don’t want my portable flash units to be in the final image. In this instance, however, I kept them within the frame to add interest and atmosphere to this action portrait.
I had already created several different shots with this BMX rider, Sam, and in those I focused on lighting him with flash heads outside of the camera’s view. For this one, I wanted him in a semi-silhouette, while still lighting his face, if I could.
Setting up the lighting
I placed one portable flash high on a stand to the left of the scene (as we’re looking at it) to light Sam’s face and the front of his body. I placed a second flash opposite the camera, facing towards me, with an orange/yellow gel over it. This one would light the ramp and any bits of the bike that reflected the light back at that angle.
I underexposed the scene to make the background darker than it really was, with Sam correctly exposed in the light from the portable flash. The centres of the flash have blown out to pure white: there isn’t anything you can do about that. Indeed, it would be odd if strobe lighting was anything other than completely white in the centre (try it and see!).
Timings and angles
As with all these types of images, timing is of the essence. You have to hit the shutter at exactly the right moment as the flash won’t recycle* quickly enough to take more than one shot per trick.
I’ve picked a low angle (I am sitting on the floor), so that the sky is big in the frame and the ramps lead your eye towards the action – the gap between the two concrete segments is perfect for this. Then, when Sam does his trick, he is high above the camera’s point of view. This adds to the drama and impact of the trick, as it exaggerates the gap between Sam’s bike and the surface far below.
And, in case you’re curious… Sam did, in fact, get the BMX back underneath him and landed safely (this time!).
*Recycle = power up for the next burst of flash
Illustration
Camera Settings
- Focal length: 17mm
- Aperture: f/9.5
- Shutter speed: 1/500 sec
- ISO: 400
I had already created several different shots with this BMX rider, Sam, and in those I focused on lighting him with flash heads outside of the camera’s view. For this one, I wanted him in a semi-silhouette, while still lighting his face, if I could.
Setting up the lighting
I placed one portable flash high on a stand to the left of the scene (as we’re looking at it) to light Sam’s face and the front of his body. I placed a second flash opposite the camera, facing towards me, with an orange/yellow gel over it. This one would light the ramp and any bits of the bike that reflected the light back at that angle.