Stay original

I came across this blog post by Kirk Tuck, "The flickr-ization-of-photography". You can read Kirk's post by clicking HERE.  Kirk tackles the issue of conforming to trends; it seems like every single photographer out there are trying to imitate and mimic trendy techniques. Especially some of the strobist devotees whose work is all over online societies such as Flickr!

Now don't get me wrong, I am personally a huge fan of strobism and are currently reading Joe Mcnally's new book "The Hotshoe Diaries, Big Lights from Small Flashes".  The book's really good by the way. I too, bought into the greatness of shooting on location with a few small flashes. I have nothing againts Flickr and joined the community recently. However, Kirk's blog made me realize how utterly important it is not to fall into the trap of conforming to standards that's dictated by particular photographic groups or societies. Do something because you like it, not because others are doing it. Do something you think is unique (even though there's really nothing new under the sun).

My quest for 2010 is to be as creative and original as I can be. If it means I must shoot with small lights; it's fine. If it means I must shoot with big 30,000 watt / sec lights, also fine. Just Fine! As long as I am original and keep on developing my own style and techniques.

I'm finishing my post with yet another (few) photo(s) I took of  Minnette which was taken for Jenna's (my wife) make-up portfolio. No; these were not taken outside with small flashes; even though I did use a single 580 EX II in an array with other bigger studio flashes and light shapers i.e. a medium sized Octo box, a shoot-through umbrella and a smallish grid and barndoors. I ramped the speedlite against a large refelector for extra fill light.

Model, Minnette Bester. Images by Danie Bester. Make-up by Jenna. Hair styling by Minnette.


All shots were taken at full Manual settings. I used a double diffused octobox with a grid for most of the shots as my key-light. I played around with the background light (shoot-through umbrella) and used a small dish with grid and barndoors as a kicker and hair light. At one stage I removed the background light completely (to have a grey background) and had the grid and barndoors directly behind her to create backlighting. I believe that every photographer should have two backgrounds; a black one and a white one (no racism here). The great thing about a white background is that you turn it into a grey background if you soften the background light or remove it completely.  

PS. I didn't do much in Photoshop. maybe softened the skin slightly, dodging and burning. The light did the trick on these shots.