REFLECTIONS: Flash Photography Workshop

One of the first workshops that I had attended since getting back was a flash photography workshop hosted by Paul Corcoran.

During this workshop I had gained knowledge on a variety of lighting equipment, how they work and operate.

Beauty Dish

The Beauty dish was one of the last but most interesting talked about lighting equipment in the studio. It uses a parabolic reflector to distribute light towards a focal point. The beauty dish can give the image a dramatic effect, and the light created is between a direct flash and a Softbox.

After the workshop I wanted to know more on how the beauty dish worked, and to get a better understanding on it. After researching the beauty dish I had found this video on YouTube that broadened my knowledge on the equipment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-cQyJWNvLY

Beauty Dish

Soft Box 

Another well known lighting equipment we had talked about was a Softbox. A Soft box is used to help light a subject more evenly. It creates a diffused lighting effect, producing a softer yet more natural lighting condition. Soft boxed play an important role for fill, separation and edge lighting. 

I had researched more into Soft boxes through a variety of sites such as: 

http://www.photoflex.com/pls/understanding-how-soft-boxes-work and http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/photo-accessories/how-a-softbox-works.html#b  

Soft Box

Lighting Umbrella

The lighting umbrella was another equipment we had talked about. The light is bounced off the umbrella which naturally diffuses it. The lighting is much less subtle than a direct flash. 

I had researched more into lighting umbrella's and how they work: http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowledge-center/how-tos/photo-accessories/how-a-lighting-umbrella-works.html#b 

Lighting Umbrella

At the end of the workshop we had to produce a photo that resembles the photo of Steve Jobs below. 

Steve Jobs 

We had used primary, and secondary lighting, and with our subject placed in the center of the back drop. We had worked within a team, and communicated efficiently, and with the help of Paul Corcoran we had successfully learnt how to use each lighting equipment properly.