Hi and welcome to the March 2019 edition of my Instructional BLOG – Workshop at the Ranch. We are continuing the current WATR theme of “Images and Backstories” … so let’s get to it.

Don’t Forget to:  Checkout my: 2019 Workshops Calendar to see when and where I will be teaching a workshop or seminar that you might be interested in: Dave’s 2019 Workshops Calendar:  https://daveblackphotography.com/upcoming-workshops/

2019 Workshops Calendar: 

May 29, 2019 … Photoshop World Pre-Conference SPORTS ACTION SHOOTING Workshop in Orlando: (Skateboarding) www.photoshopworld.com

May 30-31, 2019 … Photoshop World Conference in Orlando, FL.  www.photoshopworld.com

June 19-20, 2019 … UPPA University Professional Photographers Association Workshop in Grand Valley State Univ. MI.  http://www.upaa.org/content/2019-symposium  

June 20-23, 2019 … Summit LIGHTING Workshop in Denver, CO. www.photographyatthesummit.com

July 10-15, 2019 … Summit SPORTS Denver Workshop in Denver, CO. www.photographyatthesummit.com

August 20, 2019 … Photoshop World Pre-Conference LIGHTPAINTING Workshop in Las Vegas, NV: venue: Nelson Ghost Town  www.photoshopworld.com   

August 21-23, 2019 … Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas, NV.  www.photoshopworld.com

September 14-19, 2019 … Summit ADVENTURE Workshop in Jackson Hole, WY. www.photographyatthesummit.com

September 22-27, 2019 … Summit NATURE Workshop in Jackson Hole, WY.  www.photographyatthesummit.com

November 7-10, 2019 … Summit SPORTS California Workshop in LA – Thousand Oaks, CA. www.photographyatthesummit.com

Images and Backstories:

Image 1 …  “Racquet Action” … #NikonZ7, ISO1250, 10 seconds at f5.6, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S lens, Tripod with 410 Geared Head, Flash and Glow Stix.

HOW THIS IMAGE WAS MADE during my “Experimenting with LIGHT” class @summitworkshops   https://www.photographyatthesummit.com/ 

LOCATION Prep: This image was made in the hotel conference room. We used the hotel’s black drapery to darken a few windows and also spread across the wall behind the athlete.

With our “make-shift studio” prepped and the room lights turned OFF, our environment was definitely “O Dark 30” which made a 10 seconds exposure possible and enough time for our Tennis Player @Jtafoya05 to simulate Tennis Action.

LIGHTPAINTING CONCEPT: I’ve taped colorful Party Glow Stix to the Tennis Racquet frame. In our completely dark studio with an exposure of ISO1250, 10 seconds at f5.6, the Glow Stix are captured in whatever motion pattern is created as the athlete swings the racquet.

FLASH CONCEPT: I used 2 FLASH units, each has a 10 degree GRID, and each is placed Off-Camera just outside the frame Left and Right. This gave the subject “Rembrandt Lighting” on his face and “Separation Lighting” on his hair and shoulders as he turned his body for the Backhand stroke.

NOTE: I prefer to use #NikonSB5000Speedlights but most any Flash or large strobe system could be used for this technique.

FINAL RESULTS: I chose to fire the FLASH via Remote TEST button so that I could Freeze the Action at any time during the 10 second exposure. For this image I started the exposure, counted 1 second and threw the ball into the scene … FLASH-freeze the Backhand Action and immediately coached/directed the athlete to steadily walk across the set while swinging the racquet in an ever growing pattern for the remaining 9 seconds.

We made 30 images of which this was my personal favorite.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN LIGHTING: Come join me for my “Experimenting with LIGHT” classes along with @summitworkshops instructors @joeyterrill (Jennifer) @pottheiser (Andrew) @hancockphoto and @Joelavine in Denver, Colorado for LIGHTING workshop: June 20-23, and again for SPORTS workshop: July 10-15, 2019.   #mirrorlessreinvented

@nikonusa @nikonambassadors #nikonnofilter #nikonambassador #nikonz7

Image 2 … “Butterfly Light” … #NikonD3100, ISO200, 1/1000 at f1.4, Nikon 24mm f1.4 lens … Lightpainting using a ProTac 2AA LED flashlight (155 Lumens).   

HOW THIS IMAGE WAS MADE:

PREVISUALIZE the CONCEPT:  I “Previsualized” this little scene in my mind while still talking on the phone to the client. In my mind I “Previsualized” the underexposed scene with a Butterfly in a bright spotlight in its environment.

With the composition already “Previsualized” in my mind, now all that remained was to AutoFocus and use a small LED flashlight to “spot light” my subject.

The “Mechanical” process of setting a shallow depth of field at f1.4 and -1.7 stops under-exposed scene was accomplished as soon as I arrived on location.

I made several similar images of butterflies that fit the basic concept, but I kept looking for the “Previsualized” scene … then, when the scene presented itself I instantly recognized it and slowly, carefully, and precisely made THE picture.
@nikonusa  #nikonnofilter #nikonambassador  @nikonambassadors #mirrorlessreinvented.

Image 3 … “Tom Brady NFL Legend” … Nikon D2h, ISO1000, 1/1000 at f2.8, NIKKOR 400mm f2.8.

I had the privilege and the enjoyment of photographing the NFL for 33 seasons beginning with John Elway’s debut as Quarterback for the Denver Broncos in 1983 and finishing with Peyton Manning’s final game at Mile High Stadium in 2016 on route to Super Bowl 50.

Along the years of grid iron coverage is a stadium full of memories and images like this image of New England Patriot’s QB Tom Brady, which was captured in 2004 after the Patriots won their final regular season game to advance into the Playoffs and win Super Bowl 39.

HOW THIS IMAGE WAS MADE:
As the clock ran out the media rushed to mid-field and mobbed Tom Brady as he began the 50 yard interview-walk to the locker room. As Brady kept walking the media back-peddled while asking him questions.

He suddenly stopped at the 10 yard line, so I tried a “Hail Mary” with a wide-angle lens, but the media-mob was so deep that 14mm left him miniscule in the frame.

I could only see his helmet above the reporters but I was still carrying my NIKKOR 400mm f2.8 lens … so I pre-focused on his helmet and then held the camera/400mm lens just above my head, and without looking through the eyepiece I aimed-clicked off a few images before Brady broke away and ran into the tunnel.

This tightly framed image of his face was one of them … “Luck or Skill, you make the call.”
Brady and the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl XXXIX.

Come by my Instagram @daveblackphoto each week to learn something new about photography.  I’ll see you next time here on Workshop at the Ranch.

Adios. Dave