I’m sorry if i’ve not been updating my blogs for a while. as per usual life gets in the way.
I’m happy to say that productivity wise, i have been doing a lot to improve a number of areas of my work. I will be pushing on the blogs again next year and hopefully you’ll see some of the interesting stuff i’m getting to shoot.
The last shoot i did for my portfolio this year was a portrait shoot inspired to some extent by a music video from my youth.
I wanted to work with some gels to create some different atmospheres. I hadn’t used these for a while, so just started with a pretty simple setup with one main light camera left and two gelled lights on the background.
I don’t care what you say about the last full length portrait, those socks were staying on!!! It was a little cold in the studio still.
Before moving onto the main set, I used the white background for some close up portraits which i love doing. For this set i used one light, quite far back to cut out the light a lot and used my 50mm f1.8 wide open to create a really shallow depth of field.
The main setup i’d been thinking about was pretty simple, workable from a number of angles and to change the feel of the scene, just needed a gel changing in one of the lights. Throughout the set i changed from a pink gel, to blue and finally red.
I kept working at f18-f3.2 and kept the main light power quite low. the gelled light however i put on quite a high setting to get an amount of haze, depending on the position of the model.
Just to give you an idea of the lighting. Nothing over the top.
You can have fun with gels and don’t have to just fire them at the background, or using a CTO to balance a shot.
I left the shoot grinning from ear to ear, as i knew i got exactly what i wanted out of it and that the effects i wanted to create were done without much hassle.
A few shout outs
The model for the evening, Jadah. Always enjoy shooting with you. You can find her portfolio and work here. https://www.facebook.com/jadahlouisemodel/
The Attic Studio. Always accommodating, and has a great selection of modern Pixapro Lighting and Modifiers to use. https://www.facebook.com/theatticstudio34/
If you want to have a look at the kit i use have a quick look at https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/garethnormanphotography
Finally, have fun and stay safe, and enjoy shooting.
Any suggestions for future blog posts, drop me an email.
you can see more of my work at
About Me
I’m Gareth, a 40 year old Photographer, Eternal Optimist and Blogger. I have been behind a camera for about 5 years now and love shooting products, food, portraits, the stars, and anything else for that matter. Learning is the main aim for me. I am a family man, and strive to be the best i can be in all fields that i put my mind and heart to.
