I came up with a simple idea. I wanted to show the shooter taking a picture of a model. But I wanted it to look like it was properly happening, and not too staged.
Now, Lauren and I work together lots. But we don't have the luxury of having a 3rd shooter who can take pictures of us. It was self-portrait time. And throw into the mix the fact that I wanted to show the shooter's flash going off (illuminating the model) as well as throw some light onto the shooter.. gulp.
I started off by creating a lighting diagram courtesy of Fred Miranda. I'm really enjoying working this way. I sketch out my idea first - so I can picture it properly and give Lauren an idea of what I'm thinking. Then I formalise it in a lighting diagram.
I use Canon's wireless trigger system based around their STE2 transmitter. This was mounted on the main camera (the one that took the shot). I think put a 550EX above camera right shooting into a snoot to put some isolation into the shooter's face. The shooter (me) obviously has to be seen to be holding a camera. So I borrowed Lauren's 350D (time for an upgrade me thinks) and put a 430EX in slave mode on it.
I hooked up my Canon 30D to Lightroom via the Canon EOS Utility software's remote control feature and set it up to take 5 shots every 10 seconds.
Lauren threw some poses, I threw in some corny "c'mon on love, that's right, gorgeous" comments as I pretended to snap away, while the 430EX on my dummy camera popped in time with the 550EX illuminating me.
Sorted!
