the steampunk, strobist

This is actually a retake of a shot I had posted a while back in the critique forum. I did it over as I wanted the background to have a bit more luminance as oppsed to being very dark, and also wanted to included this crazy ring as a prop :D :thumbsup:

For anyone interested in using small portable strobes such as Canon speedlites,Vivitar 285HV, Nikon SB800,900 etc.

This was shot with an approx. 5x7 ft background of a greenish linen purchased from a fabric store for about 9.00. Clamped on to two spring load poles, much like the Bogen Autopoles, but from HarborFreight and only 10.00 each!
I will also be using a Flex out backdrop (that is basically a muslin attached to a wire frame that unfolds to a 5x7 ft surface and easily folds back down into a 27" diameter circle to be store in a soft pouch Gray on one side, black on the other) in the future

A 580EXll speedlite shooting into a photoflex 16x22" softbox on subject(me) left and front about 1 ft above head level aiming downward slightly. Another 580EXll shooting into a flashpoint snoot on subjects left and behind about 7ft up and aiming at back of hair.
A Vivitar 285HV on a lightstand off in the back on subjects right about 7 ft up aiming towards back of hair and skimming right side of subject face.

The Canon programmable remote release is a great tool for helping get these self portraits because i can set the initial time delay to first shot, the time intervals in between shots as well as the overall number of shots and more.

Took a while of back and forth and re adjusting light positions to finall get something that worked as I wanted. I was a little too close to the background and was getting a bit more illumination on it than I desired and so some of that was toned down a bit later in PP.
All the speedlites are triggered with the Cybersync triggers from Paul C. Buff. (alien Bees maker)

Great shot and explanation, Gary. One question: who does your hair???

Awesome. What were the power settings/ratios?

Great example of how light alters a shot Gary. I have no clue about lighting but I can tell that for some reason I lean towards the first shot....why? no clue but the other one has more visual punch for my eyes. That being said...awesome shot Gary.

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Originally Posted by Asylum Steve

Great shot and explanation, Gary. One question: who does your hair???

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You know, Steve, I get that question alot these days as I'm merely walking down the street. I turn to them. . . .remove my goggles. . .and tell them. . . "Its natural" :D:cool:

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Originally Posted by BlueRob

Great example of how light alters a shot Gary. I have no clue about lighting but I can tell that for some reason I lean towards the first shot....why? no clue but the other one has more visual punch for my eyes. That being said...awesome shot Gary.

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Thanks for your thoughts Rob. Actuaklly, there are sme things about the first that i like better, but overall this has more of what I wanted in it.

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Originally Posted by draymorton

Awesome. What were the power settings/ratios?

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I wish I were to write all that stuff down. This is actually from somewhere in the middle of the shoot and at that point my setting were about iso125, 9.0-11.0 shutter speed of about 160.
Main strobe into softbox was set at about 1/4 power, maybe +3EV higher. the box was about 2 ft away from me.
The rear 580EX into the snoot was at about 1/4 power and maybe 5 ft away. Makes a really neat pop sound into that cone shaped snoot!
The Vivitar 285HV was at 1/4 power, which is one step up from its lowest power setting of 1/16. I had it at 1/16 for the early takes but I had to reposition the light to get more directly behind me and that required it to be further back as well because of the limitations of my working space. So, I had to up it to 1/4 power.
I just ordered the roscoe gel filter set. The Vivitar has a opening thatwill allow the gels to slip right in and cover the light. should be fun to experiment with some colors on the bg.

Again, very cool shot. I am playing with these same flashes and building up my light shaping tool collection. I really like the textures in the face. The light needs to be really good for that all to work out.

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Originally Posted by daq7

The light needs to be really good for that all to work out...

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As does the hair... :D