Flash question: The other day at the park I saw a photo shoot. The guy was armed to the teeth with cameras and a back pack that would make a marine cry. Anyway he also had two very...

rocket111

The other day at the park I saw a photo shoot. The guy was armed to the teeth with cameras and a back pack that would make a marine cry. Anyway he also had two very large umbrellas that were black when ever he took a picture they would flash. He moved them all over the place. It was mid afternoon the sky was clear what did he expecte to get using a flash on a clear bright day. The way he set them in didn't look as if he was trying block the sun. He was taking pictures of a guy and he would put hem in front of a tree or next to a light pole. After he was done I walked over and said Hi with the hopes of asking about the umbrellas he was very rude and told me to get lost. I was just wondering what they were for

nikonlad Loc: Venice, FL

The umbrellas were used to modify the light. The position of the sun at mid-day causes harsh shadows. The flash removes the harsh shadows.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

A clear bright day is exactly when you need flash outdoors.
The flash is used as 'fill' to reduce the harsh shadows caused by the bright sunlight.
This tutorial should explain it better than I can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plHReqpPfeM

rocket111

rwilson1942 Great video I thought the girls was great. I even learned something. The guy even tells ya what to set your camera on. Thanks

BebuLamar

Why didnt yoi take a picture of him working

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Often a black, light-modifier would be used as a "Negative Light". To get rid of crazy reflected light from a wall or a batch of over light trees etc. He was probably try to control the amount of the reflection and found that there was not enough light to keep him happy, (his attitude and amount of gear seemed he would never be happy anyway. LoL), so he added some artificial light or "clean light" to fill in while obtaining the shadows he wanted. (Personally, it seems he wanted to be a perfectionist as it was probably a bit overdone.)

Did you notice the lens?

rocket111

I didn't have a camera. I stayed back as I know he was working. As for the lens on one camera he had a very larger white one it looked like he could take photos in the next zip code. The camera was also very large. I didn't see hem use that camera. He would sometimes take a pitcher on one nee. He didn't seem to mind having the large lens hit the ground or dragging it around as he moved. That surprised me

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

rocket111 wrote:

I didn't have a camera. I stayed back as I know he was working. As for the lens on one camera he had a very larger white one it looked like he could take photos in the next zip code. The camera was also very large. I didn't see hem use that camera. He would sometimes take a pitcher on one nee. He didn't seem to mind having the large lens hit the ground or dragging it around as he moved. That surprised me

Unlike you or I, many people rent and figure "it's not my stuff...". Could be that he just abuses insurance claims in the name of "professionalism!

*(Accidents can happen to anyone but based on what I read in your messages, I don't have much respect for people like that!)

rocket111

generous I couldn't agree more. I just have a D300. and I keep it and my lens in bubble rap in my bag. But if you rented it and brought it back all dented up wouldn't they charge ya

BebuLamar

rocket111 wrote:

I didn't have a camera. I stayed back as I know he was working. As for the lens on one camera he had a very larger white one it looked like he could take photos in the next zip code. The camera was also very large. I didn't see hem use that camera. He would sometimes take a pitcher on one nee. He didn't seem to mind having the large lens hit the ground or dragging it around as he moved. That surprised me

Yeah I hear you. I like to take pictures of these guys working in the park. They don't like it but too bad. The park is mine too and they are photographers they know that I can take their pictures.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

rocket111 wrote:

The other day at the park I saw a photo shoot. The... (show quote)

LoL, Rocket, since you got lost, we'll never know what he was doing!!!
But we can guess like mad! LoL
My guess is that since he put them behind trees and poles, on a clear day, he was trying to CREATE shadows where otherwise there were none. That would be a very clever concept with a lot of possibilities. I'll have to give that concept some thought to using it.
Or maybe they were just placebos for the benifit of the client! Another unique idea!!!
Or maybe.............

SS

rocket111

I'm shure he was filling in light. They did flash

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

No, not necessarily! Maybe he was turning the day to night? That's a common daytime tecnicque used by many advanced shooters to give the appearance of a night time shot during the day. Or to just drop a stop or two in the background to make a dramatic background.
Lots of different things could be going on, but we're never gonna know!!!
SS

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Lens may have been a Canon 70-200, 100-400 or if really big a 200-400 2.8.
Lots of advanced things you can setup with speedlites or strobes like Profoto B1 and modifiers. Tons of good videos about it on YouTube that you can learn from too.
Unfortunate he was rude, but he was trying to make a living too.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

fotografz

Most light modifiers, including umbrellas are black on the outside. The inside area of the umbrella is usually silver or white to reflect the light from a flash toward the subject. Some umbrellas are translucent and are used to fire the strobe or speed-light through the material for a more diffused light.

Black "flats" or "scrims" are used to block harsh or unwanted light.

Using artificial flash outdoors on a bright day is usually for filling shadows caused by harsher very directional natural light. Depending on settings, the artificial light can be fill with the natural light acting as the Key Light ... or, the artificial light can act as the Key Light and the natural light is played back in comparison. The net result of using lighting is "Control" of the lighting environment.

Also, larger light modifiers like an umbrella or large soft-box are used because they create a large light source that softens the light verses a smaller one that is more "spectral" or harsh.