This image is kind of a companion to last week’s shot because I took it in roughly the same setting, but used some different techniques that I just could do before I purchased my Nanlite Pavotubes. Much of the composition mirrors the previous image: a single subject (a bear, which I promise was not intentional. I did not do that on purpose!) against a backdrop of blurred-out Christmas lights. Also, just like the other image, I used off-camera lighting to carefully control the appearance of the subject. So what’s the deal–why use this as its own separate Weekly Fifty shot? What’s different about it, and what did I learn this time that I didn’t already learn last time?
For me, it’s partly about the subtleties. The small elements of the composition that end up making a big difference and, ultimately, set aside this shot as distinct and unique when put against its counterpart from last week. First of all, the lights in the background serve a different purpose. In the previous image they were used to frame the subject–that is, to provide something of a border around the subject and draw your eye to the center of the image. Here the background lights are used for a different purpose entirely, which is to accentuate the subject. Notice how there is a cluster of lights right behind the bear with a ring of darkness as you go out to the edge of the image, and a few spots of light at the farthest borders. It’s the opposite of how I used the Christmas tree lights in the earlier shot, and an example of how much this kind of compositional element really matters and how it can transform an image entirely.
The other big difference here is how the subject itself is lit. I used just a bit of backlighting but placed much more emphasis on getting the bear, especially its face and eyes, to be as bright as possible. I could have used an external flash but the Pavotubes are just so much better for this sort of thing, in my opinion, because you can place them precisely where you want while also adjusting the strength and color of the lighting at the same time.
I remember when I first started playing around with these Pavotubes, and the revelation I had about controlling off-camera lighting to create compelling compositions. What I’m learning the more I use them, though, is how to use them in more subtle ways that I never considered and, in doing so, create photos that go way beyond just cool product-style shots of video game controllers on my washing machine :)
Leave a Reply