Backlit portrait with just one light
I’m a huge fan of using speedlights, or flash guns as I grew up calling them and I know a lot of photographers own at least one. For me the humble speedlight is a powerful tool capable of producing amazing portraits.
In this video I try to break the laws of physics by using one speedlight to light both the back and front of a model with just one light. The secret is reflecting the light off of a silver reflector which in effect makes one light become two.
As a final touch I’ll create a sparkling background by adding a little bit of flour into the air behind my model Kristina but in front of the flash.
Equipment used in the video:
Adobe Photoshop CS6
Canon 60D
http://www.adorama.com/ICA60D.html?KBID=67338
Canon 24-105L f/4 IS
http://www.adorama.com/CA24105AFU.html?KBID=67338
5 in 1 reflector
http://www.adorama.com/WE5I1R20.html?KBID=67338
Hi Gavin –
Thanks for posting this video. I found this to be a great inspiration to try a new portrait technique. It’s hard to think ‘out of the box’ sometime and this video helps get the creativity going.
k
Thank you so much for this video, Gavin.
If you ask most people (me included) flash photography and lighting are the most difficult aspect of photography to understand. This video makes it so much more understandable. Thanks.
Gavin,
What is the name of your flash holder/bracket you were using in the video?