Sometimes a portrait just happen. This time it was a warm summer day in the Swedish Archipelago when we were taking a swim and I had brought with me the Nikon D2x together with a SB-800 flash. Why I had bothered to carry such a big camera with me to the cliffs, I can’t remember, but I am glad I did.
While sitting on the rocks waiting for her to get up, I took a couple of test shots om some friends to get the effect from the flash right. So when she was climbing out of the water, I got this shot that I think is perfect.
Photos taken with the flash on the camera is not my thing, usually. But sometimes, the effect works for me. It is almost studio like, even if I would prefer to get a bit higher up with the flash, away from the lens.
Ok, it helps with a polarizer filter to get that deep blue colour in the sky, but other than that, it is sometimes a good idea to try using the flash in broad daylight, and not just for a slight fill, but full on. Don’t forget to underexpose the rest of the image, otherwise the result will not be so powerful.
As soon as I have bought a battery pack, and I’m really interested in the Profoto AcuteB 600, I will try to make more of this kind.
But that might not be something you carry to the beach, just for fun?
I have always liked the hard light you see in many tv-programs, the ones with news anchors and guys in suits who requires many thick layers of makeup not to shine in the light too much.
