August 20th 2008 - Inspiration pt3

Explored! #1

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When I started this little series I thought I'd wax poetic about inspiration and where we as artists find our muse. But the more I thought about it, the more I figured that the photos should speak for themselves. This is the third part of my series that I've been doing every other day.

If you're interested, you should also check out PART 1 and PART 2.

I will say that continuing to produce creative shots throughout the 365 Days project can be quite daunting. My first year was all about documenting my life. This year has been about being more creative and learning new techniques that I didn't have the opportunity to use with my current clients. I feel like I've come a long way towards that this year. And what better way to learn than from the best... you guys!

Strobist Info: Alien Bee's B800 through a large softbox just above camera and two SP Studios strobes at left and right behind subject. I also had a Canon 430ex in the book at 1/32 for a slight fill under the eyes, but in the dodge and burn process I think rendered unnoticable.

Edit: I would also like to note (since I've had some emails and comments about the lighting setup) that I was going for a look that combined different white balances, but I didn't want one light source to contaminate another. I wanted everything not being lit by the "book" to fall into a blue cast and then the book would "light" the face and jacket in a nuetral tone. I could have done that by setting my white balance to tungsten and then gelling my keylight with a CTO. That would have turned the backlights blue but I wanted some of the key light to turn blue as well. So here's the secret. Shoot RAW. When you shoot Raw, you don't have to choose a white balance until you process your photo. After pulling the photo into Adobe Raw, I processed a "blue" version and a "correct" version. I then layed the two over each other in photoshop and masked in the "correct" color where I wanted it to show up. Hope that helps.

Comments and faves

  1. ★

    ( Jennifer ), mad_airbrush, michaeljosef, GFX69, and 385 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. ( Jennifer ) (58 months ago | reply)

    You amaze and delight!

  3. rockwilder (58 months ago | reply)

    Clever and creative!

  4. michaeljosef (58 months ago | reply)

    Amazing! Would have made a great final image for the book!! How did you do the light streaks around you?

  5. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    Thanks! Light streaks were created using paths in photoshop. I made a path and then added a layer, then stroked the path with a brush set to "simulate pressure".

  6. @davidmadsen (58 months ago | reply)

    Wow! Very cool image. The light kicks a**.

  7. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    Thanks... you know, I forgot to mention that... if you look at it large, you can see the cool little catch lights in the eyes... if that's something that interests anyone.

  8. jurel / www.sebastianmilla.com (58 months ago | reply)

    congrats Stephen! very good project and shots.
    canyou also publish pics of the setups you use?

  9. [mummalu] (58 months ago | reply)

    amazing!
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    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

  10. Olga_Greece (58 months ago | reply)

    damn! love this!

  11. Dаz (58 months ago | reply)

    Yet another cool as hell shot - and you've let us in on the secret! Uh, it's a shame I still don't get it ;-).

  12. Jake Burgess (58 months ago | reply)

    this. is. awesome.

  13. SaylaMarz (58 months ago | reply)

    I love this whole series. I'd love to see a small showing of just these pieces.

  14. piddaz (58 months ago | reply)

    enorme!!!!bellissima!!!

  15. ❤ LUNA ❤ (58 months ago | reply)

    this is awesome on black! =)

  16. --- JADE --- (58 months ago | reply)

    genial, muy original

  17. Plavistribor (58 months ago | reply)

    great work

  18. Sandmania (58 months ago | reply)

    This is awesome and very creative. Love those light streaks.

  19. lrayholly (58 months ago | reply)

    Wow Stephen! When I saw the thumbnail I thought "The joy of reading"! But then, I love books

    This is really awesome!

  20. Azli Jamil Photography (58 months ago | reply)

    Cool looking indeed!

  21. eva ♥ (58 months ago | reply)

    wow, just amazing! :)

  22. =Tom= (58 months ago | reply)

    Awesome capture Stephen. Love it and the light painting and then you add that book too? It is terrific :)

  23. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    Wow... thanks everyone. Ya'll sure know how to get someone's morning off on the right foot ;-).

    @ jurel: The room I generally shoot in is pretty small, maybe I'll make one of those little lighting diagrams.

    @SalaMarz: I wonder if anyone would get that sort of thing here? They'd probably just think that I'm an egomaniac and have me locked up :-). I keep thinking it would be nice to be part of a show though.

  24. Anthony Cain © (58 months ago | reply)

    brilliant !!

  25. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    Here's a lighting diagram

    LightingSetup

  26. victoria.anne (58 months ago | reply)

    very cool

  27. rebelshootsfan (58 months ago | reply)

    So fantastic! Well done.

  28. lowellthomasphotography (58 months ago | reply)

    This is fantastic!

  29. davidcampbellphoto (58 months ago | reply)

    On the diagram you posted, do you have some website or something to create that or did you get the diagram before the photo and follow it's instructions? If I could create something like that with ease it would be a good teaching tool for my student.

  30. SAMBoddy (58 months ago | reply)

    I too thought this conveyed "Joy of Reading" would make an excellent advert for a library... Makes me think of the TV show I used to watch as a kid - Reading rainbow?

  31. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    @ davidcampbellphoto: I was asked above in the comments for a photo of my lighting setup, but instead... I thought I'd make a diagram.

    The diagram is a template that you can get HERE. or for the url just look at the big version and the website is listed on it. It's a great little psd file with all kinds of lights and stuff that you can move around and position.

  32. Stephen Poff (58 months ago | reply)

    @ SAMBoddy: I LOVED that show as a kid. It opened me up to all kinds of books I might not have read if I hadn't seen the show. Plus... It had Jordy from Star Trek ;-).

  33. bloody marty mix (58 months ago | reply)

    I think this little series is really some of your best work, Stephen. It's not just amazing photography and photoshoppery (though, of course, those descriptions are true), but the way you've really gotten right at the essence of the subconscious mind and pulled out something that vibrates and resonates with the viewer. Really awesome stuff.

    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)

  34. bloody marty mix (58 months ago | reply)

    And, yes, yay for lighting diagrams!

  35. jurel / www.sebastianmilla.com (58 months ago | reply)

    lighting diagrams are the best thing the man ever made! (and the dslr's ).
    Thanx for that and for the inspiration.

    If any time i see one of your photos on a book i'm sure i will buy it.

    Like hyperbolic this one make me think in tv comercial like hp's laptop or other like that.

  36. HunterPhotographic.com (58 months ago | reply)

    What makes this even more awesome is the book he is holding. Anyone else notice he is holding "The Moment it Clicks" by Joe McNally?

    Awesome. So, how were the light streaks done? LED lights on in post?

  37. onion patch [deleted] (58 months ago | reply)

    Excellent. Well done,

  38. menno-indian (58 months ago | reply)

    superb work as always! awesome series

    your photos always interest me - as do catch lights in the eyes! ; )
    nicely done!

  39. klevo! (58 months ago | reply)

    perfect!

    --
    http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/t iltviewer/app/ (?)

  40. ☼ Helder (58 months ago | reply)

    wow excellent work stephen, i'm loving what you're doing with this "new style" ..this is inspiring!!

  41. yeoldeblackhippie (58 months ago | reply)

    well done

  42. *Cake (58 months ago | reply)

    Love the lighting, this looks magical :)

    --
    http://www.flickrleech.net/ (?)

  43. Icefreez (58 months ago | reply)

    Cool!

  44. efairhurst (58 months ago | reply)

    exceptional ! beautiful capture!

  45. Precious Roy (58 months ago | reply)

    you look great in hats

  46. tobias-lang.com [deleted] (58 months ago | reply)

    DANG, love it! great Idea!

    --
    Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)

  47. CatDancing (58 months ago | reply)

    Very creative and a bit fun, too. I love this shot.

  48. mickeyjohnson (58 months ago | reply)

    Dude! this is so amazing. I mean, even more levels of awesome than I have come to expect from you.

  49. Jason Nicholls (58 months ago | reply)

    You're very spirally lately. Fantasmic!

  50. Jason Nicholls (58 months ago | reply)

    1 suggestion on the edit. The flare circle carries a bit far below the edge of the book. I woulda ended it so that it looks like it's coming only from the inside pages

  51. Lady Pandacat (58 months ago | reply)

    excellent and creative photo! i love it!

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