Wow 2019 sure flew by, and I pressed the shutter button more than ever. So let me share a favourite picture or pictures as we finish 2019 and head in to 2020.

Day #4

A camera club shoot with Philip

  • EOS 5D Mark IV
  • EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
  • 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 100
  • Studio flash

I was fortunate to be asked to share my expertise with a good few camera clubs in 2019. This picture comes from a demonstration of how to use the club’s studio lighting gear. I asked fellow photographer Philip to model for this one, something new for him and also allowing me an option for different lighting styles that I might not use for a female model. So I hooked up the EOS 5D Mark IV to the laptop, shot tethered to EOS Utility and off I went. Making photos with only the kit that was in the box that the club members can borrow. The shot up above is a single old Elinchrom 250 head with a white reflective umbrella. Background is the fetching striped curtains of the local village hall, as the club lights don’t have a background set with them.

The EOS 5D Mark IV was chosen because it has a pc sync socket, and I knew these lights needed to be triggered with a long sync cable.

A camera club shoot with Philip

  • EOS 5D Mark IV
  • EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
  • 1/125s, f/4, ISO 100
  • Studio flash

Using a different set of Elinchrom d-lites with a 60cm square soft box I leveraged the white wall of the hall, and had one of the club members hold a sheet of black card behind Philip to give me a black white background that I lined up with the light on his face by changing my position.

I then worked with the same club for a live demonstration during their exhibition, and photographed a couple of the members with just a couple of studio lights 😉 though I had a background this time.

  • EOS 5D Mark IV
  • EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
  • 1/160s, f/8, ISO 100
  • Studio flash

  • EOS 5D Mark IV
  • EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
  • 1/160s, f/9, ISO 100
  • Studio flash

For both these shots, the background is the same, just different amounts of flash light illuminating it.

Speaking of clubs… I was invited to talk at Newbury CC at short notice due to another presenter being taken sick. So I took some light – really basic stuff that you can easily carry in your bag with your camera, no backgrounds and did a live shoot with the members as models. Camera club guys always look great in mono

  • EOS R
  • EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
  • 1/60s, f/2, ISO 800
  • Speedlite flash

I’m booked for a few camera club presentations in 2020, but have some space for a few more from April onwards… check out the camera club talks page for more information.


Just quick note… I’m struggling to narrow down my selection of pictures to just a single one for each day 🙂 

About the author

Full-time photo tutor and photographer. I love to share my knowledge and skills to make photos, videos and teach others. I write books and articles for photo magazines and I always have at least one Speedlite flash in my camera bag