Day 10 of the 12 days of photos features My Little Goth who helped me to test the myth that goths spontaneously combust when out in bright sunshine…
It’s been quite while since I’d worked with My Little Goth on location, most of our recent shoots have been in studios. For this shoot we explored the myth that goths are liable to spontaneously combust in bright sunshine 🙂
This former chalk pit was part of a cement works and is now a natural reserve. Most days I walk through here at some point, and yet this was my first model shoot in there. It was also warm and sunny, but there were some clouds around at times too. I used a mixture of high speed sync flash and natural light plus a large California Sunbounce reflector, though some images including the first are all natural light no reflectors or flash.
- EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- 1/2000s, f/2, ISO 100
Using the bushes around the initial area it was time to use some flash and ask my model to “pose in a bush”. I used high speed sync flash with the Godox AD200 Pro as the bright daylight required ISO 50 and 1/1250s for my chosen aperture value.
- EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- 1/1250s, f/2.2, ISO 50
- High speed sync flash
- EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- 1/800s, f/2.2, ISO 50
- High speed sync flash
Moving to another part of the location I was able to get a lower angle and position the model right in the sky, and the breeze that sometimes helped or tried to blow lights and reflectors around.
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/5000s, f/2, ISO 160
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/2000s, f/2, ISO 125
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/2000s, f/2, ISO 100
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/2000s, f/2, ISO 100
Another change of location to put the model in amongst a large expanse of yellow wildflowers and this is when the California sunbounce was used to redirect some of the sun back towards her face. The sunbounce reflector is amazingly directional, more so than many other pop-up reflectors, and using it is like “steering light”.
- EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- 1/4000s, f/2, IS 125
- EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
- 1/4000s, f/2, ISO 250
Having done this first shoot in the location, I have been back with some other models, each producing different results.
Working with My Little Goth is always a reminder that what many people would consider as a dark and grungy look, is actually beautifully photogenic. I look forward to working with her again in 2023 as very fortunately she didn’t spontaneously combust 🙂
Day 10 of 12 done, see you tomorrow for some more photos.