Brian Worley | photography | training | writing | p4pictures.com

Tips, techniques, photo gear on p4pictures.com blog

Using zebras to determine accurate movie exposures

Using zebras to determine accurate movie exposures

Zebras are a stripped overlay that can be displayed over parts of the image that fall within or beyond preset values. Using zebras helps to gauge movie exposure and where …

Brian Worley, photographer and trainer

Hi I’m Brian…

I love to help people create better images for themselves, or their business. Ask me for help and training to use your camera, flash or photo software.

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Confused by your camera?
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p4pictures.com is the place to find a solution to your photo problems. I’ve spent over 20 years building my knowledge. This means I convert the many pages of instruction manuals in to practical, better ways for you to make pictures.

I work with individuals and companies, who book me for 1-2-1 training, workshops and technical articles.

Stuck with a burning question? #askBrian

I thrive on questions, as they provide a way for me to help you. Answering questions here helps other photographers too.

What is the priority card?

What is the priority card?

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E10 on EOS R6 Mark II with quick flash group control display

Quick flash group control for Speedlites

Back view of EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless digital camera displaying menu screen for display simulation settings

Which exposure or display simulation settings should you use?

switching shutter speed with the AF-ON button to freeze action or pan to show movement

Push to pan – capture action shots the smart way

Best ways to use RF lens control ring

Best ways to use RF lens control ring

12-days of pictures from 2022, part 12

12-days of pictures from 2022, part 12

Workshops, training & events

Jan
15
Presentation for Bracknell Camera Club Bracknell

Jan
18-20
The Societies 2024 Convention Hammersmith International Centre, 1 Shortlands, London, W6 8DR, England

Jan
25
Presentation for Chalfont & Gerards Cross Camera Club The Memorial Centre, East Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD

Feb
21
Studio Portrait Event for Field End Photographic Society Ruislip London, England

Feb
22
Workshop: Studio Photography Weston Turville, Aylesbury

Instagram photos by @p4pictures

I simply cannot write "just another shot of Alex"

I simply cannot write "just another shot of Alex" as the caption for this shot, much as I might want to. We recently worked together delivering a portrait photography evening for Pinner Camera Club.
I created a couple of setups for the club members to work with; one with continuous LED lights and the other with flash, then also booked two models so that both sets could be in use simultaneously. Alex is one of a few models I keep on booking for this kind of shoot as he's so good in front of the camera and if he says he's going to be there, he will be.
I took this on the LED constant light setup to give the club members an idea of what they might create with the setup.
EOS R6 Mark II with EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM lens

When you’re as skilled with makeup as Alicia you

When you’re as skilled with makeup as Alicia you can just draw a web over your own eyes. So when I added a layer of material in front of her face to add even more depth to this simple setup the results got even better.
One light - Godox AD200 Pro with the small collapsible AD-S7 beauty dish.
Somewhere further in the background is a Manfrotto scenic background with an Italian street scene at night
Camera is EOS R6 Mark II that seems able to focus on her face even with material in the way

Racing in to the weekend with the sidecar grass tr

Racing in to the weekend with the sidecar grass track racers in the "big chairs". Truly a spectacular fast paced action sport with lots and lots of close racing.

Had such a good evening with my studio workshop gr

Had such a good evening with my studio workshop group last night. Model Olivia was brilliant.
Revisited an old unusual lighting setup that comprises a pair of large Lastolite panels, one a diffuser the other a soft gold solid panel. Arranged in a V-shape with Olivia sandwiched inside. A single Elinchrom light with standard reflector through the diffuser as the only light.
Changing my position around Olivia allowed me to create such a range of pictures.
EOS R6 Mark II with EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

Had such a chilled on location training session to

Had such a chilled on location training session to help a photographer work through the settings on their new camera. Of course you can’t just sit in a coffee shop talking, you have to get out and put new ideas in to practice. Exactly on time Becky joined us and these are a few of my shots.
While Becky may well be known for her outstanding characters and clown or spooky shoots it was rather a nice change to try something more relaxed.
Mostly shot on my 135mm f/2, with one on the 85mm f /1.4

Mono or colour? The familiar question, and given

Mono or colour?
The familiar question, and given that my model is an amazing redhead you might be tempted by colour, but now I’ve made a mono the choice is less clear cut for me.
In the frame Gabrielle
📷 Canon EOS R6 with EF 135mm f/2L USM

More spooky season pics with Becky. I took these a

More spooky season pics with Becky. I took these as a few quick shots while running my monthly portrait workshop group.
Here I've setup a pair of Elinchrom studio lights;
Main light is a medium reflector with a coloured gel. It's positioned to the right of the frame and is doing most of the work.
Hair light is up high a good distance behind Becky and again features a small reflector with a grid.
The smoky look is actually a layer of Halloween black mesh fabric hanging some distance in front of Becky.
EOS R6 Mark II with EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM lens
1/125s f/3.2 ISO 100

Starting to feel pretty spooky round here as head

Starting to feel pretty spooky round here as head towards the end of the month. The weather has turned colder, the nights seem to start noticeably earlier each day and the shops are full of huge pumpkins.
Throwback to a late night walk with My Little Goth and James who just happened to have a battery powered studio light with him. I wanted to use two lights so the Speedlite 600EX I had with me did double duty, acting as a light source and optically triggering the studio light.

A suited gent stands in the corner of the deserted

A suited gent stands in the corner of the deserted factory. What have you done to end up here he asks…
Awesome Matt modelling at the X Factory Studio on a Crohns Research Charity shoot organised by Lottii

How it started and how the first corner turned out

How it started and how the first corner turned out 🤔
Extreme E racing in Scotland was one of the highlights of my motorsport photography year.
This was the carnage off the line to the first corner from qualifying 2 heat 2

Here’s Lewis Humphris #23 winner of the Nora MX

Here’s Lewis Humphris #23 winner of the Nora MX Clubman Elite class race at Cullham MX Park.
The two shots are taken moments apart but demonstrate how effective my recently changed setup for the AF-ON button on my EOS R6 Mk2 📷 is allowing me to change shutter speed mid way through a sequence of shots. This means I can now capture both a frozen high shutter speed shot and a panned shot of a rider on the same corner increasing my range of shots.
This is done by reassigning the AF-ON button with Register/recall shooting func and then going deep in the settings to preset my panning shutter speed.
Let’s just say that the AF-ON button is now my #pushtopan button 😎

Always good to have a laugh on a shoot. These are

Always good to have a laugh on a shoot. These are a couple from an e-commerce shoot where I was shooting a range of outfits and poses but the end result was always going to be cut out on white for an online store. Getting the white right but not blown out is the toughest part.
Always a joy to make photos with this elegant lady too

Spooky season is upon us, so quit clowning around

Spooky season is upon us, so quit clowning around and get spooky
Working with Becky is exactly the thing to do, she loves to portray a character and get creative on a shoot.
Simple lighting and layers of fabric add depth to each image

British Quad Bike Champion of 2023, Harry Walker.

British Quad Bike Champion of 2023, Harry Walker.

Photographers all know the feeling of joy when the

Photographers all know the feeling of joy when the light hits just right.
Seems that it’s the same for riders at the British Quad Bike Championship, and they jump for joy to be in that light.
Pictured is Marcus Sprason at the season finale run by the Nora MX club at Cullham MX park

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