It's always refreshing to me to get behind the scenes and see how some cool images are made. Then, to realize that the only light source was a cell phone LED along with a few props, I realized that my studio needs a shopping trip.
In this basic video, Los Angeles based photographer Derrick Freske uses a constant light source — his cell phone — to light a model for some portraits. He uses some very basic props, such as some sequined fabric, some shiny iridescent paper, a prism, and more to get some really cool effects. If I had seen a few of those images, I'd have assumed that they were created with a strobe light and some crazy gobos or gels, but no, they were done with a tiny constant LED on a phone and some everyday props. While I've seen images made with a prism before, I hadn't heard of some of the other things he pulled out in the video, so I think it's worth a quick watch.
So, here's a friendly reminder to take a step back from your big fancy lighting gear, grab some cool, cheap toys, and experiment. You never know what kinds of things you'll come up with!
1 Comment
Great video. These can work with more serious lights as well as cell phones. Though I use my cell phone light often when I don't have my serious lights with me. It's a great McGuyver-esq tool in a pinch, and these ideas are a great addition.