Off Camera Flash at the Moundsville State Penitentiary

www.funphotoworkshops.com

This image was taken at my Supernatural Shoot at the Moundsville State Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia earlier this week for my workshop there.  To get this shot I had my assistant Joyce holding my SB910 Flash with the Ray Flash accessory on it, and then with my Pocket Wizards I triggered the flash off camera blasting the light through the fence to create a really cool look.  Thanks to the beautiful Rachel Anne for modeling and for Ryan Britt for getting us into the penitentiary!

Camera settings: Nikon D800, 1/160 sec at f/4.0, 27mm at ISO 800, flash fired.  Taken at 7:24pm on April 16, 2013 by Jason Lanier.

Shooting with flash during the daytime

Do you shoot with flash during the daytime?  Do you get odd looks from people as they pass by that are giving you a look like you don't know what you're doing?  Well, if you are you are on the right track!  Using fill flash during the day time is an essential tool in a photographer's toolkit to provide the results that are better than the average Joe.  No offense to anyone named Joe out there...:)  If you use flash you can really drive the results that you might be seeking as it can help to balance out some very tough lighting situations where you have a lot of shadows and highlghts.

This is a production still from my workshop in Tombstone, Arizona.  Later on I'll be posting a shot comparison where I shot her where half her body was in sunlight and the other half was in shadow, and I'll show you the difference that using a flash made!

Next Workshop: Las Vegas Nevada, right after WPPI!!

Off Camera Flash Set Up with Pocket Wizards and Ray Flash

I get asked a lot about my set up for off camera flash when I do my shoots.  So I'm posting a production shot from my workshop in DC that shows me holding that exact configuration.  In this shot you see in my right hand my Nikon D800 with a Pocket Wizard attached to the hot shoe (where the flash goes).  In my left hand I have my Nikon Speedlight 910 with a Ray Flash attached to the end of the flash and a Pocket Wizard hooked into the bottom of the flash.

Basically by attaching the Pocket Wizards as shown it remotely fires the flash.  Think of it as an extension of the flash. Since one of the Pocket Wizards is hooked up to the hot shoe on the camera, and the other is hooked up to the bottom of the flash, it's as if an invisible line is drawn connecting the two.  In reality the Pocket Wizards are fired by a radio frequency where they "talk" to each other which is great because they don't have to have a line of sight to trigger.

The Ray Flash is great because it equally distributes to the light which is very helpful in many situations.  I also love it because I can lay it on the ground which can be very helpful when I'm running out of hands or don't have my light stand or tripod with me.  Hope this helps! 

Shooting the best sunrise of my career in the Glencoe Highlands of Scotland

This image is of me shooting the best sunrise of my career, truly awe inspiring.  This was taken as a jpeg image from my little Sony Handycam, so can you imagine what will come out of my D800?  This also hasn't been photoshopped at all. This sunrise was a once in a lifetime type shot and I'm so blessed I was able to get it!  I can't wait to share the edited version when I'm done with it!!!

Jason Lanier shooting at the Dunnottar Castle near Aberdeen Scotland

Production image of me shooting at the Dunnottar Castle earlier today.  This is truly an amazing castle with a lot to offer including paths that take you right up to the cliffs that I'm next to in this shot.  It was beautiful and I can't wait to share some shots!

Shooting up close and personal

This is a production image from the wedding of Sako and Alvina last Saturday in Los Angeles, California.  As you can see here I'm shooting pretty close for a cake cutting/champagne toast.  Well, there's a reason I can do that.  It's because I use a full frame camera (D800), a wide angle lens (16mm) and use the Ray Flash which enables me to get gorgeous lighting even up close like I am....the right gear does make a difference!

Using Mirrors and Off Camera Flash for Wedding Dress Shots

This image was taken of me yesterday during my wedding for Sako and Alvina in Los Angeles, California.  There are so many ways to take images of hanging wedding dresses, but using mirros is one of the bet ways to get some truly unique and beautiful perspectives.  The problem is that when you use mirrors you get that crazy flash blowing out the reflection which is horrible.  So to get around that you use a triggering system like Pocket Wizards and a Ray Flash which attaches to my Nikon SB910 Speedlight.  The results can be breathtaking....

Using Off Camera Flash with Ray Flash and Pocket Wizards

This is a production image of me shooting my Armenian wedding yesterday for Sako and Alvina in Los Angeles California.  It was the longest wedding of my career for a single day (17.5 hours), and that doesn't include any traveling time!  We had an amazing time with such a wonderful couple.  In this image I was shooting the dress using my D800 and then used my Ray flash and Pocket Wizards to shoot the dress from different light angles and perspectives.  These techniques can make a HUGE difference in getting killer shots.  Can't wait to share pics from this amazing wedding!

Using Off Camera Flash with Ray Flash and Pocket Wizards

This image was taken yesterday at my workshop in Tampa Florida where we went down at shot at the historic Fort Desoto.  It was an amazing sunset and the best way for me to take advantage of it was by using off camera flash.  So, I hooked up two Pocket Wizards, one to the top of my camera and the other to my SB910 Speedlight, and then had an assistant hold the light towards the model in the direction she was looking...but wait!  A key ingredient to all of this is the Ray Flash.  I can't endorse this product enough!  I slipped the Ray Flash onto my SB910 which I always do for off camera lighting and the results are just amazing.  I got beautiful even lighting which means you can virtually shoot like you're in a studio anywhere.  It's just awesome guys.  If you've been to one of my workshops where I do off camera flash you know what I'm talking about.

Camera settings: Nikon D700, 1/125 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, flash fired.  Taken at 5:40pm on November 13, 2012 by Jason Lanier.

Bridals by Jason Lanier

This image was taken of my bride Jessica late last month in San Diego, California.  She got ready at a beautiful home and when I found this couch and mirror I wanted to make it all come together.  So I put my flash on a Pocket Wizard and using my assistant I was able to fire the flash behind me, that way I didn't get any flash in the mirror.  Hope you like it!

Next Workshop: Tampa, Florida- November 13-14

Camera settings: Nikon D800, 1/160 sec at f/4.0, 35mm at ISO 250, flash fired.  Taken at 3:51pm on October 26, 2012 by Jason Lanier.

"Fallen Angel" at the Sugarshack

This image was taken at the Moundsville State Penitentiary in the famous Sugarshack where many not so great dealings took place.  There is artwork over all the walls that was made by the inmates while they were there, which definitely gives it a spooky feel.  Thanks to Debbie for bringing the wings!

Next Workshops:

• Myrtle Beach, SC- November 6-7
• Tampa, Florida- November 13-14

Camera settings: Nikon D800, 1/20 sec (handheld) at f/4.0, 32mm at ISO 5000, flash fired.  Taken at 8:53pm on October 24, 2012 by Jason Lanier at the Moundsville State Penitentiary.

Making the Moundsville State Penitentiary Sexy

This image was taken yesterday at my workshop at the world famous Moundsville State Penitentiary.  It is known worldwide for being one of the bloodiest prisons and most haunted places on earth.  While at the Penitentiary we were able to conduct a radio interview with PBS, and shoot two gorgeous models with the help of a great group of photographers and a great tour guide named Ryan Britt.

I want to send out a sincere thanks to everyone that came and a special thanks to Vanden King and Faye Santos for helping make this a success.  This image was shot with the help of two Pocket Wizards that fired my SB910 speedlight which was located in the cell to the left of the model Yvonne.  I put my Ray flash attachment onto my speedlight so it would better disperse the light.  I then used two flashlights (thanks to those that held them) with one light on the stripes on her dress from the left with the other on her face from the right.  That's how we did it!

Next Workshops:

• Myrtle Beach, SC- November 6-7
• Tampa, Florida, November 13-14

Camera settings: Nikon D800, 1/20 sec (handheld), at f/4.0, 20mm at ISO 5000, flash fired off camera. Taken at 8:16pm on October 24, 2012 by Jason Lanier at the Moundsville State Penitentiary, Moundsville, West Virginia.