Our GOYA (Get Off Your Arse!) Strobist outing last night

Last night, a few of my friends and I got together to go for a short strobist outing at Kelana Malll, Kelana Jaya, Malaysia. The point of this outing is to exercise our off-camera flash technique, and also have some fun! Thanks to Kyrol for organising this event, and Fahim our talent. *Note: The talent in these examples is Jidin, a fellow photographer who's kind enough to be a stand-in.

This is the final image of something worthy of editorial use that we intend to achieve, and I share with you the following post shows how I did it. Cheers!

*Image above: Application of Strobist shootout is a sample Editorial Spread for a music magazine. Inaugural TT Strobist Kelana Jaya, Malaysia. Image processed exclusively in Lightroom 2, applied slight cross processing preset+contrast.

Shadow fall-off test. Shadow fall-off is within the subject's face. Reject. No separation from background. Shot at ISO200, 1/125s at f11, slightly underexposed.


Shadow fall-off test. Shadow fall-off just nicely off the subject, gives separation from background. Shot at ISO200, 1/125s at f11, slightly underexposed.


Shadow fall-off test. Move the light so that the shadow falls off the frame. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11 corrected previously underexposed at 1/125s.


Test shot 1: Light test. One light, no fill.
Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 1 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, no fill light. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


Test shot 2: Fill light test. Fill light too bright.
Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 2 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light at camera left, 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


Test shot 3: Fill light test. Fill light just nice to reveal shadow details.
Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 2 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light at camera left, 1/64th power, zoomed at 50mm. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


Shadow fall-off test, with correct fill-light. Shadow fall-off just nicely off the subject, gives separation from background. Fill-light just nice to reveal shadowed area. Notice that you can still see his ear, although it's in the shadows. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11 corrected previously underexposed at 1/125s.


Jump test. Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 2 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light at camera left, 1/64th power, zoomed at 50mm. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


With gels: CTO only.
Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 2 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm with 2x CTO gel, fill light at camera left, 1/64th power, zoomed at 50mm, bare flash. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


With gels: CTO + Blue
Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 2 x SB-800. Key light on camera right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm with 2x CTO gel, fill light at camera left, 1/64th power, zoomed at 50mm with blue gel. Shot at ISO200, 1/80s at f11.


Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 3 x SB-800. Key light on far right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light far left, 1/64th power, zoomed at
50mm, grid snoot in the centre at 1/8th power to fill-in Jidin's face when he does the breakdance move.


Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 3 x SB-800. Key light on far right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light far left, 1/64th power, zoomed at 50mm, grid snoot in the centre at 1/8th power to fill-in Jidin's face when he does the breakdance move.


Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 3 x SB-800.


Setup of Jidin's editorial shoot using strobist technique. 3 x SB-800. Key light on far right 1/8th power, zoomed at 50mm, fill light far left, 1/64th power, zoomed at
50mm, grid snoot in the centre at 1/8th power to fill-in Jidin's face when he does the breakdance move. Jidin walks to review his shots.


The dudes of 1st TT Strobist outing Kelana Jaya, all worked out. Pancit and ready to wrap up. This is almost 12.30am, I think. Jidin reviews his shots taken by Ananamri.


The dudes of 1st TT Strobist outing Kelana Jaya, all worked out. Pancit and ready to wrap up. If you notice on the bottom-left-corner, you can see the ghost of Jidin
passing by. :)


Commercial Break: Hafiz on left & Kyrol with the Sekonic L-308s lightmeter. Test shoot with ringlight adapter. Not significant. It's crap. No halo shadows.


Commercial Break: Hafiz on left & Kyrol with the Sekonic L-308s lightmeter. Test shoot.