posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 in Photographers Sol Tamargo
I was looking over my wife's shoulder as she was working on a recent wedding... She is just on fire with some of her attempts with flashflavor recently. Specifically, I was noticing that she is doing a brilliant job of fooling the eye.
I wrote about her attempts to lead the eye out of believing that there is any flash involved in this past FF article. Here, she is at it again with a pretty nice portrait attempt.
Sol used a full power flash with a 1/4 CTO warming gel. Slave triggered by pocket wizard. 1/200 f22 at ISO 100. She was able to under expose the sky by bringing the flash very close to the subject (5 feet or less). The sunburst almost tricks the eye to believe that there isnt any strobe used at all... Well, most pros will know what is going on but to the common observer, its magic :)
Same portrait session, another creative usage of light. I really like the lines and dynamic use of light here. Definitely a different way to take a groom's portrait!
1/200 f10 ISO 100 full power flash 1/4 CTO Warming Gel.
and one more from that same session....
1/200 F5.6 ISO 100 full power flash 1/4 CTO Warming Gel.
For more of Sol Tamargo's creative vision, check out www.soltamargo.com/blog
Sol used a full power flash with a 1/4 CTO warming gel. Slave triggered by pocket wizard. 1/200 f22 at ISO 100. She was able to under expose the sky by bringing the flash very close to the subject (5 feet or less). The sunburst almost tricks the eye to believe that there isnt any strobe used at all... Well, most pros will know what is going on but to the common observer, its magic :)
Same portrait session, another creative usage of light. I really like the lines and dynamic use of light here. Definitely a different way to take a groom's portrait!
1/200 f10 ISO 100 full power flash 1/4 CTO Warming Gel.
and one more from that same session....
1/200 F5.6 ISO 100 full power flash 1/4 CTO Warming Gel.
For more of Sol Tamargo's creative vision, check out www.soltamargo.com/blog 
Flash flavor starts with your shaping of the subject using your photo flashes - but need not end there!
Here's the original image, and you can see it's flaws from my overly quick setup....
Here's a diagram of the setup - with the positioning of the flashes in relationship to the bride. I frequently will try for a quick bridal portrait after the bride is dressed, just before the ceremony. But in the very limited time and space I generally use a TTL two flash setup.
I use one Canon shoe flash on my camera as master, and a second light off camera to provide a nice shaping to the light. In this instance the only place that wasn't messy in the room where the bride was preparing was in front of the fireplace - and there was a neat mirror in the background. Neat until you have to deal with all the ramifications of having a mirror in your shot!
If you want me to point out the flaws for you - I will - 
Sol has some nice stuff on her blog. We are getting ready for a new blogsite design for
Wonderful photos, as always!
I love the first one. The temperature is so warm on them, and the clouds so dreamy and blue. And you were really able to get the passion of the bride to show. You have amazing wedding photos, thanks for sharing, and for sharing all of your tips.