Umbrellas As Diffusers

   For a compilation of the morning walk images, click here.

Flash illumination in open shade.

It's been a while since I submitted an outdoor shot. Now, in the midst of the Pandemic, I suspect outdoors will be the norm, rather than the exception. As such, dealing with the presence of sunlight will become an issue. 

The Shot: I was sent to photograph a mixed media artist who creates living, three dimensional "tapestries" using a variety of materials and living plants. Since Pandemic guidelines restrict indoor events, the exhibit was installed in the courtyard of the local arboretum society. 

I was confident that I could find a suitable background that was fully in the shade, one where flash lighting would be appropriate and easy to pull off. However, I thought that if I found a suitable background, front-lit by a bright morning sun, I could use a Zumbrella* shoot-through umbrella to shade my subject, and then direct a flash at his face. At least it would be worth a try.

1/640 second, F 14, ISO 200.

I was disappointed when I examined may preliminary lighting setup. My subject is standing in the shadow created by my Zumbrella mounted on a lightstand.  If you compare my subject's hands and face, you can see the exposure difference (See white lines). Unless I could properly restrict the supplementary lighting, my flash would spill additional light onto the hands and the tapestry, burning them beyond recognition. Since I hadn't brought barn doors, a snoot, or any way to contain the light, I decided to look for a different lighting approach. But while my subject was in place, I decided to make a quick head shot, something he might want to use in a future publication. I repositioned the Zumbrella to my left to even the lighting between my subject and the tapestry to his right.

 Fuji 56mm F 1.2 lens, 1/640th second, F 8.0, ISO 200

This shoot-through lighting setup was both even and complimentary. If you look at the right edge of the frame, you can see where a bit of sunlight snuck past the umbrella and landed on his shoulder. Notice that the dappled light in the background helped to define my subject's shoulder line.  

1/200 second, F 4.5,ISO 400, Flashpoint X R2 flash through a Zumbrella

The final image was a conventional flash shot. I selected a different tapestry located in some open shade so that the flash would equally affect the subject and the artwork. The only bit of advice I'd give to other shooters is to find something for your subject to do with their hands. Pockets and belt loops work well if you want to portray your subject as the "Oh Shucks" kid living next door, or as James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause.

As I prepared to upload the photo, I noticed something. My subject's dark coat got lost in the background shadows. I could have improved the photo by simply asking my subject to remove his jacket, assuming he wouldn't be too cold. Of course, the light sweater might have blended into the tapestry behind him, so I could have lost either way. Careful positioning could have solved that, however.

A mistake made. But if you discover a new approach to a reoccurring problem, it's a pretty good day.

*Zumbrella: A shoot-through folding umbrella created by Divid Ziser. According to Mr. Ziser, the fabric was the same as those used in soft boxes, which allowed more light to pass through it, decreasing the flash output by only one stop.