Copy Me Lighting Thread 17 - Meet the Team

[Michael Sewell]

This was part of a series of teamshots for a BMW Mini dealership.

With the BMW teams, all headshots had to be on white, and the group or teamshots had to be “corporate or business like”, where as, due to the perceived nature of the Mini being fun, the teamshots had more scope.

The interior of the Mini showroom had an interesting chevron pattern on the wall, with the majority of the décor being black. I wanted to make use of the chevron in the background, but also create a little more atmosphere to the image.

I used two Lencarta Atom 180Ws behind the group, firing through standard reflectors fitted with a red gel, and at waist height with a bias towards the ground. This helped to create the red glow on the lower part of the wall, which faded to black at the top, but also reflected nicely on the dark glossy floor. Output on both was set to 1/8th

Frame right, and against the wall, was an Atom 360Ws at 1/8th firing through a gridded Beauty Dish. It was raised as high as the ceiling would allow, and aimed diagonally across the group towards the lower left corner of the frame, providing the accent light to the figures on the right of the frame.

A second Atom 360Ws was placed as far into the corner as possible, frame left, and up against the wall. This was also raised as high as possible, and fired through another gridded Beauty Dish, aiming downward towards the lower right corner of the frame. This provided the accent light for those on the left of the group. Again, the output was set to 1/8th

The main, or key light, was just to my left. Another Atom 360Ws, firing through a 80x80cm folding softbox, raised to just above head height, and firing at ¼ output.

There wasn't a brief for this image as such, but the site manager wanted something “interesting” for the “Meet the team!” section of the website. The image was used there, and also enlarged to be used for a 9'x6' billboard on the side of the dealership (much to the dismay of the young ladies!), which had originally been planned for a text sales slogan.

Nikon D4 1/200th sec ISO800 24-70mm f7.1

 

[gary996]

I like it. The red gel works very nicely.
Do you meter each light source or take shots and adjust? Or been doing this for so long just have a bloody good idea of what output to set?

 

[Michael Sewell]

If I'm mentoring, I use a lightmeter, as it's a good tool to visualise the output per head.

For my own work, I'm afraid I tend to have a rough idea what to expect from a particular light source with a given modifier at a set distance.
I tend to be in the ballpark on the light test, and then it's just a tweak or two to taste.
I'd like to say it's down to experience, but unfortunately, experience comes with age, so in truth it's down to being old!

 

[MidnightUK]

I like what you have done here, how you have used the decor and space etc. That guy on the right though could do with an attitude change.

I worked in admin with someone some years back, who when told there was going to be a works display board with photos and names, burst into tears as their self confidence was so low. The firm made it volunteers only in the end as so many staff members got upset.

A few years later I did some staff photos and encountered related problems. In the end I resolved most of the issues by telling people they could choose a photo from a series of them and if they hated them all I would delete the whole lot 'accidentally' (I was somewhat annoyed with the organiser anyway and was not being paid to be a photographer). Once people could see an opt out, we got much better photos as some of the 'lack of personal control' over their own images was removed. I think taking photos of employees is difficult as quite a few get distressed or resentful. A think a good photo of a whole group of them is a real achievement, well done

 

[Michael Sewell]

.......That guy on the right though could do with an attitude change.

Interesting comment. The chap on the far right is actually the site manager that commissioned the shoot, and after explaining what I had in mind, he grasped the principle and wanted to go the whole hog with a "Reservoir Dogs" look.
Your interpretation of his scowl is interesting

 

[MidnightUK]

Interesting comment. The chap on the far right is actually the site manager that commissioned the shoot, and after explaining what I had in mind, he grasped the principle and wanted to go the whole hog with a "Reservoir Dogs" look.
Your interpretation of his scowl is interesting

I am intrigued myself now. I will go back up and look at the image again.

At first I thought it was the folded arms but many have that, and they look engaged with the viewer. I think maybe that its his eyes. He seems to be looking off camera instead of at it and that (and this is only, obviously, a personal response/interpretation) comes across as disengagement, boredom, resentment or self conciousness - but obviously as he was well up for it, so could not in reality be the case. It could just be down to my personal world view casting a misinterpretation on him (Ms Gloom and Despondancy !). Ah, the ability of humans to misinterpret and miscommunicate

I like it as a photo. Its interesting visually.

 

[mike weeks]

I like what you have done here, how you have used the decor and space etc. That guy on the right though could do with an attitude change

Some people can pull a look off and others not so, we are all prejudiced by our own view of ourselves and the world, so we do not see the world exactly as others do, if the client is happy then all else is somewhat irrelevant

Mike

 

[Michael Sewell]

I don't think Matt, the site manager, can pull off the "Killer" stare required for the Reservoir Dogs look.
The fact quite a few of the rest of the team are smiling doesn't help create the atmosphere either. However, the marketing team liked it, and ran with it, which is why it ended up on an exterior advertising board.
Good fun to create, and what doesn't show in the image is how much fun we all had in creating it.

 

[cargo]

Great post Micheal. It is really good to hear what your thoughts are when entering a room with a breif to fulfull. As I am only a faffer at this photo stuff and very much lacking confidence if I were asked to do anything my back legs would cave in.
Appreciate the post very much.

Gaz

 

[pjm1]

Super job, Michael. I really enjoyed reading about that but also seeing the impact of those two accent lights. Very smart way of creating that separation in a large-ish group.

Also, when referring to Mr Grumpy, are we talking about the guy frame right (rather than the guy on the right of the group, i.e. frame left)? Frame right guy just needs to stop pulling his head back into his neck giving himself too many chins!

 

[Michael Sewell]

Super job, Michael. I really enjoyed reading about that but also seeing the impact of those two accent lights. Very smart way of creating that separation in a large-ish group.

Also, when referring to Mr Grumpy, are we talking about the guy frame right (rather than the guy on the right of the group, i.e. frame left)? Frame right guy just needs to stop pulling his head back into his neck giving himself too many chins!

Yes, the Site Manager is Matt, and he is on the right of frame as you look at it.