The Hot Shoe Diaries Workshop @ my shot

Have a chance to work with model and all the lighting equipments at Joe's workshop. And I gonna tell you, it was fun but stress, yupe had to admit this is the first time I am felling that nervous taking a picture. Although you know all the technical part to use a flash, when you are thrown at a location with a bunch of equipments, there are a lot of decision to do. Where to shot? What is the strategy? One light? Two light? Softbox? Umbrella? And I began to sweat, down at the basement car park at Shangri La Hotel. Not because of the heat, but because my mind was blank. Thankfully, there are group members who are willing to help me out, setting up the light, holding the panel, and gave me advice on the camera setting.

So, here are my 3 shots of that day. All are straight out of camera without any post processing.

Before that, a big hand to Ong Tou! Who work very hard posing in front of my camera.

First shot. Tried to blend the flash with ambient light. One light on the camera left in an EzyBox softbox set at TTL with aperture priority setting on the camera.

Second, I turned the camera to manual, and set the shutter speed at 1/250 to kill the ambient light. The same softboxed speed light is on the camera left, but I add another light behind the model point it up to the ceiling to create back-light to separate the model from the background. And then I have a Gold TriGrip Reflector set at camera right to reflect some light from the softbox. Still find that the left hand side of the model face is a little too dark. Should have hold the reflector higher or bring in another light on the camera right.

Third shot was not set up by me, I just jump into a scene that already set up by another participant. This is also a 2 lights scenario. Again, the same softboxed spped light is now set at camera right, pointed at a height approximately where the model will stop in the air. Another one is gelled with blue, manual setting at full power pointing at the ceiling, one feet away at the end of the corridor. Camera's white balance is set to tungsten.

I was running out of time and this is the best jump I can catch. Lighting is perfect, but I failed at catching the right moment. :(

A little bit disappointed with my own performance that day. Looking at the photos taking by other participants, mine was like....

Anyway, glad that I'm taking the first step, and it was a great experience for me. Like what Joe had signed on my book - "Keep Shooting" , and I will get better and better. :) Again, more thanks.

The Hot Shoe Diaries Workshop in KL

The first photography workshop for me, and the instructor is Joe McNally!! Although I had viewed tons of his interviews as well as some free videos on the internet, participate in his workshop, get to see him in action is a total different experiences. He is so passion about his job as a photographer, as a world famous photographer, yet he is humble and is one of the most down to earth person I had ever met. He is a great instructor, and definitely a great presentator, a humorous guy, who will not let his audience feel bored in his class.

Participated in both the workshop and seminar, both of them are inspiring, and a great learning experience. Photography is the language of light. To be able to understand the light, control and even manipulate the light to your favor is the key to a great picture. And Joe showed us a very effective method, to approach various type of lighting scenarios step by step, like putting the pieces of the puzzle together one by one. He took the advantages of technology of digital photography, metering the lights, assessed them on the LCD screen, and took solution to make the frame better. He struggled when the gear messing with him, but he was able to take control over them, and approached the situation in the basic of light.

A lot of info to digest and a lot of experimenting to do in the future, to fully utilize the workshop. On the field, the most valuable thing I got from Joe is the attitude. How he treat his job, his assistant, the models, people around him and etc. This is not only true with photography, but every aspect of life.

Another thing that I value most, is the group of great guys that I met in the workshop. Nice to have you all in the same class.
A big thanks to Joe for sharing your experiences.
A big thanks to Louis Pang and his wedshooter team to bring Joe in town.
A big thanks to Drew, Johan and Melvin, you guys are the best assistants!!
A big thanks to Tou, Evon, Melissa and Sherlyn, the models who work very hard.
A big thanks to all the classmates!! and group members who help me out in the group works.
A big thanks to Johan who took this great group photo for us.
A big thanks to Jan Shim who send me the photo.
A big thanks to Chin Hing, thanks for letting me stay at your place and take care of my transportation.

A Journey that full of gain. Again, thanks to everyone who make this event possible!

Flying Back for The Hot Shoe Diaries Workshop

I'm pretty excited now, packing my luggage for an early flight tomorrow. The reason, as you already can guess from the title of this post, The Hot Shoe Diaries Workshop by world known photographer Joe McNally. No need for me to write more about him, you can just google his name and read all about him and some of his amazing works.

Everyone needs a hero, just like superman, spiderman, whatever comic heroes who accompanied us through our childhood. In photography, Joe is my hero, a long with Chase Jarvis and Jingna. Came across his work few years ago when I surfed the net for photography tips, I was attracted to the way he use light, and found out that he is the man behind most of the photograph in National Geography that have great impact on me. So, when I found out that Louis Pang is bringing Joe to KL for workshop, I can't resist to fly back all the way from Japan. It cost me a lot, but I'm sure it will be an excellant learning experience to lern from a master.

"The moment it clicks" and "The hot shoe diaries". Two must read books for photog. Both authored by Joe, turning his experience into words. Learnt a lot from them, but I still so nervous as I'm a total beginner in flash photography. Really can't wait to jump in to the class right now. And hopefully I can get Joe to sign on this two books :p

So, just a little practice before the flight. I know I looked .... kinda lame in the photo, but I'm pretty satisfied with the lights, it was not perfect, there are shadows on the face, the light is a little bit blown out etc. But this is the first step, and I'm really looking forward to improve myself in controlling the light! So stay tune to look at my results from the workshop.

Need to double check my luggage before I go to bed.

And friends in Malaysia, looking forward to catch up with you all.

Good Night!