I've done this type of thing a few times and you're right, you need a particular pose to focus on and shoot it many times until you get it right. It's great fun too!
Catching the exact moment in a jump/leap is all about timing, which comes with practice. If you see the peak of the movement through the viewfinder, it's often too late. (depending on your reaction time) So ask the talent to demonstrate the movement before taking a shot. As Daniel mentions in the video, it's best to nail a shot before moving onto another. However if you can't nail it, don't worry, try something else, too many attempts and you lose some spontaneity, remember to be flexible with the lighting and change when required. When shooting Dancers, its also import to pay attention to lines, hand position, technique etc, the talent must be happy before moving on. BTW thanks for the heads up on TTL and blinking (which I had forgotten about) I noticed that Marisa was shooting at 1/200th, so using flash to freeze the movement. Be mind full of ambient light and flash duration.
You are an excellent teacher Daniel Norton! Watching Marisa reminded me of when I started taking pictures, everything was cool and exciting. Pointing out to Marisa what to focus on and how to direct the talent was Key and we all could see how the shot got better and better until the last shot that was perfect. All the very best to Marissa as well as the Model!
I loved the lesson of this one! You’re after one good shot, not 50 random things. Try some different poses, different angles, find what works and refine it. How even just removing the shoes made it a totally different feel. I am at an early stage of my photography journey also, and this was quite helpful. Thanks guys!
I photographed dancers for 25 years and my first thought is the space is way to small to do justice to what your trying to do. Also it looks to me you are way to low. I would actually just sit cross legged on the stage and use a wide enough lens to get the floor as a reference and never tilted the camera up and got the ceiling in the shots. Having the floor in the shot helps give a good Idea on how high the person was getting. I found for me that not getting enough space behind the person looked really cramped and diminished beauty of the shot. The shadow also disrupts the composition and form of the person jumping.
Just finished watching. I admire you skills and ability to clearly explain why you are doing something. The also like respect you have for Marisa and all other models I see you working with. Makes my respect for you go from 100% to 200%.
Thank you all so much for this video. I recently discovered the #MentoringMarisa series, after having been watching via Adorama for a while. Each is a wonderfully organic, heterogeneous mix of educational nuggets, it seems - like tapas made of photography knowledge. That said, at the time of my writing this, it does appear that Katherine's (Catherine's?) link didn't make it into the description - instead we have Lucas Veltrie, whose data appears to be a hold-over from a previous video. Also, I find myself curious about Marisa's focus settings and if perhaps a tape mark might have helped with getting the leaps in a repeatable spot, or if that would have had downsides I'm not grasping. Finally, those are some wonderful shots you got, and thanks again.
What would be the solution if you wanted to reduce or soften the those shadows? Would you throw a reflector over on the right as a fill or another light at a stop or two less? Just curious. I imagine using a softbox on the key light would help but it would reduce the power output. I’m also guessing that’s why Marissa had the shutter speed at 1/200th of a second to not jump into hss and lose the power. Great video as always.
Is that as high as the light can go? The Fred Astaire look seems to have the shadow setup so that it looked like his shadow could not keep up with his jump. I guess the only way to do that is with a hard powerful light way back and very high. The ceiling better be high.
Interesting but to be honest I found the shadow too distracting. It would be interesting to see done with a second light seperate the model in motion from the wall. Thanks Daniel, Marisa and Catherine 😎👍🇨🇦
What???? no gels? no dedolights? no smoke? not even an infinity wall at the ceiling? Marissa... put some pressure on your mentor for the tools you really need to succeed. Key take-away; get it right first. Then think about fancy. Excuse me; I have to go call the contractor to cancel the infinity wall installation.
I've done this type of thing a few times and you're right, you need a particular pose to focus on and shoot it many times until you get it right. It's great fun too!
Catching the exact moment in a jump/leap is all about timing, which comes with practice. If you see the peak of the movement through the viewfinder, it's often too late. (depending on your reaction time) So ask the talent to demonstrate the movement before taking a shot. As Daniel mentions in the video, it's best to nail a shot before moving onto another. However if you can't nail it, don't worry, try something else, too many attempts and you lose some spontaneity, remember to be flexible with the lighting and change when required. When shooting Dancers, its also import to pay attention to lines, hand position, technique etc, the talent must be happy before moving on. BTW thanks for the heads up on TTL and blinking (which I had forgotten about)
I noticed that Marisa was shooting at 1/200th, so using flash to freeze the movement. Be mind full of ambient light and flash duration.
You are an excellent teacher Daniel Norton! Watching Marisa reminded me of when I started taking pictures, everything was cool and exciting. Pointing out to Marisa what to focus on and how to direct the talent was Key and we all could see how the shot got better and better until the last shot that was perfect. All the very best to Marissa as well as the Model!
Great video. Kudos to Marisa's freind Catherine for nailing it. Some really great shots there. As always informative and fun. Thanks.
I loved the lesson of this one! You’re after one good shot, not 50 random things. Try some different poses, different angles, find what works and refine it. How even just removing the shoes made it a totally different feel. I am at an early stage of my photography journey also, and this was quite helpful. Thanks guys!
I photographed dancers for 25 years and my first thought is the space is way to small to do justice to what your trying to do. Also it looks to me you are way to low. I would actually just sit cross legged on the stage and use a wide enough lens to get the floor as a reference and never tilted the camera up and got the ceiling in the shots. Having the floor in the shot helps give a good Idea on how high the person was getting. I found for me that not getting enough space behind the person looked really cramped and diminished beauty of the shot. The shadow also disrupts the composition and form of the person jumping.
Just finished watching. I admire you skills and ability to clearly explain why you are doing something. The also like respect you have for Marisa and all other models I see you working with. Makes my respect for you go from 100% to 200%.
brilliant as always amusing, informative not just on technique but the philosophical process behind it thanks
I think the description needs to be updated to have the model in it, right now it shows Lucas still. Thanks for the video!
Marisa is lucky to have such an amazing instructor
love this series!
Thank You!
Thank you all so much for this video. I recently discovered the #MentoringMarisa series, after having been watching via Adorama for a while. Each is a wonderfully organic, heterogeneous mix of educational nuggets, it seems - like tapas made of photography knowledge. That said, at the time of my writing this, it does appear that Katherine's (Catherine's?) link didn't make it into the description - instead we have Lucas Veltrie, whose data appears to be a hold-over from a previous video. Also, I find myself curious about Marisa's focus settings and if perhaps a tape mark might have helped with getting the leaps in a repeatable spot, or if that would have had downsides I'm not grasping. Finally, those are some wonderful shots you got, and thanks again.
What would be the solution if you wanted to reduce or soften the those shadows? Would you throw a reflector over on the right as a fill or another light at a stop or two less? Just curious. I imagine using a softbox on the key light would help but it would reduce the power output. I’m also guessing that’s why Marissa had the shutter speed at 1/200th of a second to not jump into hss and lose the power.
Great video as always.
I think the IG in the description is of the model from the last Mentoring Marisa.
Angle with her shadow kind of gives a 3d image concept..i like it good idea..
Nice! Keep at it, Marisa! :)
What were the settings on the flash including flash duration at those settings which froze the action? Mel
Is that as high as the light can go? The Fred Astaire look seems to have the shadow setup so that it looked like his shadow could not keep up with his jump. I guess the only way to do that is with a hard powerful light way back and very high. The ceiling better be high.
When you backed up the shadow hardened. Relative size?
Great vid, as always. BTW, the products (e.g. Inverse Square Mug) are coming up as 404 errors when clicked.
Gotta check that, thanks!
This series are killing you man
Would it be better to shoot something like this in small burst? It would seem the chance of capturing the jump at it's peak would increase.
Nope - it will make it harder, and the flash could not keep up
Interesting but to be honest I found the shadow too distracting. It would be interesting to see done with a second light seperate the model in motion from the wall. Thanks Daniel, Marisa and Catherine 😎👍🇨🇦
What???? no gels? no dedolights? no smoke? not even an infinity wall at the ceiling?
Marissa... put some pressure on your mentor for the tools you really need to succeed.
Key take-away; get it right first. Then think about fancy.
Excuse me; I have to go call the contractor to cancel the infinity wall installation.
😊😊
Dang what a harsh mentor, lol
Tough love my friend