Chasing Your Shadow: The Secret Sauce You've Been Missing
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Want to take your photography lighting skills to the next level? In this video, I’ll cover the often-overlooked aspect of lighting that separates amateur photos from professional ones: passive and active fill. Learn how adding fill techniques can improve the details in your shadows, making your shots more dynamic and competition-ready.
A photographer once asked me for feedback on their photos. Although their subject was well-lit with key lights and edge lights, the shadows lacked detail, which can often make or break an image. Passive fill (using reflectors, walls, or bounce cards) and active fill (using additional light sources) can make a significant difference in creating balanced and professional-looking photographs.
Watch as I demonstrate step-by-step how to use passive fill both in the studio and outdoors, followed by active fill lighting techniques that provide more control over shadow details. You’ll also learn about common gear setups to use and practical demos to help you elevate your lighting game.
To learn more from me, please visit: johngress.com/...
Get all the gear I use in my studio here: shop.howl.me/J...
This video was shot with a
Canon Cinema EOS C70
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Amazon amzn.to/3vkvy7X
B&H bhpho.to/44dCV23
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens
Adorama howl.me/cjCnaW...
Amazon amzn.to/3o3BZK0
B&H bhpho.to/3LyIa5g
Canon C300 MK 2
Adorama adorama.rfvk.n...
Amazon amzn.to/3YM6fKo
DZOFILM Pictor 20-55mm T2.8
Adorama howl.me/cjCnaW...
Amazon amzn.to/420C6Z0
B&H bhpho.to/3NlRcUv
Items mentioned in order of appearance
Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octabox (100cm / 39”)
Adorama howl.me/cjCnv9...
Amazon amzn.to/3fRG5AH
B&H bhpho.to/3oSg0cy
Studio Titan Side Kick STA-06-090
B&H bhpho.to/3UakUM1
Elinchrom FIVE
Adorama howl.me/cjCnmm...
Amazon amzn.to/3Um6V61
B&H bhpho.to/3LcypYZ
V-FLAT WORLD Foldable V-Flat, Set of 2, Black/White
Adorama howl.me/cjGcCZ...
Amazon amzn.to/3NI0f29
B&H bhpho.to/3VD8tKR
V-Flat World bit.ly/3fXqaid
Studio Titan Camera Stand STA-01-360 MK2
B&H bhpho.to/3cf4RfL
Tether Tools TetherPro Right Angle Adapter USB 3.0 to USB-C Pigtail Cable, 20", Orange
Adorama howl.me/cjFnO8...
Amazon amzn.to/3lo6gj4
TetherPro USB-C to USB Female Adapter (Extender), 15' (4.6m) (High-Visibility Orange)
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Amazon amzn.to/33Eeca8
Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Strip Softbox (13 x 69”)
Adorama howl.me/cjCnml...
Amazon amzn.to/33NTasn
B&H bhpho.to/44b7B43
Sekonic LiteMaster Pro L-478DR-U-EL Series Light Meter for Elinchrom EL Skyport System Adorama howl.me/cjzWPn...
Amazon amzn.to/2NM9DTz
B&H bhpho.to/3Lz1Og7
Elinchrom Rotalux Stripbox 35x90cm
Adorana howl.me/cjCnv9...
Amazon amzn.to/3nUwD3M
B&H bhpho.to/40PXZbZ
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:31 Passive Fill
06:54 Passive Fill Demo
09:19 Take It Outside
11:19 Active Filll
16:52 Active Filll Demo
19:03 Fill Options
20:41 Conclusion
Music: Evolution and Going Higher by Bensound bensound.com/
#PhotographyLighting #PassiveFill #ActiveFill #LightingTechniques #StudioLighting #JohnGress #PhotographyTips #CanonC70 #Elinchrom #PhotographyGear #LightingModifiers #PhotographyTutorial
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Incredible video. You are the king of lighting!
Wow, thanks Josh!
What a lesson! My favoirte light is what you call the "painter" look of the small brighter light source in front of the much larger and slightly dimmer one.
Thanks Bob! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙏🏼😊🙏🏼
Very clearly presented and helpful video. Thank you!
Thank you Peter🙏🏼
I used an active and none active fill quite a lot in the studio, wrote a blog post on it a while ago for the lighting company I work with.
I also use my 170cm Octa behind me a fair bit. It has been a while since I shot hard light with soft chaser from same direction ... will have to run that again as I quite like the result.
Fill can really elevate your work.
Great video John.
Thanks Richard! I am stealing that hard light with a soft chaser line!
@@JohnGress No worries. Go for it. 😄
This is fantastic! Now do the one for chasing waterfalls! 😂
Thanks! Stick to the rivers and lakes that you’re used to!
@@JohnGress 😂😂😂
Definitely one of my favorite videos so far, been looking for a good breakdown of the differences and purposes of the different types of fill
Awesome! Glad it was helpful!
Phil sure is a great guy, thanks for introducing him JG
Hell be loyal for life!
thanks John, nice topic and presentation
Thanks Dan!
Thanks for the thorough tutorial. It got me thinking about modeling lights in strobe units. I mostly use small battery power strobe lights for location portrait sessions. Due to the limitation on my lights, I do not use the modeling lights. It got me thinking what impact does not using a modeling light play when you need to evaluate the shadow or fill areas. Obviously not using modeling lights, limits my ability to see the light pattern. Just some thoughts that come to mind as I watched your video. Thanks again. -Jim
Thanks Jim, Because the modeling lamp is in the strobes, they're going to project light the same way those lights do. If the strobes are on very low power and the modeling lights are on at 100% brightness, I could see them theoretically having an impact on the exposure, but I haven't seen it happen myself.
@@JohnGress Thanks John for the thoughtful reply. Like you say, the modeling light will not have any effect on the light in my photo. I don't want to confuse the purpose of your video. I meant to say that I should consider using modeling lights to evaluate the light patterns before I take a photo. I often need to take photos without a tether set up. My only way to evaluate the image is by viewing it on the back of my DSLR. The modeling light should help me preview all the light in my composition. Your video illustrates fill light very well and it got me thinking about my workflow and how to further improve the lighting. Again thanks for the great video. All best! -Jim
This is by far one of the most comprehensive lighting video if watched, Facts and information that inspire experimentation, Kudos! I've kept this open since you posted and have watched it several times because it is worth several views, TU!
Wow. Thank you so much! I’m glad it was helpful. 😊🙌🏼😊
Great video and very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!🙏🏼
Great job sir!
Thank you kindly!
We just found you and it's so good to find someone that still does it right! Love your work and the attention to your craft.
Thank you so much!
Thanks alot for this sir👌🙏🙏🔥
Thanks Simon!
What a masterclass! Thank you soo much for sharing your experience and work! I'm learning tons about elegant lighting because of your videos.
You have a big fan here in Brazil!
Muito Obrigado! 😊😊😊
What a fantastic video. Immediately applicable info. Thanks!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Great Video!!
Thanks!
I started with your backdrops video and am making my way through every video you’ve made. All such great, well thought out content! For the image in this video at 2:43 when you use the Mole Richardson lights, is the light actually on? Or do you add that in later? Asking bc (a) the wire doesn’t look plugged in and (b) I scored some on marketplace and did t realize turning even one on would blow my breakers 🙈. So for now I stick a flash unit inside. I’m curious how you handle yours.
Thank you so much! If you have a 2K you can get a 1K bulb and that will help to prevent you blowing the fuse, depending on what ever else you have plugged in too. However, for the past few years I have been placing a 125ws strobe with a CTO gel inside of my lights.
Great video with great detail. I have a question about using a light meter. I use a Sekonic L308 flash meter. In fact I have a question on that, because other UA-cam presenters have shown different ways to use a basic flash meter. By that I mean some say point the meter to the light and others say to point the meter to the camera. What is your take on this and WHY?
I actually asked an older photographer last week if one of these approaches was considered the right way to do things and he said there wasn’t an accepted rule with regard to where you point it. To me it seems like you should point it at the light so you’re reading what the light is doing and not mixing that in with what the shadows are doing.
Thank you too!
When you take a light outside, to keep a natural look would you recommend HSS or keeping it in manual?
Both will work just fine. But most importantly, monitor the flash output to make sure you aren't adding too much.
@@JohnGress curious to know what was your setting and flash output on those location settings
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Pretty good video, I though.
John, I would really appreciate it if you made a video about that sort of strong tripod you put your camera on. How does it work? Did you buy it? Did you make it? How is it called? Where can I get one? Thank you.
Here is the short answer. I love it! =): Studio Titan Camera Stand STA-01-360 MK2
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we also mention it in this live stream ua-cam.com/users/liveWQTuOSK63e0
@@JohnGress Thank you, I'll check it out.