I signed up this workshop because I want to work outside of my comfort zone and experience breakthroughs. It is easier said than done. Instinctively, I would go for tried and test solutions that I am all too familiar with. Doing something new is dangerous. I might fail and make a bunch of crappy shots. This fear of failure and the constant need to succeed is a dangerous trap for working photographers. As Joe puts it, “Failures are photographers’ staple food.” It is a hard truth that I am slowly learning to accept. So today, I would like to share with you my glorious failures/mistakes.

This is only one of the cars. Massive movement of equipment.

We spent half a day shooting on location. It is a massive operation to move all the strobes, power packs, stands, arms, sand bags, softboxes to the location. I decided to work with strobes, a piece of lighting equipment that I’ve always feared. I am ok with small flashes but the big lights look intimidating.

Patti, my teammate on this shoot, was a willing model for me before the actual models got here. Well, she could be easily passed as a model. Main light from the window. Hair light from the back. The shadow is a bit heavy.

Actual shoot. Main light from the window. Hair light from the back via a snooted SB800. The shadow is a bit heavy for my taste.

Solution. Bounce a SB800 off a gold reflector off the floor on the left to open up the exposure a bit. I’m not sure. It still looks a tad heavy.

Second shot. Main light on a octabank on the right, just behind the doors. Table-top lighting, double diffused, to illuminate the hair and shoulders of Sarah.

Again I’m not entirely happy. Her eyes look a little heavy and could use an extra pop from the floor. Sigh. Things always look clearer at hindsight. I am happy with how softly the hair and shoulders are lit.

It is refreshing to see Joe’s impressive body of work. There is no heavy photoshop work on his pictures, just traditional darkroom adjustment. Every colour, element and lighting effects is done in one single capture. I am pushed to emulate such meticulous control and execution.

A week ago, I would be perfectly happy with the pictures above. After spending 2 days with Joe and seeing his level of work, I am not satisfied with what I’ve done today. There is so much to learn. I will be showing these pictures in the class tomorrow. Looking forward to critiques from the class and Joe. Hey, I am here to grow & experiment, not to be perfect.