On to Light Shaping is a new video series in which get to see 18 renowned portrait and wedding photographer create magic with Profoto Off-Camera Flash. In this video we join photographer Moshe Zusman as he captures stunning portraits in the post-sunset glow. When you are done watching, click here to see the rest of the series.
Moshe Zusman, a wedding, portrait, and event photographer based in Washington DC, is known for his ability to connect with the people he is photographing. “At weddings you’re shooting real people, not models,” he says. “So I’d rather spend my time interacting with the people I’m photographing in order to capture the best pictures. When my lights work as advertised it makes my job that much easier. If I have to keep a constant eye on my exposures it makes the people I’m photographing start feeling insecure… and it shows”.
This portrait, captured at the National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was taken under circumstances made for the likes of the newest addition to Moshe Zusman’s lighting arsenal: the Profoto B2 Off-Camera Flash.
In order to capture the post-sunset glow Moshe and his crew only had 15 to 20-minutes to get the shot. With the light and air temperature dropping by the second, Moshe had an assistant set up a B2 with a OCF Softbox 2′ Octa (one of Moshe’s favorite Light Shaping Tools). Though a big fan of TTL, Zusman chose to set his exposure manually in this case to better maintain total on-the-fly exposure control as the last of the sun’s glow rapidly faded into the evening’s darkness.
The exposure considerations of this portrait were multifold. In addition to establishing the flash exposure, Zusman had to factor in the rapidly diminishing glow of the ambient dusk sky, the kaleidoscope of moving Ferris wheel lights, and a window of 15-or-so minutes of ‘magic time light’ in which he had to work his own magic.
After three test shots Moshe went to work. Shooting with a Canon EOS 1Dx, a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, and a Profoto Air Remote TTL-C for wireless communication between the camera and flash, the exposure of the final image was f/4.0 at 1/25th-second, ISO 100.
“The light from the OCF Softbox 2′ Octa was amazing,” says Moshe. “It’s a really cool Light Shaping Tool that’s big enough yet still compact, amazingly lightweight. Plus everybody loves the catch lights it creates!”
LOCATION: National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland
WEBSITE: www.moshezusman.com
GEAR
1 x Profoto B2 Off-Camera Flash
1 x Profoto OCF Softbox 2′ Octa
1 x Profoto Air Remote TTL-C
Canon EOS 1Dx
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
