Rather than just list settings, I’d like to tell you WHY I chose those settings:
ISO: Low enough to darken down the background, and to get a shot with lots of contrast. Higher ISOs tend to make the image lose contrast.
Shutter: High enough to kill more of the ambient light, make the flash pop more, get more contrast, reduce motion blur, and get nice solid colors.
Aperture: Wide open to blur the people in the background and focus on the subjects.
Flash power: On manual, and relatively low power because of how close the light stands were to the subjects.
Why Mag Grids?: The light stands were pretty close to the subjects. That coupled with the mag grids on the flashes also helped direct the light very specifically, and isolate the subjects. I didn’t want the light bouncing and scattering all over the background and ceiling.
Light placement: The flashes are placed behind the subjects to the sides just off the dance floor, pointed toward the subjects/middle of the dance floor. This provides short lighting and rim light on them, rather than a straight on, broad light from the front. The rim light helps them pop out from the background, and gives the image a more artsy, dramatic feel. The flashes are at that height so that I can make sure to light up their faces, and so that if they move around the dance floor the light will still hit them.
Focal length: This was a very small dance floor area, and we didn’t have much room to work with. I chose the 24-70mm lens because of its versatility. I did some wider shots, and some even closer shots, but this shot arrived just about smack in the middle of the range at 45mm. It was just enough to get some of the color and background, but zoomed in enough to blur out the background a little.
Gear List:
Canon 5D Mark 3
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens
Canon 600EX-RT Speedlight flash
This Educational Post was Brought to You by MagMod!
Click here to support this FREE education, and also get a 5% discount on the Magmod products I used in ALL of these photos!
I offer Workshops and One-On-One Mentorships! Lessons via video chat are also available. Click here to learn more!
Check out my YouTube Channel here!
