Character Portraits Featuring Joe McNally: Episode 1

In 2011, I [Sean] attended a Flash Bus Tour event in Nashville, TN hosted by David Hobby (the Strobist) and Joe McNally where the two famed photographers shared a multitude of off-camera flash tips gained from years of experimenting with various lighting techniques. It was a great experience. I was a big fan of David Hobby's going into the event, and I came out of the event with an equal amount of appreciation and admiration for Joe McNally.

In regards to the video above, even with years of experience under their belts, it's really interesting to listen to Joe and Daniel Norton discuss their brainstorming session before the shoot. It's also important to realize that not everything you try as a photographer is going to work; don't let fear paralyze you. As Joe says, "Sometimes you throw a dart at the wall, and sometimes it doesn't work. Then you regear and go a different direction."

Things to take away from the video:

• V-flats (either white or black) are easy to create, relatively inexpensive and extremely versatile tools. In some cases, heavy black fabric (duvetyne) can work just as well.
• Adding more flashes (reducing the power output required by each flash) can allow you to shoot more quickly, portraying confidence to your subject(s) and potentially reducing the amount of time required to get the shots you need.
• Shooting tethered makes it easier (and faster) to confirm your depth-of-field is adequate to cover your subject.
• Although not specifically elaborated on, the softness of the giant diffused light source along with the large fill reflector helps minimize the look of lines and wrinkles that may be prominant on older subjects. Instead of using hard light to create contrast and convey power, Joe is relying on the subject's light skin and hair set against the black background (paired with the subject's wardrobe) for contrast.

From the Adorama YouTube Channel:

Join Photographers Joe McNally and Daniel Norton for the first in a series of character portrait studies. Character portraiture is not just about finding interesting subjects, but creating light that hi-lights the subject in such a way to emphasize what it is we as photographer’s see in them. In the case of Mary, Joe and Daniel saw a beauty refined over a lifetime and a commanding yet subtle presence. To capture this, a large (thus soft) diffused light was used. This allowed for a flat almost shadowless light on Mary that was then contrasted by the choice of a black background and wardrobe. This combination focuses the viewer on the delicate quality of Mary’s expressions.