✅ Profoto Remote: adorama.rfvk.net/W3o5GIn today’s photo deconstruction I break down two images that use Mylar and 1-3 lights for a super creative in-camera technique!
If you follow my work you know that I love doing as much in camera as possible. I’m not one for doing composites in Photoshop, I like the challenge of actually achieving this IRL. I find that I can control things a bit better doing it live and in person which is why I’m always on the search for new creative in camera techniques.
I recently came across a photo that inspired me to try my hand at a technique using Mylar to emulate water. I have to say this was very cool to play with!
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⭐ What is Mylar?
Mylar is the brand name for a special type of stretched polyester film. You'll often find this in a balloon for example.
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The first of these two images was shot with 1 single hard light source called a Fresnel. 1:28 (straight out of camera).
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⭐ What is a fresnel
A Fresnel lens (pronounced frəˈnɛl or fruh-nel) is a type of composite compact lens developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) for use in lighthouses. The Fresnel is a soft-edged spotlight that offers more control over the angle of the beam than a flood light. Often used in old Hollywood Lighting as well.
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You could also try this technique with a bare bulb and other hard light modifiers such as an optical spot.
For the first shot the Mylar acted like a giant reflector and helped distribute the light, however I still needed a bit more light on the model’s face in the end.
👉 Final image: 3:44
For post processing I cleaned up a few things such as the seam on the background where it met the floor, lowered the model’s shoulders, desaturated the image and added some light to the model’s face with a curves adjustment layer.
⭐ Image 2
The next version of this setup I had to play with color and gels of course. I used 3 lights with the Fresnel in the exact same place. I then added a large umbrella with diffusion and gel behind the subject to light the background and back of their head as well as a medium umbrella with diffusion and gel in the foreground.
I also used a star filter on this image that would give me specular highlights.
This image was take during my Advanced Studio Lighting Workshop (see below for a link or in the video).
👉 You can see the straight out of camera here: 8:02
For the post processing on this image I cooled down the white balance, desaturated it, and did some additional retouching similar to the first shot.
You can really experiment when it comes to something like this and create all sorts of different variations!
👇 Which version do you like better? Drop a comment below and let me know what you think!
📸 Camera Settings:
✅ Shutter speed: 1/200th
✅ F/stop: F8
✅ ISO: 400
📸 Gear Used:
✅ Canon EOS R5: adorama.rfvk.net/JxzdE
✅ Canon EF 24-70 2.8: adorama.rfvk.net/z9JXm
✅ Profoto D2: adorama.rfvk.net/qvB7y
✅ Profoto Large Umbrella: adorama.rfvk.net/bKGzg
✅ Profoto Large Umbrella Diffuser: adorama.rfvk.net/JAyMe
✅ Profoto Medium Umbrella: adorama.rfvk.net/r7xZ3
✅ Profoto Medium Umbrella Diffuser: adorama.rfvk.net/xAmXd
✅ Profoto Fresnel: adorama.rfvk.net/VEXz6
✅ Nanlite Fresnel: adorama.rfvk.net/LPgXK3
✅ Tiffen 4 point star filter: adorama.rfvk.net/n9xZV
✅ Savage Seamless Fashion Gray background: adorama.rfvk.net/9ZeX3
✅ Savage C-Stand: adorama.rfvk.net/J1ZW2
✅ Dramatic Color Kit: lindsayadler.photo/gelkit
✅ Profoto Remote: adorama.rfvk.net/W3o5G
✅ Tether Tools Tether Cable: lindsayadler.photo/tethertools
Mylar used: www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Hortic...
Resources mentioned in this video:
🔥 Magic of Gels: lindsayadler.photo/gels
🔥 Creative Studio Lighting Guide: lindsayadler.photo/clg
🔥 Creative Studio Lighting Series: lindsayadler.photo/csl
🔥 Advanced Studio Lighting workshop: lindsayadler.photo/alworkshop
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👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: / lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: / lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: / lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.