Ever have ideas that are triggered by the most random events? This was one of those.
A misguided step moving an 8-foot Vflat in the studio left me hearing a crash. I didn’t account for the floor lamp that was just out of sight behind the Vflat and it was now on the ground, the bulb broke and the lampshade had separated from its supports. Oops.
While contemplating how to fix it couldn’t get the thought of using the lampshade for something. I slept on it and formulated a plan the next day. The creative ideas are within us ready to come through. It takes the right spark to bring it out.
I say this because I have written down ideas for portraits with a lampshade but hadn’t followed through with them. This gave me the opportunity to do it.
How do you think I made this work? (keep readying for the answer)
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This is technically maybe 4 images composited and blended together.
- A base shot of the lampshade strapped to a light stand and me standing in it to get framing. There is a light in the lampshade pointed at the back of my head.
- The light bulb is held by my left hand to get my right hand in position.
- The bulb is held in the right hand to get the left hand in position.
- The Bulb held by my fingertips to make sure I have all the details.
The light from the right side of the frame is from another flash in a reflective umbrella positioned to light some of the background and show some dimension.
