PotD: 2010.10.15
Date Taken: 2010.03.11
Photo Specs: Nikon D3 + 60mm/2.8 lens, 1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 500
Lighting Specs: The setup and location for this shot is much less pretty than the shot itself (see below). The key light is coming from three Nikon SB-800 speedlights optically triggered and shooting through a 30″ softbox camera-right. The accent light is another wirelessly triggered SB-600 with a Honl Grid mounted on front to control the light spread as well as prevent any lens flare from the light firing towards the camera. This small light source is acting mostly as subtle fill and catch-light for the spilled cream on the left side of the frame.
Why it’s cool & how I got it: It’s cool because I only had one shot to get this shot, and I got it, so there! Matt Mermod, the Chef at Kaama Lounge in San Jose, was interested in doing something a little different with his food shots, so we incorporated action wherever we could. I had to shoot at a fast shutter speed (1/800 sec) to stop the action – which you can’t easily do with studio lights, but the Nikon speedlights were more than up to the task. I find myself using these smaller light sources more and more, there’s just no real downside to using multiple small flashes over single studio strobes, save the expense. I guess it’s my strobist homage to Joe McNally and David Hobby, both BIG proponents of using small lights in a, well, BIG way!
So after I set up the lights and dialed in the proper camera settings, I gave the nod to Matt to start pouring the cream. It’s technically supposed to be milk, to go along with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and their gourmet counterparts, but cream just looked better. I fired off several shots, and this is the money-one. Click to see more photos from this shoot. If you like what you see, leave a comment!
Here’s the not-so-pretty setup. Looks can be deceiving, no?
