A great technique you can try at home with fun results. Master these trick photography ideas and consider how you might be able to incorporate them in your regular shoots. Learn how to shoot people or products levitating through the air and even how to throw objects at your camera and capture the shot mid-air (without breaking your camera!).
Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast.
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Show Notes
Shoutouts
Brian Becnel
I’m soooo excited how this turned out. It’s the first time in FOREVER that my husband agreed to be my model because I used his Director/Actor passion to create a “Cocktail Party” scene.
Ronald Fritz Photos
Working from home but with these guys around, it’s difficult to concentrate and get something done.
Danette Zak is with Danni Irene.
Hey all! I love the last podcast! I usually try save up a few for when I’m on the road, but I wanted to do this last challenge since we were home. I used myself and since I was losing light I used my Yungnuo flash on full power with a softbox. Behind the scenes photos in comments. I’m glad I could be home to do this challenge, it was a lot of fun to work out! Thanks Gina and Valerie! Plus, I love seeing everyone’s photos!
Danni is a truck driver from the states working on the frontlines. Her trucking images are amazing and I love seeing life through her unique experience She is also a GOLD member and I have so much respect for her commitment to learning the craft. Long hours on the road as her hubby’s copilot are spent editing images using Lightroom mobile. She’s regularly taking images on her rest days, working on her lighting and constantly pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Much respect Danni!
Gold Cover photographer of the week
Luci Valentine picked up her first camera 3 years ago. Since then the art of photography has captured her like no other previous hobby. Luci decided to turn her passion into a business a little over a year ago and concentrates on headshots, family photography and volunteers as team photographer for her sons’ track and cross country teams. Luci joined the Gold Community in September 2019 and since then has begun to master the mysterious concepts of flash photography thanks to Gina’s easily understandable and inspiring teaching style. Luci’s portfolio is at www.lucivalentinephotography.com and she posts her work daily on her Instagram feed @lucivalentinephotography.
Listener question:
We answer David during the episode.
Levitation Photography
This is so much fun and fun for the whole family, the only limit is your imagination. This technique can be used to add a surreal look to portraits and also add life to product shots.
I use all these techniques in my commercial portraits.
Get the kids in on the act, levitate food, products, go nuts!
1. Person Levitating
Equipment
- Sturdy Tripod
- Digital Camera
- Step ladder, or table that can be balanced on
- Camera trigger or app for selfies
- Photoshop
Technique
Plan your shot. Look for a simple stage to place your character
- Balance on a table or step ladder or stool. Practice a variety of poses and check your images to ensure your body looks like it’s flying or levitating
- A good idea is to wear a long flowing jacket that hangs over the edge of the table or stool and disguises the bits where your body is compressed
- Expose image focus on the eyes and then switch off Autofocus
- Take first image resting on a ladder or table. Shoot several different options
Once you’ve nailed the shot, clear the set and shoot a clean plate of the background
Merge images in photoshop and mask out the stool or stepladder to reveal a levitating person
NEXT LEVEL: Add props flying around the scene
In this example, I’ve added cameras by shooting a variety of angles, proximity to camera and then masking them in.
2. Levitating Product
Equipment
- Sturdy Tripod
- Digital Camera
- Two light stands
- Wire or clear tape
- Camera trigger or app for selfies
- Photoshop
Technique
Plan your shot. Look for a simple background.
A wide lens works best because it forces the perspective
Choose the items you’d like to levitate and tape or tie them between two light stands
Focus on the products and then turn off autofocus
Using a remote shooting App, position yourself behind the products and practice a few poses, mark the best position.
Remove the products
Take a variety of shots of you “throwing” the products
Take a few blank plates of the background
Merge images in photoshop and mask out the take and light stands to reveal a levitating product
3. Levitating Food
Equipment
- Sturdy Tripod
- Digital Camera
- Two light stands
- Wire or clear tape or string
- Camera trigger or app for selfies
- Photoshop
Technique
Plan your shot. Look for a simple background.
Create your set, this can be simple or styled. Start with simple
Loop string or wire between light stands to create a small platform for the food to rest on
Layer the items
Focus on the products and then turn off autofocus
Remove the products
Take a few blank plates of the background
NEXT LEVEL: Light paint some highlights or add splashes of water to add life to the food
Merge images in photoshop and mask out the take and light stands to reveal a levitating product
Final shot.
