Lights in the hills — fun with off-camera lighting

Last Saturday I was out at lunch with my family at In n Out Burger (yummmmmmmm), and the clouds in the sky were GORGEOUS! The weather was chilly with rain off & on all weekend, so the Barefoot Memories sessions had to be postponed.

But these clouds… and the blue sky…. I felt a crazy desire to TAKE PICTURES WITH THEM! I’ve seen skies like this before, and most of the time I just think, “Oh, that’s pretty. It sure would be nice to take pictures in this…” And that’s it. It doesn’t go past a thought.

I wasn’t going to let that happen this time!! I wanted to take out my off-camera lighting, hit the (probably muddy) hills, and take pictures! So I rounded up two awesome ladies (Kelli and Kelley), and we piled into my car for a little photo trip into the hills.

The recession & the slow-down in new home construction did us a HUGE favor. We headed into an area of town that SHOULD have been covered in concrete and stucco by now, but instead we had nothing but green hills (and squishy mud).

I set up my light (one Alien Bee with a softbox & wireless receiver and my Vagabond power pack), got my camera ready, and made the Kell girls stand in front of the camera.

For this shot, the light was way off to the left.
The light you see coming from the left is from that light with the softbox.
The light you see coming from the right is from the sun:

When Kelley took her hair out of the pony tail, I let the light light it up! (this time the light off to the side, but not as much, for more a more even look)

Here’s the other “Kell” (Kelli). She said she was sure that I wouldn’t get a single good picture of her. I’d say this shot proves her wrong:

and she says she’s not photogenic… BULL HONKEY!

I have a feeling these gorgeous girls may have new Facebook profile pics very very soon!

And in case you’re wondering… yes, I got in front of the camera, too. I haven’t even looked at those pictures yet. Maybe tomorrow…

About carey

Wife & Mother. Photographer & soccer player. Singer to standing-room-only showers.