One constant in the workshops I attend is portrait photography. There are many sub-disciplines within photography, but one that always catches my eye is the human face, “the face in a place” as I like to call it. We always walk around and take quite a few photos, either on the street or in an observable place, just to capture the beauty of a place and, especially in cities, the hustle and bustle of a great metropolis.
But the people. The faces and stories are so fascinating. On our recent trip to Ireland, it was a really fun time, we met beautiful, wonderful, sociable, welcoming people who naturally put their cameras to their eyes. And the lights went out on the floor. Lessons in composition, relating to the subject, lighting to the scene. Had a great class with my dear friend and Nikon Ambassador Tamara Lackey.
A face in a place is a great way to tell a story, especially when you interweave a compelling portrait or two with lovely details, such as, of the legend. Jameson Distillery in Dublin city centre. Professional photos in action! The B10 Plus X unit with Octa at the front and multiple A2 and A10 units scattered around the bar. All of which serve to convey the warmth and friendliness of the place.
With our wonderful group of photographers we ventured to Dingle and then north west to Galway! One of my favourite Irish tunes is The Abhaile Riverabout a Galway girl who returns to her hometown to find a sailor to dance with, or perhaps to pair up with a piper. The music is so upbeat it makes you want to dance and click the camera. We have arranged for some lovely, talented Irish dancers to grace our class with their formidable talents, as we learn how to use flash and reflectors and shape a cloudy day with light.
The lighting applied means taking control of the scene and the grey skies of Ireland. Instead of dead white, when you push the light into your subject, you get to draw out colour from what would otherwise be a blank canvas. And when you struggle to shape the sky like this, you gain the potential for drama, especially in monochrome.
The new Profoto tools are awesome. One click lighting is what I call their new generation of softboxes. Instead of struggling with the rods on an octopus of a light shaper, just pull it in, click it open, and magnetize that puppy with light.
We found an old boat and, well, since they were dancers, possessing formidable physical skills, they naturally felt comfortable posing on it. With Sarah Below, I placed another light, coated in gel, behind her gorgeous hair to demonstrate the fact that studio principles are taken out into the field. Controlling the light allows you to convey distinction, an emphasis on additional detail that can capture the viewer’s attention more easily than a quick street shot.
Thank you so much for a fun and memorable trip with our talented group of photographers and everyone who helped! It was great to work with friends and fellow photographers again Ronin Palliser And Sean McCormack. Thanks a lot Professional photos to borrow lighting equipment for our teams and the amazing portrait subjects and dancers in Galway (Ronan, Anne Marie, Lao Tzu, And Sarah and a big thanks to the wonderful Siobhan at Irish Dancing Experience!
Ireland is like that. Beautiful landscapes and settings, interspersed with photoshoots with beautiful and expressive people. Expect more faces in different places and teaching with Tamara next month Tuscany! Then, because we sold out 2024 quickly and had quite a waitlist, it only opened in October Tuscany 2025….
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