SPAO is a small Photographic Art School in the country’s Capitol that wins lots of great awards (more than other emerging talent entries in North America last year). Hard working & very talented students, along with dedicated instructors – like Photographer, John Hewitt Hallum, make the SPAO experience very special.
John, like other accomplished artists, has an easy-to-be-with attitude, and great wit. He was game to sit in as subject for a Focused-Key Lighting class that I gave during the winter session. Photographers shooting photographers can sometimes be a little double-edged. As subjects, they simply Know. John came to us with his characteristic gentle & open presence – keenly aware, yet casual. Very easy & fun-to-be-with.
Focused-Key Lighting is all about taming a thoroughbred. The key light is a very hard focusing spot light that can be quite theatrical – left on its own. My approach, is to blend enough room/fill light into the total exposure to allow the key light to do its sculpting & detailing work in a more subdued fashion.
There were two light sources blended (3 flash heads total):
1- main light: was a twin lens, variable focusing zoom spot light, with built-in iris & contour blades to shape the light (powered by a Speedotron pack)
2- room fill: was handled by 2 flash heads (w/standard reflectors), positioned to either side of the set, and aimed at the studio ceiling (powered by a separate Speedotron pack)
In the examples below, the 1st image is the room lit rather flatly, using two flash heads aimed at the ceiling. The 2nd & 3rd images demonstrate the cutting power of the zoom spot. In the last 2 images (as well as the main image up top), the power to the key spot has been turned down considerably, resulting in a smoother transition between the two blended sources. The spot retains its specular, carving qualities, and yet, the final mood is more subtle.
Thanks to John and the SPAO crew!
Oh, as pensive or as forlorn as he may appear in the top photo – John is, in fact…laughing
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