Sometimes, shooting a location portrait means cluttered backgrounds, gawking parents, jeering students, and the list goes on and on and on.  Basically, setting up for one with any of the above elements means you’ve just turned on the “Hi look at my lightstands and big cameras, everyone!!,” sometimes making the subject a little self-conscious.

This is what happened during my portrait session with Castle High School receiver Shaydon Kehano.  I arrived, and it so happened to be team picture day–read:  ENTIRE JV and VARSITY are on the field with the team photographer.  Clean background?  Fah git aboutit!

I had to think on the fly, and noticed a nice puddle by the track, and the sky had just started to clear from a passing shower–perfect backlight.  The solution?  Cook the subject, and under-expose everything else!!  I had two lights at full power, and got the result I wanted.

Castle receiver Shaydon Kehano poses for a portrait Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 at Castle High School. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN, EF 15 mm f2.8, Exposure mode: Manual, 1/250 @f22, 200 ISO, daylight whitebalance. Lit with two snooted Nikon SB 28 flashes at full power.

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the long lag in posts–it’s currently the middle of the fall sports season, and I’ve been up to my eyeballs in football and volleyball.  Here’s a quick update.  Currently my favorite football photo of the year so far.

St. Louis' Marcus Mariota leaps but comes up short of the goal line during first-half action of an ILH Football game between the Punahou Buffanblu and the St. Louis Crusaders Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 at Aloha Stadium. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN, EF 70-200 f2.8L IS at 178mm, Exposure mode: Manual, 1/500 sec @ f2.8, 4200K Whitebalance.