I love Profoto's approach in each of these short videos, especially when they introduce us to artists around the world. 

Chan Kit, in this video, is shooting in Hong Kong and demonstrates that the need for great lighting is universal, as is portability and efficiency. I love the way he and his team demonstrate what the B2 Off-Camera Flash System can really do. The screen grab I pulled on the right pretty much says it all.

Check out Chan Kit on the left, hanging from a railing along with an assistant positioning the B2 off the edge of the dock and out over the water. Profoto's technology is giving artists some of the most creative tools and flexibility in the history of photography!

As Chan Kit mentions in the blog post and the behind the scenes story, 

“To me, the most beneficial thing about the B2 is precisely this,” says Kit. “It’s small and lightweight. It can be carried around and positioned pretty much anywhere you want. It’s easy. It is as simple as that.”

See more of Chan Kit's work and check out where he's shooting by following him on Facebook. He shares a lot of his work from assignments all over the world.

Intro by Skip Cohen

If you haven't put Profoto's blog on your radar you're missing one of the greatest resource centers in professional photography. With current posts and their archives you'll find hundreds of outstanding posts, often with videos as well as great instructional information to help you raise the bar on your skill set.

This post, featuring good buddy Moshe Zusman, is loaded with great content and the links to the products he used along with his website.  I love the fact that throughout this short video he takes you through his thought process and the results he's working to get.

Check out the Profoto Blog for great information and a complete series of ongoing posts from some of the finest artists and educators in professional photography today.

Written by Harley Anderson
 
On to Light Shaping is a new video series in which we get to see 18 renowned portrait and wedding photographers create magic with Profoto Off-Camera Flash. In this video we join photographer Moshe Zusman as he captures stunning portraits in the post-sunset glow. When you are done watching, click here to see the rest of the series.

Moshe Zusman, a wedding, portrait, and event photographer based in Washington DC, is known for his ability to connect with the people he is photographing. “At weddings you’re shooting real people, not models,” he says. “So I’d rather spend my time interacting with the people I’m photographing in order to capture the best pictures. When my lights work as advertised it makes my job that much easier. If I have to keep a constant eye on my exposures it makes the people I’m photographing start feeling insecure… and it shows”.

This portrait, captured at the National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland, was taken under circumstances made for the likes of the newest addition to Moshe Zusman’s lighting arsenal: the Profoto B2 Off-Camera Flash.

In order to capture the post-sunset glow Moshe and his crew only had 15 to 20-minutes to get the shot. With the light and air temperature dropping by the second, Moshe had an assistant set up a B2 with a OCF Softbox 2′ Octa (one of Moshe’s favorite Light Shaping Tools). Though a big fan of TTL, Zusman chose to set his exposure manually in this case to better maintain total on-the-fly exposure control as the last of the sun’s glow rapidly faded into the evening’s darkness.

The exposure considerations of this portrait were multifold. In addition to establishing the flash exposure, Zusman had to factor in the rapidly diminishing glow of the ambient dusk sky, the kaleidoscope of moving Ferris wheel lights, and a window of 15-or-so minutes of ‘magic time light’ in which he had to work his own magic.

After three test shots Moshe went to work. Shooting with a Canon EOS 1Dx, a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, and a Profoto Air Remote TTL-C for wireless communication between the camera and flash, the exposure of the final image was f/4.0 at 1/25th-second, ISO 100.

“The light from the OCF Softbox 2′ Octa was amazing,” says Moshe. “It’s a really cool Light Shaping Tool that’s big enough yet still compact, amazingly lightweight. Plus everybody loves the catch lights it creates!”

LOCATION: National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland

WEBSITE: www.moshezusman.com

GEAR
1 x Profoto B2 Off-Camera Flash
1 x Profoto OCF Softbox 2′ Octa
1 x Profoto Air Remote TTL-C
Canon EOS 1Dx
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Intro by Skip Cohen

Profoto has been considered one of the finest lighting systems in the world for many years. With their introduction of the B1 and B2 Off Camera Flash Systems they've not only set a new standard in lighting technology but education.

I love this short video featuring Tom Muñoz. He's not only a talented artist, but a terrific teacher and he shares a lot of great content in this video. He's in a remote location putting Profoto's Off-Camera Flash system to the test and he packs a lot of information into just three minutes.

The Off-Camera Flash System is all about giving photographers more control and efficiency. I especially liked his comments, 

"I have the ability to control the power of the strobe from my camera. It saves me a lot of time being able to make minute adjustments without having my assistant have to lower my light-stand or go over to the light...I have more control as a photographer."

If you'd like to read Profoto's complete post on Tom's experience, including great background material and links to more information, just click on the stunning classic portrait above.  Check out Tom's website for more of his work. You'll never be disappointed!  


If Profoto's website and blog aren't on your radar, what are you waiting for?

Profoto sets the standard not only with the quality of their lights and light-shaping tools, but the way they approach education. This series, starting with the 28-second teaser, features one of New York's best, Mark Seliger. It's probably 20 years since I first met Mark, back in my Hasselblad days. I've followed his career and every image has always been top-shelf. 

The fun thing about this series of six videos is you can just let them run, one after the other. They're all short, content rich pieces. With the exception of Mark introducing himself three times in a row, LOL, each video gives you a little more insight into the way he shoots and interacts with his clients.  

While most of you won't be photographing celebrities very often, you all have clients who need to feel like they're iconic. Taking it a step further, the images you capture need to be your very best and memorable. 

Nobody does it better when it comes to the quality of light and helping you capture images that stop people in their tracks than Profoto. This is about raising the bar and taking your portraiture to the next level.

Check out Profoto's blog, light-shaping tools and the new B1/B2 off-camera flash system with a click of your mouse! It's one of the most content-rich websites in professional photography.