III. Spilled Light

So, I've been having quite a bit of fun lately with my "new technique." Whether shots such as the one you see here or candid portraits of party-goers, I love the way the light spills across the subject. There's definitely a mood added here that would not have been otherwise. Sure, plenty of other photographers out there have used their flash off-camera, but there's a priceless rejuvenation that comes along with my new discovery.

As I become more familiar with using this flash off-camera technique, I can't wait to go wireless with multiple units. I will use assistants to intuitively communicate the lighting designs for both posed and candid shots. The beautiful challenge for candid ones will be arranging setups for the pre-visualization of moments that have yet to occur. What's great about this method is how quick the setups will be yet with so much more creative flexibility. Long setups can really kill that natural vibe with the subject, which can show in the photos - people are more cooperative the less they have to wait. This new inspiration will take quite an investment to get right, but it feels great to have the vision on how to set Crimson Fox Photography apart from the rest.

Some would criticize this particular shot by saying that the viewing eye has no clear go-to point...that the forest looks nice, but there's confusion as to which tree is the main subject. However, I think I will continue to grow and pride myself in making the moment as it exist look the best that it can be; over the course of a night, I do very little staging. Even if this photo had been staged in the arrangement shown, it may not have been perfect as such but I think it suits the magazine I was shooting it for well as an iconic shot of the event. What are your thoughts?