Got no Strip Light? What would MacGyver do?
Thu, 2010-06-17 13:11 | 
If I got the chance to shoot some awesome bodyscapes but I don’t have a striplight with me – should I let this chance just pass? Dude, no way!
When I was young, I’ve seen MacGyver on TV. Give that dude a ballpoint pen and a chewing gum and he will manufactor the wildest things out of it. A bomb, a laser or whatever he needs on his quest. So in situtation where I need a striplight but I just don’t have one I will ask myself: What would MacGyver do?
You can see my answer in the video below. It has to do with two speedlighs, kitchen paper and some Scotch tape. Well, maybe I’m not exactly as skillful and stylish as MacGyver, but hey, the light we got was awesome.
Check it out in the video and then try it out yourself:
Download High Resolution, .mp4, 165MB
Download for iPhone and mobile, .m4v, 40MB
When you try out this photography technique at home, please use speedlights for your photo shoot. Don’t try it out with lightsources that produce high temperatures. I mean, of course you want your models to look hot, but you don’t want them to go off in flames, do you? With that said, here is the lighting diagram:
Some example photographs from this bodyscape photoshoot:
Models: Linxi and Sasha
Location: Hotelroom in Beijing
Photos: Michael Zelbel
Postproduction: Renzy Memije
Related Links:
This video on Youtube: Photography Bodyscapes with Speedlights
(cc) michael@zelbel.com, some rights reserved
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Ha, Ha. You Know, you're better than McGiver.
Nice photos.
Best regards.
Better? Not at all.
Let's hook up on Facebook.
Good light to you too! Thanks for that little tut there. It was very well put together and you got some great results. Shame about the grey strips in your images, but I understand that you Canon shooters have to put up with some of those little niggles, hehe ;)
> Shame about the grey strips
I'll soon upload it on my portfolio website. Without censorship strips. But over here in the blog I'd like to keep it safe for work. I don't want to offend readers.
> I understand that you Canon shooters
> have to put up
Yes, absolutely. And it sucks. One problem is, that my little 5D MK II gives me much more resolution than camera's of other brands in that price range. Another bummer is, that the Canon lenses in general are sharper than comparable models of other Japanese brands. And combined this is a real issue. It makes my photos so sharp and crisp, I even have to add those censorship stripes, just in order to guarantee for the safety of the viewers, who otherwise might hurt their eyes with all the sharpness and clarity, you know?
That is crazy cool! Well done and well thought out. I agree the shots are fantastic and resemble hard work developing a seamless background, lighting (always key) and knowledge of your lenses and camera. Really like seeing innovation at work. Well done.
Thanks a lot Donn. I'm always happy to share know how about cameras and lighting.
Great and simple idea! I guess sometimes we forget to think simple.
Thanks a lot Cesar. That is an excellent takeaway.
For someone with not much equipment like me was a great video to learn simple strip lighting. Photos were very sensuous and wonderful!! Thank you
Thank you, Dennis. I'm in the same boat - at least when I am in China. During those times I only have the gear that fits into my hand luggage and my one, single bag of check in luggage.
Love your humour and the neat solution.
All I need now is two portable and vertical TV cabinets for location strip lights..!!
Absolutely fantastic !!
great videos... great info and tricks.. good help .. thanks for the good videos and keep making for all.