I volunteered my photographic services for the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Bulb Luncheon in October. On that blithesome day Les and I loaded up the Explorer with tons of photographic gear and whatnots.
The luncheon started at noon so I thought that being at the church at 10 a.m. should give me enough time to set up. I did set up in the allotted time, in fact it was 11:45 a.m. when I was ready and waiting for my first shoot.
I had set up a mini shooting studio with nine-foot-wide by 20-foot-long blackish muslin (held to the floor with black Gorilla tape), a Strobe Softbox at the camera ( high and pointed towards the subject) and a silver speckled umbrella halfway between the Softbox and the subject.
The Softbox gave me soft glamour lighting and the silver umbrella was for a fill with a bit of zing.
I put my Nikon on a tripod with the 17-70 mm lens and screwed a three-foot remote firing button onto the front of the camera. I then took flash meter readings of the main (softbox) and the umbrella making sure that the fill (umbrella) was one stop less light—after all it is considered a “fill” light.
Perfect, I was ready except that I needed a guinea pig—sorry, I meant a subject to test the lighting on. Ron Frolic came over to my corner so he was it. I set up Ron on the stool, fired off one shot, had a look at the camera screen.
Wonderful shot, lighting perfect, Ron was wearing red and the red was popping off the screen, contrasting with the blackish muslin backdrop.
Then happy Ron went around the room with hand-made tickets selling photo spots to tables.
I photographed groups of seven and groups of nine and groups of 13, all against the nine-foot-wide muslin backdrop.
In the meantime there was a constant fashion show going on. The models started on the stage with Bev Frolic calling out the details, then the models would walk amongst the tables so people could feel the fabric and only the fabric.
Door prizes were awarded (Les won some very yummy handmade shortbread cookies; half the box was gone by the second day), tickets were called and everyone had a grand time.
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There will be another free mini seminar (one hour) at the Library on Dec. 3 called “ How to buy a Digital Camera – What you need to know”.
Make sure that you phone the library at 250-723- 9511 to reserve your spot. Should be fun, hope to see you there.
Any questions? E-mail me at nsilverstone@telus.net or see me online at www.silverstonephotos.com.
*Norman Silverstone teaches photography through North Island College and Eldercollege.