This may be the best LFF yet. Technique and artistry combining for the win with great dialogue. In a future episode, I’d love to see examples of the different sync cords using close-up images and how to find them.
You're right on the money Jim! As soon as I got home from the shoot I was wondering if there was enough coverage on the tech part to syncing flash. There's always so much more to cover!
@@MatMarrash I have a two post lens with M, X, and F settings. I sort of know what they’re for but haven’t been able to find a sync cord. I’ve heard about using old razor cords.
Mat another point, when using flash connections on LF lenses, some have a switch for X and M style flash, use the X as these units have a Xenon bulb inside!, M is for the cheMistry style flash, like magi-cubes on point and shoots, they have powder pyrotechnics inside, the current 'detonates' this powder, but the White Balance doesn't stabilise ( the temperature of the reaction-flame colour) for 30/60 ms or so , this delay is in circuit when the switch is over on M, so to get full use of modern speedlights/studio flashes, be sure the contact is on X!
You both are absolute light and photography masters and it's even better that you're creating videos to share your knowledge with others. I still remember the first time I saw Tariq's work in person. Didn't know what LF was yet and at that time, I hadn't ever played with strobes yet, but I knew his work was special
Excellent episode! Thanks for the great overview and introducing Tariq's work (to me, at least). I've always loved the simple lighting approach ...it's the subtleties that matter. Tariq mentioned learning about lighting from the masters...in terms of photography, I used to spend hours looking at Penn, Avedon, and Karsch portraits and dissecting their lighting from looking at the catch-lights in the subjects eyes.
Thanks Glenn and you're spot-on with the masters of modern lighting! In fact, a few years back Tariq and I took a day to go see a collection of Karsh's contact prints. They were marvelous to look at in person and if we got any closer to the prints we would have been thrown out of the galley!
What a great video. As you said so succinctly, Mat: Tariq makes it all look so easy! Not only his lighting and photography, but also his haberdashery. Gotta love a man who can pull off a hat!!
There you go, a master landscapist spending afternoon with another master portraitist. Great episode. I really need to get this holder for reflectors. Tariq should hike with you the next time you go for waterfalls!
So glad I watched this! Excellent. Nobody ever mentioned before that the lighting ratios change as you move the light source and to meter those ratios. Probably because in digital they don’t worry about it.
Great episode. Excellent explanations of studio lighting basics, one of the best I've ever seen. I didn't learn things from this video, because I have a lot of studio lighting experience, except how exceptionally high quality your educational videos are. I don't have a lot of experience with large format, but for me this cements your status as an excellent teacher, and I look forward to learning more from you. Thanks for all the work your do.
Matthew thank you so much for checking out the video and for the compliment! These types of videos can be tough to work out and edit down into a concise package, but ultimately worth it when folks new to the channel can take away something new. :)
Wow, this was sooo good. I am not even interested in shooting portraits ever, but the amount of thought that goes to lighting was really interesting and inspiring
well, I know what I will be doing this week! gonna be bringing my sinar norma to the place it was actually meant to be, the studio! have been shooting it in the forests for a while now! also gonna burn true some type 55 I think
@@MatMarrash indeed got wats left of it when my uncle bought up the entire stach of it in Scandinavia when they stopped making it! 5 boxes in total lol
Great video Mat! And what an emotion to see my beloved Wisner Field and ear Tariq say it’s his favourite camera! I am the happy owner of one of the very few Wisner in Europe. I’ll show it to my friends that make me funny because of my old and bulky 4x5 camera. They all have modern cameras, made by alu and titanium and carbon fibre. But mine is on stage of a gorgeous LFF video!
Francesco thanks for watching this episode and for your comment. The beauty of photography as a visual language opens up so many opportunities to connect!
Man... I had forgotten how much fun it is to set up lights shoot portraits. I never tried it with film. At one time I was going to have a studio. I got as far as purchasing lights, stands, pocket wizards, the same light meter that you were using. It makes me want to set all of it up and shoot (find it first lol). I really liked this. I like Tariq's viewpoint on learning from the masters. The Polaroid 55 and Fujiroid are on track to deliver tomorrow.
This was Type 55 from '08, and during filming it took 6 sheets to end up with 2 that looked okay. Sadly we're getting to the point where even some of the best films are getting less and less reliable.
Hi, stupid question. I recall that there was a part in which Tariq spoke about a friend who hand-painted some backdrops for him. I wanted to rewatch that part but I was unable to find it. I've searched all over Tariq's channel and also the two videos on your channel that the two of you did together (this one and the environmental portrait) but without any luck. This is probably a long shot, but maybe you or one of the other viewers can help me find it 😅
Tariq mentions it quickly in this video under the "Tariq's Lighting Style" section. I couldn't make out the guy's name and have been searching here in the comments for it. No luck yet.
Enjoyed the tips on feathering, negative fill, and swing for focus. I’ve had a studio for the past 3 years, but I’ve achieved similar results on my back porch. A single light and modifier can do wonders, as you’ve shown. My portrait lens is a 14” Kodak Ektar, which I connect to a sync cord (long and well flagged with bright tape) via a short PC to bi-post extension cord made by Paramount. The Ektar’s maximum shutter speed is 1/50 s, but I meter for 1/125. Tariq’s setup reminds me of Irving Penn’s for his “petits métiers” series. Of course he, being in Paris, had a massive skylight. Thanks to you both.
Bernard thanks for the comment and for mentioning Paramount cords. They're the only folks I know still making new flash sync cables for a variety of legacy cameras and lenses. I'll let Tariq know you compared him to Penn, as he's one of Tariq's constant inspirations!
wow. this episode is what ive been looking for. the step by step explanation really has given me the method i need, and the best ways to modify and why. thank you both so much. ill be watching this episode again and again until i get it right.
Thank you Brian, it's comments like these that make it worthwhile! Tariq is a wealth of lighting knowledge and I'm so glad he shared so much with us all.
Mat, @11:34 there is another bonus to using flash light, over fixed bulbs, that is, you don't blind the model, as the "flash" is 1/30,000th of a sec. so fast, you don't notice it, at least not objectionably so.
Absolutely phenomenal episode!! Tariq is a great follow on IG. Having both of you work through the process and the explanation of the "whys" of the setup was greatly informative. Thank you Mat and Tariq!!
Great episode Matt and Tariq. Well done. Tariq's input into lighting was excellent. It pays to be widely read about all things and Tariq's input and knowledge has helped a lot. What us folk are looking for is information specifically about hooking up a large format lens to a light and making the connection work. How do lenses differ in the way they sync. What are the connection options including sync cords, the connections you need either end of the sync cord etc. Can old lenses still sync to a flash somehow etc. Light set up is not particular to this `problem' with large format lenses. The main problem is the us getting the lens to talk to the light. You used triggers on this program and Tariq hooked the trigger into the PC socket of the lens but what was the connection on the other end of the cord? These are the details I think we're looking for. Thanks for this episode and please pass on all our thanks to Tariq for his time and expertise.
I watched this video when it was first released and possibly everyday since. You guys are a great team together, Tariq’s work is brilliant!!! Hope you guys explore more LF portraits
Hi, this was truly interesting. But for an amateur with no dedicated studio space difficult to try out (or emulate). Especially the giant soft box… now way… Still what I can take back from this is a) trying out feathering with the biggest soft box I have, definitely a new thing for me! And b) the metering technique is quite helpful, that I will adopt as the dark season approaches and any shooting inside will need my (two) studio flashes…
The beautiful, beautiful Type 55. I do miss it. Attention the new ' Polaroid ' people, this is how a Polaroid film suppose to function. Very enjoyable to watch, particularly as I see the Wista DX and the Nikkor 180 W , yes I have both of them, being used masterfully. Thank you. PS: My advice to anyone wishing to know how to light up a subject is to study the work of the late Yousuf Karsh, the great Armenian/Canadian photographer.
Karsh was such a master, he's my go-to recommendation. A few years back, Tariq and I traveled down to Cincinnati to check out a fantastic exhibition of Karsh's contact prints!
Funnily enough I was test shooting with my Wista Field DX with flash this morning. It’s first use of 6x7 back for a cheap film at ISO 50. Inside shots of my relaxed but inclined to move dogs so I was using f11 to improve chance of being in focus so needed flash. A Nikon SB800 using auto and pointing at the subject with flash in one hand and cable release in the other. I’m aiming for in focus and properly exposed with zero artistic merit.
Thanks for the comment Nick, a speedlight at close range unmodified should have enough "oomph" to freeze the dogs in place. Whenever I shoot LF and portrait subjects head-on, I call it Weegee style!
Hey Mat, I love your show. Your commitment to large format is indisputable. If I can make a suggestion, you must never neglect the trademark of you channel - the hair ! What happened to the wave? :) Keep doing great work you are appreciated by many.
I used a lot of type 55 back in the day. At 23:00ish the pull is too fast, I always used very smooth 1 second pull, plus the print looks overexposed, but is probably right for the negative. I preferred type 55 over type 52 as the print had a nice very slight bluish cast and appeared smoother than type 52.
I thought it looked overexposed too but that's just from the camera filming the episode. Look at the 2 pics on Matt's flickr page in gorgeous resolution, they look stunning.
nice video, and subject, wish you could do more videos using flash light, ie, still life, internal architecture, museum/ art photography and simmilar. Also showing the gear off a bit more, if we want to use these flashes, what do we buy, how to 'check it' for selecting second hand gear (from studio sales, etc.), assembly of the packs/heads, as well as umbrellas, etc. as outside of Profoto/Ellinchrom/Goddox, and other manufacturers own videos ( which deal with digital, ie fashon and other pro photographers using canon/nikon DSLR's or Phase One/Hasselblad digital MF cameras); nothing much is around, aimed at the beginner level ( saved for photo imaging diploma courses, and the like), so any help would be appreciated.
Excellent episode Mat thank you so much I am just setting up my own home studio. Just a couple of questions. Can a digital camera be used as a flash meter? Also what about the continuous light from the strobe, ever use only that?
Digital cameras can do a great job of previewing things, but may require a little more running back and forth with the camera when setting up lights. Constant lights aren't preferable since they may run exposure times into reciprocity failure range.
mat, at 16:55 tariq talks about using grad filters, etc. to lower contrast; from LF youtubers, there is another way, that of PUSH/PULL the asa of the film, And the development time N, N+1, N-1 does this do the same for contrast in this Artificial light case, as it does for natural light?
Andy this is a great question and one which was addressed outside of the edit seen on YT. Push processing doesn't always save severe underexposure, especially with flash. When way too much flash power is used, a bit of pull processing can help bring the contrast back down to normal.
This was great. One of the best shows you have done. Portrait with LF is challenging and you addressed a lot of those issues. What do you think your depth of field was with these images? 2-3"?? How do you make sure your subject doesn't move out of the focus area after you focused and put your holder in?
Michael thank you so much! Honestly filming this felt like another night at the studio hanging out with Tariq like I've been doing for the better part of a decade. The depth of field couldn't have been more than 1/2" tops. As for the subject holding still, both of us being regulars to LF helped tremendously.
Thanks Matt and Tariq for this fantastically informative and insightful video. So good to watch. Two questions: you pointed the lightmeter first towards the light and the shadow, is that just for determining the contrast? And then Tariq pointed it straight towards the camera, is that for getting the correct exposure settings? And question #2: is it necessary to add an extra half stop of exposure because the flash duration is so extremely short that the silver grain needs extra light to respond correctly?
If I recall the studio is ~ 20x40' and the cyc-wall was built by a local contractor in Columbus, OH. Only downside is the occasional coat of paint needed for the walls.
For an inexpensive, manual-only strobe for portraits I'd recommend looking into the Godox DP400. If you'd like more modern auto/TTL features, try the Godox AD400 Pro. 400W is more than enough for one person when working with anything digital, and for film it will work when close to half-length. If you need to overpower direct sunlight, you'll be looking for 600+ watts of power.
Absolutely wonderful episode - learned a bunch. I'm curious - when you finally got the light where you wanted it, about how far above you was it, and how far in front?
Thanks for the comment and question Michael! Once setup was complete the light was < 2m from me and ~ 1m in front. Quite a bit farther than I would have thought necessary, but there's a reason Tariq is the lighting expert!
Good video Mat! I’m looking for a unique canvas similar to what Tariq uses in this video. Do you have a link to the person who makes these canvases? Thank you!
Nice video, big fan of Tariq. Less is often more with lighting in the studio, and i wish I had those high ceilings in my basement studio. I wonder if you know if Tariq shoots Tri-x 320 at box speed. I shoot it at 200 usualyy and dev noraml in Pyrocat hd. Thanks for all your content.
Mat, this was an awesome video! Can you achieve similar results with a monolight and a shoot-through umbrella? I'm planning on placing it to the side of my subject and using a reflector on the other side to fill in the shadows. My first time using a strobe. :)
I recently bought a Godox AD200pro to use it with my crown graphic handheld, and I was wondering does the reading that the meter give you expose for zone 5? do I have to underexpose if I'm shooting a dark subject? Looking forward to starting my strobes journey. Tarik has been a great inspiration. Can't thank you guys enough
Thanks for tuning in Ammar and for your question! Since we're metering incident with the dome on the meter, we're getting an accurate reading of the light as it's hitting the subject without any difference in reflectance from skin tone. For both of our portraits, the same light intensity, aperture, and shutter speed were used.
@@MatMarrash Alright. I'm receiving the lomograflok this week I'll use it to do some tests before exposing with precious color sheets. Thanks for the reply Mat.
Thanks for the question Bernard! I'll typically do a course focus first, then start applying movements. Without a baseline of where the focus is for the subject, it's very easy to overdo tilt and swing.
This may be the best LFF yet. Technique and artistry combining for the win with great dialogue. In a future episode, I’d love to see examples of the different sync cords using close-up images and how to find them.
You're right on the money Jim! As soon as I got home from the shoot I was wondering if there was enough coverage on the tech part to syncing flash. There's always so much more to cover!
@@MatMarrash I have a two post lens with M, X, and F settings. I sort of know what they’re for but haven’t been able to find a sync cord. I’ve heard about using old razor cords.
Thanks for introducing me to Tariq Tarey. I love his presence and his confidence. He's 100.
Tariq is one of the best, and I'm always honored to call him a friend! Glad you enjoyed the video. :)
you guys are the sultans of large format lighting! That's what you are. Spectacular!
Arman I appreciate the comment and thanks for checking out the channel!
Oh this is AWESOME! I've been following Tariq for a while now and seeing him through your eyes is a real gem. Thanks so much Mat! Love it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Mat another point, when using flash connections on LF lenses, some have a switch for X and M style flash, use the X as these units have a Xenon bulb inside!, M is for the cheMistry style flash, like magi-cubes on point and shoots, they have powder pyrotechnics inside, the current 'detonates' this powder, but the White Balance doesn't stabilise ( the temperature of the reaction-flame colour) for 30/60 ms or so , this delay is in circuit when the switch is over on M, so to get full use of modern speedlights/studio flashes, be sure the contact is on X!
I'm so glad you got good use out of that Type 55! Amazing video!
Thanks again for sending over that great film!
Shooting 4x5 is so relaxing.
Very relaxing indeed! :)
Tariq is the person who pointed me to this channel in the first place. Loved this video!
Tariq is just the best! :D
Awesome! :) Greetings from Krakow (Poland). :)
Thank you! Cheers!
@@MatMarrash I have been watching your channel for a long time and I am very impressed all the time. :)
Tariq is a great photographer. I love his portraits!!! Thanks for sharing Mat.
super good discussion of practical lighting techniques. Much appreciated!
Thanks! :D
You both are absolute light and photography masters and it's even better that you're creating videos to share your knowledge with others. I still remember the first time I saw Tariq's work in person. Didn't know what LF was yet and at that time, I hadn't ever played with strobes yet, but I knew his work was special
Thank you Imran, it was so much fun getting to work in the studio with Tariq. His vision and style translate so well to his timeless portrait work!
Instantly subscribed after just one video
Excellent episode!
Thanks for the great overview and introducing Tariq's work (to me, at least). I've always loved the simple lighting approach ...it's the subtleties that matter. Tariq mentioned learning about lighting from the masters...in terms of photography, I used to spend hours looking at Penn, Avedon, and Karsch portraits and dissecting their lighting from looking at the catch-lights in the subjects eyes.
Thanks Glenn and you're spot-on with the masters of modern lighting! In fact, a few years back Tariq and I took a day to go see a collection of Karsh's contact prints. They were marvelous to look at in person and if we got any closer to the prints we would have been thrown out of the galley!
What a great video. As you said so succinctly, Mat: Tariq makes it all look so easy! Not only his lighting and photography, but also his haberdashery. Gotta love a man who can pull off a hat!!
thank you for this video that was so helpful and encouraging to get back to large format
Thanks, Mat, for introducing Tariq's excellent work to us! This has to be one of your best video's!
It's an honor to call him my friend, he's such an amazing photographer!
Excellent video!!!!
You guys both so cool and talented
Thank you Mat so so much for this episode with Tariq , both of you my favorite photographers
Such a master class!!!!!!
Thank you very much! :)
There you go, a master landscapist spending afternoon with another master portraitist. Great episode. I really need to get this holder for reflectors. Tariq should hike with you the next time you go for waterfalls!
I've been trying to get Tariq to come out for landscape shooting ever since we met! One of these days we'll get him shooting some frickin' trees!
So glad I watched this! Excellent. Nobody ever mentioned before that the lighting ratios change as you move the light source and to meter those ratios. Probably because in digital they don’t worry about it.
Thanks for the comment and glad you found Tariq's lighting approach helpful! :)
Great episode. Excellent explanations of studio lighting basics, one of the best I've ever seen. I didn't learn things from this video, because I have a lot of studio lighting experience, except how exceptionally high quality your educational videos are. I don't have a lot of experience with large format, but for me this cements your status as an excellent teacher, and I look forward to learning more from you. Thanks for all the work your do.
Matthew thank you so much for checking out the video and for the compliment! These types of videos can be tough to work out and edit down into a concise package, but ultimately worth it when folks new to the channel can take away something new. :)
This was great!
This is wonderful! And your friend's voice is so calm and soothing. Very good advices from him!
Thanks Jacky, I've been telling him for years he needs to at least do a podcast!
Wow, this was sooo good. I am not even interested in shooting portraits ever, but the amount of thought that goes to lighting was really interesting and inspiring
Thank you very much! :)
well, I know what I will be doing this week! gonna be bringing my sinar norma to the place it was actually meant to be, the studio! have been shooting it in the forests for a while now! also gonna burn true some type 55 I think
Type 55 and a Sinar?! A match made in heaven. Happy shooting!
@@MatMarrash indeed got wats left of it when my uncle bought up the entire stach of it in Scandinavia when they stopped making it! 5 boxes in total lol
I really like this showing. Going to the next level ❤
What a great video! I'm a big fan of Tariq's as well. Who are some master portrait photographers (painters?) you and or Tariq recommend studying?
My top recommend would be Yousuf Karsh and Tariq's would be Arnold Newman.
Great video Mat!
And what an emotion to see my beloved Wisner Field and ear Tariq say it’s his favourite camera! I am the happy owner of one of the very few Wisner in Europe. I’ll show it to my friends that make me funny because of my old and bulky 4x5 camera. They all have modern cameras, made by alu and titanium and carbon fibre. But mine is on stage of a gorgeous LFF video!
A good hardwood folding field camera is a thing of beauty and Tariq puts just about any camera in it's best light!
I loved watching this episode! It's also a beautyfull story about how photography always drives us to meet new friends. TNX
Francesco thanks for watching this episode and for your comment. The beauty of photography as a visual language opens up so many opportunities to connect!
This is incredibly valuable. I always love when a great artist shares and explains their little secrets
Great teaching skills!
I appreciate that, thanks for visiting the channel!
In all the attention grabbing and useless heap of stuff on RUclips you get some gems. This is one of those. Thank you both. You are fine artists.
Thank you very much! I loved getting to share Tariq's process with the world, and glad so many of you are enjoying it. :)
Man... I had forgotten how much fun it is to set up lights shoot portraits. I never tried it with film. At one time I was going to have a studio. I got as far as purchasing lights, stands, pocket wizards, the same light meter that you were using. It makes me want to set all of it up and shoot (find it first lol).
I really liked this. I like Tariq's viewpoint on learning from the masters.
The Polaroid 55 and Fujiroid are on track to deliver tomorrow.
Very, very good thank you 🙏
Great results. I wonder if you remember the expiration date of the Pola 55...🤓
This was Type 55 from '08, and during filming it took 6 sheets to end up with 2 that looked okay. Sadly we're getting to the point where even some of the best films are getting less and less reliable.
This is really brilliant.
Thanks Grabriel! Tariq is a master of lighting and excited to keep bringing more lighting content to the channel.
Hi, stupid question. I recall that there was a part in which Tariq spoke about a friend who hand-painted some backdrops for him. I wanted to rewatch that part but I was unable to find it. I've searched all over Tariq's channel and also the two videos on your channel that the two of you did together (this one and the environmental portrait) but without any luck.
This is probably a long shot, but maybe you or one of the other viewers can help me find it 😅
Tariq mentions it quickly in this video under the "Tariq's Lighting Style" section. I couldn't make out the guy's name and have been searching here in the comments for it. No luck yet.
great in depth video Matt, really enjoyed this one
Thanks Graeme! :D
Brilliant video.
Thank you! :)
wow, this episode is amazing.
Thank you very much! :D
Nice!!!
Enjoyed the tips on feathering, negative fill, and swing for focus. I’ve had a studio for the past 3 years, but I’ve achieved similar results on my back porch. A single light and modifier can do wonders, as you’ve shown. My portrait lens is a 14” Kodak Ektar, which I connect to a sync cord (long and well flagged with bright tape) via a short PC to bi-post extension cord made by Paramount. The Ektar’s maximum shutter speed is 1/50 s, but I meter for 1/125. Tariq’s setup reminds me of Irving Penn’s for his “petits métiers” series. Of course he, being in Paris, had a massive skylight. Thanks to you both.
Bernard thanks for the comment and for mentioning Paramount cords. They're the only folks I know still making new flash sync cables for a variety of legacy cameras and lenses. I'll let Tariq know you compared him to Penn, as he's one of Tariq's constant inspirations!
Thanks Mat, awesome video
Glad you liked it!
wow. this episode is what ive been looking for. the step by step explanation really has given me the method i need, and the best ways to modify and why. thank you both so much. ill be watching this episode again and again until i get it right.
Thank you Brian, it's comments like these that make it worthwhile! Tariq is a wealth of lighting knowledge and I'm so glad he shared so much with us all.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! That was super informative! Keep up the good work 🙂
Thanks Mateusz and glad you found it helpful! More studio content is in the works and should be airing on the channel over the coming months.
Mat, @11:34 there is another bonus to using flash light, over fixed bulbs, that is, you don't blind the model, as the "flash" is 1/30,000th of a sec. so fast, you don't notice it, at least not objectionably so.
This is a great point, but as you get up to the big wattage flash units they can still put off a good amount of heat and after-image in your eyes!
Such a great episode. Thank you it's inspired me to get a strobe and try to push myself.
Fantastic! Go get 'em with the new off-camera flash setup!
Fantastic video, 👍👍
Thank you Todd! :)
An excellent video.
Many thanks!
This was awesome to watch.
Absolutely phenomenal episode!! Tariq is a great follow on IG. Having both of you work through the process and the explanation of the "whys" of the setup was greatly informative. Thank you Mat and Tariq!!
WOW! This video is amazing Mat: thank you very much for this great class on large format and strobes! I wish to test as soon asap!
I’d love to something like this, but with more common Godoy or flashpoint modifiers for the “newer” peeps like me. Awesome episode though! Loved it
Great episode Matt and Tariq. Well done. Tariq's input into lighting was excellent. It pays to be widely read about all things and Tariq's input and knowledge has helped a lot.
What us folk are looking for is information specifically about hooking up a large format lens to a light and making the connection work. How do lenses differ in the way they sync. What are the connection options including sync cords, the connections you need either end of the sync cord etc. Can old lenses still sync to a flash somehow etc. Light set up is not particular to this `problem' with large format lenses. The main problem is the us getting the lens to talk to the light.
You used triggers on this program and Tariq hooked the trigger into the PC socket of the lens but what was the connection on the other end of the cord? These are the details I think we're looking for.
Thanks for this episode and please pass on all our thanks to Tariq for his time and expertise.
Thanks you very, very, very much for this video, you have shared with us a magnificent process, love it.
You are very welcome! :)
I watched this video when it was first released and possibly everyday since. You guys are a great team together, Tariq’s work is brilliant!!! Hope you guys explore more LF portraits
Michael, I'm honored! Also, you'll be happy to hear there's more Tariq content coming very soon! :)
Now that was an awesome video! Thank you both for explaining everything in an easy to understand way! Keep being awesome!
Wow. This episode was amazing. Thank you so much Tariq and Mat for some really, really great stuff!
Our pleasure, Chris! I confirmed it with Tariq earlier today, there will be more lighting action on the channel in 2022!
@@MatMarrash That’s awesome! Can’t wait to see more!
wow stumbled onto this video. Amazing content Mat!
Great. Thank you!
Hi, this was truly interesting. But for an amateur with no dedicated studio space difficult to try out (or emulate). Especially the giant soft box… now way…
Still what I can take back from this is a) trying out feathering with the biggest soft box I have, definitely a new thing for me! And b) the metering technique is quite helpful, that I will adopt as the dark season approaches and any shooting inside will need my (two) studio flashes…
Great tips! Thanks 🙏🏾
You bet!
This was so incredibly helpful!! Thank you both sooooo much for putting this out there - I will be referencing this one for the years to come!!
You're so welcome!
The beautiful, beautiful Type 55. I do miss it. Attention the new ' Polaroid ' people, this is how a Polaroid film suppose to function. Very enjoyable to watch, particularly as I see the Wista DX and the Nikkor 180 W , yes I have both of them, being used masterfully. Thank you. PS: My advice to anyone wishing to know how to light up a subject is to study the work of the late Yousuf Karsh, the great Armenian/Canadian photographer.
Karsh was such a master, he's my go-to recommendation. A few years back, Tariq and I traveled down to Cincinnati to check out a fantastic exhibition of Karsh's contact prints!
@@MatMarrash Indeed Mat. His portraits are nothing short of mesmerising, in the classic sense.
Great tutorial, please post portraits on Flickr!
wow, so much good info here. liked and subscribed
Thanks for checking out the channel Jose, happy shooting!
Mat, that was really interesting as I've been wanting to do some portraits for a long time - Thanks :)
Funnily enough I was test shooting with my Wista Field DX with flash this morning. It’s first use of 6x7 back for a cheap film at ISO 50. Inside shots of my relaxed but inclined to move dogs so I was using f11 to improve chance of being in focus so needed flash. A Nikon SB800 using auto and pointing at the subject with flash in one hand and cable release in the other. I’m aiming for in focus and properly exposed with zero artistic merit.
Thanks for the comment Nick, a speedlight at close range unmodified should have enough "oomph" to freeze the dogs in place. Whenever I shoot LF and portrait subjects head-on, I call it Weegee style!
such a great video!
Hey Mat, I love your show. Your commitment to large format is indisputable. If I can make a suggestion, you must never neglect the trademark of you channel - the hair ! What happened to the wave? :)
Keep doing great work you are appreciated by many.
Gravity had bested my hair by the time I made it to Tariq's studio. It may be getting too powerful to hold upright!
I used a lot of type 55 back in the day. At 23:00ish the pull is too fast, I always used very smooth 1 second pull, plus the print looks overexposed, but is probably right for the negative. I preferred type 55 over type 52 as the print had a nice very slight bluish cast and appeared smoother than type 52.
I thought it looked overexposed too but that's just from the camera filming the episode. Look at the 2 pics on Matt's flickr page in gorgeous resolution, they look stunning.
I loved this episode. I shoot a lot of lit portraits on digital but haven’t tried yet on my 4x5. It’s time to rectify that.
Definitely need to give it a go, with the gear in hand it's only a matter of time!
@@MatMarrash I’ll ambush my next visitor and get them to pose.
nice video, and subject, wish you could do more videos using flash light, ie, still life, internal architecture, museum/ art photography and simmilar. Also showing the gear off a bit more, if we want to use these flashes, what do we buy, how to 'check it' for selecting second hand gear (from studio sales, etc.), assembly of the packs/heads, as well as umbrellas, etc. as outside of Profoto/Ellinchrom/Goddox, and other manufacturers own videos ( which deal with digital, ie fashon and other pro photographers using canon/nikon DSLR's or Phase One/Hasselblad digital MF cameras); nothing much is around, aimed at the beginner level ( saved for photo imaging diploma courses, and the like), so any help would be appreciated.
Excellent episode Mat thank you so much I am just setting up my own home studio. Just a couple of questions. Can a digital camera be used as a flash meter? Also what about the continuous light from the strobe, ever use only that?
Digital cameras can do a great job of previewing things, but may require a little more running back and forth with the camera when setting up lights. Constant lights aren't preferable since they may run exposure times into reciprocity failure range.
mat, at 16:55 tariq talks about using grad filters, etc. to lower contrast; from LF youtubers, there is another way, that of PUSH/PULL the asa of the film, And the development time N, N+1, N-1 does this do the same for contrast in this Artificial light case, as it does for natural light?
Andy this is a great question and one which was addressed outside of the edit seen on YT. Push processing doesn't always save severe underexposure, especially with flash. When way too much flash power is used, a bit of pull processing can help bring the contrast back down to normal.
Thumbs up! Two big thumbs up. Time to subscribe.
Thanks for subbing!
What's that long loupe you have? Looks incredibly convenient.
Hey Jason that's a Horseman 6x loupe, very nice for fine focus work on the ground glass!
This was great. One of the best shows you have done. Portrait with LF is challenging and you addressed a lot of those issues. What do you think your depth of field was with these images? 2-3"?? How do you make sure your subject doesn't move out of the focus area after you focused and put your holder in?
Michael thank you so much! Honestly filming this felt like another night at the studio hanging out with Tariq like I've been doing for the better part of a decade. The depth of field couldn't have been more than 1/2" tops. As for the subject holding still, both of us being regulars to LF helped tremendously.
Mat saying big chungus, now we’re talking
Thanks Matt and Tariq for this fantastically informative and insightful video. So good to watch. Two questions: you pointed the lightmeter first towards the light and the shadow, is that just for determining the contrast? And then Tariq pointed it straight towards the camera, is that for getting the correct exposure settings? And question #2: is it necessary to add an extra half stop of exposure because the flash duration is so extremely short that the silver grain needs extra light to respond correctly?
very good movie Mat, best regards :)
Thank you very much!
Mat - Nice work w you and two! Who made the backdrop? Is there a contact? Thanks - Matt McCarthy/Las VEgas
Love Tariq's studio. What are the dimensions and how was your cyc-wall build? Awesome studio!
If I recall the studio is ~ 20x40' and the cyc-wall was built by a local contractor in Columbus, OH. Only downside is the occasional coat of paint needed for the walls.
@@MatMarrash Thanks for taking the time to respond. Thank you.
Hello.Tthans so muych for nice content :) Im loock for a nice strobe to start. 300W our a 400w is nice to shot one person ? Head shot body shot?
For an inexpensive, manual-only strobe for portraits I'd recommend looking into the Godox DP400. If you'd like more modern auto/TTL features, try the Godox AD400 Pro. 400W is more than enough for one person when working with anything digital, and for film it will work when close to half-length. If you need to overpower direct sunlight, you'll be looking for 600+ watts of power.
Absolutely wonderful episode - learned a bunch. I'm curious - when you finally got the light where you wanted it, about how far above you was it, and how far in front?
Thanks for the comment and question Michael! Once setup was complete the light was < 2m from me and ~ 1m in front. Quite a bit farther than I would have thought necessary, but there's a reason Tariq is the lighting expert!
@@MatMarrash Thanks Matt! That's really interesting.
Good video Mat! I’m looking for a unique canvas similar to what Tariq uses in this video. Do you have a link to the person who makes these canvases? Thank you!
Nice video, big fan of Tariq. Less is often more with lighting in the studio, and i wish I had those high ceilings in my basement studio. I wonder if you know if Tariq shoots Tri-x 320 at box speed. I shoot it at 200 usualyy and dev noraml in Pyrocat hd. Thanks for all your content.
Mat, this was an awesome video! Can you achieve similar results with a monolight and a shoot-through umbrella? I'm planning on placing it to the side of my subject and using a reflector on the other side to fill in the shadows. My first time using a strobe. :)
Where can I buy Tariq's hat?
That's a great question, but I'm afraid as a non-hat wearer I'm the worst suited to answer this.
I recently bought a Godox AD200pro to use it with my crown graphic handheld, and I was wondering does the reading that the meter give you expose for zone 5? do I have to underexpose if I'm shooting a dark subject? Looking forward to starting my strobes journey. Tarik has been a great inspiration. Can't thank you guys enough
Thanks for tuning in Ammar and for your question! Since we're metering incident with the dome on the meter, we're getting an accurate reading of the light as it's hitting the subject without any difference in reflectance from skin tone. For both of our portraits, the same light intensity, aperture, and shutter speed were used.
@@MatMarrash Alright. I'm receiving the lomograflok this week I'll use it to do some tests before exposing with precious color sheets. Thanks for the reply Mat.
Very informative session, bravo Mat!
If I may ask, are you Armenian?
Thanks for the question and comment Georgios. I've got an Arabic last name but am mostly Irish!
Very well explained. quick question at Mat. Is it best to focus first and then swing, tilt or shift or is it also ok to focus when S,T,S? Thanks
Thanks for the question Bernard! I'll typically do a course focus first, then start applying movements. Without a baseline of where the focus is for the subject, it's very easy to overdo tilt and swing.
@@MatMarrash thanks, I'll give it a try.
You're so fricken helpful.
What are the printed tabs on the side of the camera for ?
Aren’t ceiling rails a better solution than all those stands?!
What kind of modifiers is he using?
Hi Mat. What size was that softbox?
Hey Troy, it's a BIG one coming in at 4x6 feet or 1.2 x 1.8 meters!