I thought I’d switch it up and post a photo related blog post. When I started getting into photography in my cramped basement single back in college, behind the scenes blogs and how-to videos were the biggest tools that I utilized in teaching myself how to light and strobe. So for you aspiring photogs just like myself, here it goes.

The Shoot:

Fitness Shoot with Jessica Rose Fitness and Vo2 Multi Fit

Gear:

Paul C Buff Alien Bee B800 Strobe (X2)

22″ Beauty Dish w/ 30 degree honeycomb grid + diffusion sock

Vagabond Lithium Battery Pack

Cybersync Transmitter and Receiver

Lighting:

The goal was to highlight Jessica’s amazing physique. I wanted to make sure I was controlling the light in a way that accentuated her defined edges, cuts, and definition. To do this, I placed my key light with a gridded beauty dish above her pointing down at about a 45 degree angle. This would light her face and her upper body but with a very narrow stream of light due to the honeycomb grid on the beauty dish. I didn’t want any light spilling out onto the ground or even to her legs. To get a nice side light kick on her body and hair, I placed another light behind her pointed towards the back of her body at a slight angle. This is what gives that high key shine on the side of her head, shoulder, and leg. The visible flare in the background from the light also adds some more interest to the image. The overhead key light and rim light are both firing at angles. This side light is what highlights her defined muscles. Avoid shooting direct light, it will flatten everything out and make the body very 2 dimensional. This is the last thing you want to do when shooting fitness.

Straight From The Camera

 Final After Post  

Same Setup With Derek

RAW Image

Final After Post 

You can learn anything online these days. Take advantage of the internet! In writing this blog post I’m reminded of my information-hungry self 3 years ago and how addicted I was when I found a new website or YouTube channel that pulled back the curtain, revealing the techniques and equipment used in strobist photography. And as Ryan Brenizer says: “If your business is based on secrets, you have a shaky foundation. If you can succeed by being open, working hard, and working smart, then you’re in a good position for continued success.”

– Amir

Resource List:

Strobist 101

Framed Network

FStoppers

Lit Up | Joel Grimes

ISO 1200 Mag

Phlearn

Film Riot

Julia Kuzmenko

Emily Soto

Chase Jarvis

Creative Live

Aaron Andrews Apparel

I often stop and ask myself, Am I really working as hard as I think?

Sure I’ve come a long way. Professionally, I’ve been published. I landed a job at a respected company. Outside of my career, I utilize my gym membership. I’m actively involved in a couple start-up companies. Labeling me a “work-a-holic” would not be inaccurate.

Still, I’ve always been partial to the “grinding” tweets. You know, the “if you weren’t with me for my struggle don’t expect to be there for my success” type statuses.

Let’s be honest. There are times when we want to post them. And when I have one of those moments, I hesitate. I think about a few things.

• What have I actually done?
• Can I show for it?
• Do people actually care?
• Why do I want to share this?

The answer is usually: Not as much as you think, maybe, probably not, to reassure yourself that what you’re doing is worth it.

We like to think that we are actively living out our purpose in life. I can recall the hard weeks, the obstacles that I overcame. The highs. But these are all accounts according to my narrative.

What about the un-memorable days. The failures. The ambiguous moments that perhaps had no meaning that we conveniently forgot or narrated as a “growing experience.” A positive. It’s why we say things like, Everything happens for a reason.

How we talk about things doesn’t always reflect how it really was.

The Narrative Fallacy

Ryan Holiday describes it like this:

“The more inspiring and metaphoric we make our stories, the less they seem to resemble the dull and comfortably literal world that the rest of us live in. We start to think that we’re different, that the laws don’t apply to us – that all we have to do is let manifest destiny take its course. This denies the fundamental role of hard work and sacrifice and luck in everything. Narration conveniently ignores the day we laid around and watched TV and the week where we were sure we were going to quit but didn’t. It’s just not honest.”

I am not here to un-romanticize your journey. But before you tweet “IDGAF bout any 1, just gonna doo me ja feeeeel. #Grinding” and look like a complete idiot, remember this.

• Talking about things before we do them gives us a false sense of accomplishment. Talk less. Do more.
• You care way more about what you do than your friends/fans/followers. Don’t get offended if they don’t know what you posted last night at 4 a.m.
• Take advice from people who have been where you want to be
• We are all after the same thing. Stop comparing and start helping.
• Be aware of other narratives. You belong to someone else’s too.

I would like to think that I’m on the right track. I also understand that how I interpret my journey is as relative as walking down the street with headphones on. Only I can hear the music and feel the meaning amidst the mundane.

To hear myself, I would have to yell. And that’s foolish.

-Amir