Daniel Houghton- Photojournalist » Studio Lighting

On Assignment: One Light

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:54:08 +0000

It’s always a good idea to write things down. For our assignment this week in Advanced Studio Lighting we were restricted to ONE light. The subject had to be editorial in nature and was required to be photographed in the studio on campus. I will admit, I felt like my hands were tied going into the studio with only one light to plug in. It turned out to be a crucial exercise in understanding the studio and how to operate in there. The iPhone photos below show my idea from beginning to end. My though to photograph Andy in his firefighting equipment was the first thing I wrote down 15 seconds after I had the assignment sheet. By the time I walked out of class I knew what I was going to photograph. It’s really all downhill from there.

Somehow all this scribbling below turned into a portrait. I wrote it all before I ever made a phone call to set things up.

After completing his probational first year as a City of Bowling Green firefighter, Andy Shultz, 25, admits that he still loves jumping on the truck and going for runs. “I don’t want to wish bad on anyone, but I love doing my job,” said Shultz. Not going home at the end of the day has been the hardest part of becoming a firefighter for Shultz. “It throws a wrench into your normal life,” Shultz said. “Living with ten guys is… different,” he said while laughing.

On Assignment – Product

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:50:14 +0000

This week’s assignment for Advanced Studio Lighting was to photograph a product. It didn’t matter what it was, so I choose my sleeping bag. Some may know about my obsession with The North Face products, but you get what you pay for. I’ve had this sleeping bag since I was in the seventh grade and it has held up amazingly well.

As for the execution, it’s two images pushed together with some words thrown in. The image on the left was lit with two studio lights (I think 600’s). The image on the right was lit with my Canon 580EX II and triggered with my pocket wizards. I wanted it to look like a lantern.

I’m glad I choose to shoot a sleeping bag, it was challenging but a lot of fun. Just another note on execution, no manipulation was done to the image. With the exception of a little levels to add contrast, nothing else was done in photoshop (other than the font of course).

Thanks for looking!

Spring Portraits

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:06:57 +0000

I hope you enjoy these last 4 assignments I shot over the past few weeks. I apologize for not posting each week as I completed the assignments. I just started a new job (bringing the total to 3) for Werkshop Marketing in Bowling Green. Check their website out here.

The Catholic church has remained silent during repeated media attention over the last several weeks. A series of problems that started with a sexual abuse scandle has been linked to Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope’s silence on the sexual-abuse scandal in Berlin has disappointed many Catholics in his native Germany. Photo by Daniel Houghton

85 year-old golfer Henry Smith ended his golf game last week with a hole in one, his second in 6 months. “I don’t know anyone that has as much fun on the golf course as I do,” Smith said. He lives on a golf course and often practices on the hole outside his house once the sun goes down. Photo by Daniel Houghton

Sarah Berry, 31, and her 8 month old daughter, Juliette grow more alike every day. “Most people say she looks like my husband Mark, but now she’s starting to look more like me,” Berry said. “I love coffee, and the other day Juliette starting trying to drink out of my coffee cup! It really made me laugh.” Berry is a cello teacher at WKU and is currently 5 months pregnant with her second child. Photo by Daniel Houghton

This was for an assignment on fresh food. It’s probably the quickest I’ve turned a studio assignment, shooting both images before 10am.

Thanks for looking!

On Assignment – Teacher

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:22:09 +0000

Where do I begin with my english professor Russell Moore? Mr. Moore is my English 306 (business writing) teacher this semester. He first surprised us in class by pulling signs out from behind the podium and exclaiming “english rocks my socks off!” Needless to say, the class was surprised and he continues to bring visual aids to class to keep us awake.

Western Kentucky University English teacher Russell Moore, 67, has been teaching for 41 years. Moore stands out among his colleagues in English department. “What you see is what you get,” Moore said. “I’m the same inside as I am outside the classroom.” Moore often brings homemade English signs and posters to class to add “a little positive reinforcement” for learning. “No one wants to be in English class, I try and add a little fun,” Moore said. Photo by Daniel Houghton

On Assignment – Character

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:06:35 +0000

Our third assignment for studio lighting class was “character”. As always, we are limited to shooting inside the studio with a person as our main subject. John Michael immediately came to mind after I got the assignment sheet in class. Two years ago I did a multimedia piece on John Michael that you can see here.

I really enjoyed spending time with John Michael. As his dad has told me, “If everyone had a personality like him, the world would be a better place.”

I’m a College man now

Born with Down’s Syndrome, 23 year-old John Michael Huffman is learning to adjust to college life. “I’m a college man now,” Huffman said proudly. After graduating from Greenwood High school in 2007, John Michael takes recreational classes such as Bowling to stay involved with people his age. He loves to meet new people and live life to its fullest. Photo by Daniel Houghton

On Assignment – Motion

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:05:03 +0000

This weeks assignment for studio lighting class was to photograph motion. So long as we used a human as our main subject and shot it in the studio, the rest was up to us.

Once again, as soon as I got the assignment sheet I started writing things down. I wrote down the the following immediately after getting the assignment: track runner, cars, gymnasts, breakdancer, someone who can do backflips in the studio.

I though to myself for a few minutes as we were showed images of dancers on the projector as an example of motion. My first thought was something I immediately confirmed: I’m not going to shoot a dancer.

Soon after that, I remembered a portrait that I shot a year ago of football player Jake Gaebler. At the time he was preparing for his senior season, only 15 yards short of breaking the all time receiving record here at WKU. Despite the Hilltoppers disappointing season, Jake broke the record and I decided to photograph him for this assignment.

I’ll try and make the rest of the long story short. I wanted jake flying through the air with light trails brilliantly lit behind him. I wanted something high key and beautiful.
I knew I would need a landing pad for jake so I called the football office and asked to borrow a pole-vaulting landing pad to bring into the studio. I’ll spare you the details but they brought the equillivant of a yoga mat. My problems didn’t end there as I realized that I would need an on camera flash to use rear sync triggering in the studio. Jake was an awesome and paitent subject and I’m happy with what I came away with.

A special thanks goes out to Chris Wilson and Miranda Barzey for their AMAZING help in the studio. Chris tossed the football, Miranda independently fired the lights, I pushed the button and Jake took care of the rest. Never be afraid to ask for help in the studio. 4 minds are better than 1.