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In his review of this image, the competition judge appeared to like this photo. However it failed to gain even a merit.

The Dry

• A photograph of "4 legs"
• Model - NIKON D40
• ExposureProgram - Manual control
• ISOSpeedRatings - 200
• DateTimeOriginal - 2009:02:01 19:01:38
• ShutterSpeedValue - 1/250 seconds
• ApertureValue - F 8.00
• ExposureBiasValue - -0.33
• FocalLength - 30.00 mm
• ExposureMode - Manual
• FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 45 mm

The Why

I wanted to have a go at a high key photo, and had the picture I wanted to make in my mind. The image above is pretty much what I wanted to acheive.

The How

High key images are not normally done using a minimalist set-up. A quick google on how to make high-key images will show that the normal method uses a truckload of lights, softboxes and soft panels, with some photographers even using a light wall.

The short comings in equipment were overcome by the use of two off-camera flash units, and 3 bed sheets.

One bedsheet was taped up to form a seamless backdrop, further sheets were then taped up on either side of the backdrop at one end and the other end pegged to the back of a dining room chair, the three sheets forming a "bedsheet box". The camera right flash (Nikon SB28 at full power) was used as the main light source, and placed about two feet from the bed sheet, giving a large soft light source. In order to blow-out the background, a smaller flash (Canon 188A) was used to light the backdrop, with a peice of card used as a Gobo (go-between) to prevent this light source from directly lighting the subject. The main flash was triggered using a cable, while the second flash was trigered using an optical slave unit.

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