Editorial shoot in the AZ desert with Bob Davis, Canon Explorer of Light
Bob Davis uses Reflex to create cover for AZ Foothills Magazine
Bio:
In May of 2006, Bob was accepted into the family of CANON EXPLORERS OF LIGHT, a program created by Canon for the purpose of educating photographers. Today, the group is comprised of the most influential photographers and cinematographers in the world, each a master of their creative specialty.
Bob has been given the privilege of teaching for Canon, educating photographers to help them reach their potential. This has been a huge honor and we could not be more grateful.
We love Canon's philosophy of "kyosei" which translates into English as "living and working together for the common good".
Quote: “The StellaPro Reflex lights were essential in achieving the desired effect for this session, providing great flexibility when dealing with various lighting situations. “ - Bob Davis
Photography is both an art and a science, where the right combination of technique, creativity, and equipment can result in stunning images that tell a story and capture a moment in time. As a passionate photographer, I have had the opportunity to use the StellaPro Reflex lights on three different photo assignments, each with its unique challenges and objectives. One of my favorite sessions was the magazine cover session for Arizona Foothills Magazine, featuring Dr. Stacie Stephenson. Our goal was to capture Dr. Stacie in a setting that speaks to Arizona's natural beauty. To achieve this, we scouted for the perfect location the day before the shoot, ensuring it was approved by the editorial and PR team. Working on high-profile sessions can be challenging, as it requires teamwork and coordination between various stakeholders, such as editors, glam teams, and PR teams. However, shooting tethered onsite with the team ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding the setting, wardrobe, and lighting.
For this session, we used the FJ Westcott 8'x8' Scrim with two stops of diffusion to soften the harsh late afternoon sunlight, which we complemented with two StellaPro Reflex lights in both flash and constant light mode. The main Reflex light had a Spot optic to focus the light on Dr. Stacie's face, while the second Reflex was used as a fill light with a medium-wide optic with about minus one and a half stops less light than the main light. We controlled and fired the Reflex lights via the Profoto TTLC transmitter, which allowed us to wirelessly control the continuous light, modeling light, and manual flash power. Lighting is crucial in directing the viewer's attention to where the photographer intends, and in this instance, we used lighting to pre-touch the image to emphasize Dr. Stacie's face. The use of pre-touch instead of retouching enabled us to create a natural and authentic image that perfectly represented Dr. Stacie's personality.
To capture the final image, we used the Canon EOS R3 with the RF28-70 f2 L series lens, which offered versatility and shallow depth of field with a constant f2 aperture lens. The final photograph was chosen based on the following exposure information: Date: 3/29/23 Time: 7:24:15 PM Model: Canon EOS R3 Lens (mm): 33 ISO: 100 Aperture: 2 Shutter: 1/250 Exp. Comp.: 0.0
*Behind the scenes photos courtesy of Larry Remiker
The StellaPro Reflex lights were essential in achieving the desired effect for this session, providing great flexibility when dealing with various lighting situations. As a photographer, lights and lenses are like paint brushes to me, where each subject speaks to me differently, and from there, I choose the lighting and lens to create the look I'm seeking. I look forward to exploring more creative possibilities with the StellaPro Reflex lights in different situations, pushing the boundaries of my craft, and capturing memorable images that tell unique stories. Share the Light, Bob
