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Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman

Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TV

*For more information visit AdoramaTV YT page, and of course you can keep up with David on Instagram and Twitter @DavidBergman. LATEST UPDATE: David opened up new IGTV episodes where you can ask him questions live! find out more at http://www.AskDavidBergman.com

In this quick tutorial we would like to ‘shed light’ on a technique called “on-axis fill”. Photographer David Bergman and AdoramaTV shares his thoughts on how to  use on-axis fill to enhance your pictures without changing the overall feel. 

Mr. Bergman explains: “I’m using one flash in a softbox, and have it up into the side, which is a pretty traditional look.  I like the way this looks with the light  all coming from one side, because it’s  really dramatic.  It creates strong pitch black shadows on  the other side of his face.”

Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TVBecome Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TV

“What if I  actually wanted to see the rest of his  face and clothes, but don’t want to lose  all of that drama? This is where fill  flash comes in. Fill flash is simply a  second light that I’ll add in to lighten  up, or fill in the shadows. That’ll let me  see what’s going on in there now. I can put the fill light on the opposite side  of my key, but check out what that does.”

Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TVBecome Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TV

It actually changes the whole feel of  the image, and I don’t want to do that. I  like the way I had it, and just want to  lighten the dark areas a little bit, so I  can see them. So I’m going to put my fill  light on the same axis as my camera lens.  Which really just means the light is  coming from the same direction that the  lens is pointing. You can get close  enough by using a big modifier like an  umbrella or a softbox, and put it behind  you, or right over the camera. I’m going to  do it with a ring-light, which is as  on-axis as I can possibly get.”

Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TVBecome Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TV

“The other  thing to consider is intensity. If I power the fill anywhere near the same  brightness as my key light, it’s going to wash out all the shadows, and give me a  boring flat photo. So the idea is to power the fill way down, so that it just begins to fill in those shadows. There’s  no rule for this, but two or three stops underexposed is a good place to start.  I’ll usually turn off my key light and  test just the fill, so I can really see  how much light I’m getting from it, then  I bring the key back in.”

Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman -Tutorial, Studio Photography, shot at FD Photo Studio, rental stages, quick tips, Photoshop, Photoshoot, Photography blog, paid photography, modeling, Los Angeles, How To, gear, gallery, FD photo studio, fashion photographer, DTLA, David Bergman, blog, Become Better Photographer: On Axis Fill with David Bergman, Adorama TV

The idea here is  to still have shadows, because that  creates the depth, shape, and drama, but if I don’t want them to be completely black,  I’m going to dial in some on-axis fill to  taste, and get exactly the look I want.”

 

Check out our WORKSHOPS in Los Angeles that teach you hands-on how to make great photos!

Watch the full episode with David Bergman and Adorama TV:

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