By Jay P. Morgan.
In this Slanted lens video we look at the process of combining natural light and strobes on location. We are out shooting for The Providential Living Heritage Academy and need to get video and stills of our set up. It can be hard to shoot both video and stills on the same set up unless you plan for it. We needed both a crane shot and stills from our Pioneer set-up. Using a Kessler Crane we shot the crane shot during the sweet light time at sunset and then used strobes as the light faded to get our still shots. Using my iphone app (Sun Seeker) I could see exactly where the sun was going to go down. The scene was orientated to use the sun as the key for the video and then as the sun faded two strobes were used to take the place of the sun for the still shots. Tricky process, but necessary these days as clients are asking for both stills and video on the same set-up. Keep those cameras rolling and keep on click-in!  Jay P. Morgan

Mastering Studio Strobe Lighitng: Beginning to Advanced Photography Instruction by Jay P. Morgan

#1 
Here we are out on location at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen California. We created a grave set out on top of an open hillside.
Nikon D600 | Nikon D7100 | Nikon D800 | Canon 5D Mark III | Nikon D5200 | Canon 1D X

#2
I'm going to set the scene up so I can use the natural light as the key on the Video image. I want the sun just behind the people from the camera so It creates a nice light as they look into the setting sun. If the sun is to far behind them it will be to much rim and their faces will be to dark. If the sun is to much ahead of them they will be flat light and not interesting. 

#3 
The only way to control this with natural light is to rotate the woman and possible the grave and wagon until its in the right position. I rotated the grave and people several times until I get a natural light shot of her where the sun is in the right position to act as Key on her face.  She has a nice rim light from camera left that will act as key for the Video and some stills. I will shoot my video in this light. 

#4 
While shooting our video the sun has dropped. We are now going to switch and use the sun as a fill light and place strobes in the two positions to act as Key lights for our stills. Here you see our image with just the natural light. 

#5 
Here is the first light we will place. Its a Hensel Porty 1200 at full power. I have a full CTO or orange gel on the light.

#6
Here is our image with the first light on. 

#7
We will now add a second light on the wagon. Its also a Hensel Porty 1200 with full CTO on the head.

#8 
Here is our image with the ambient light and both strobes working. 

#9
Camera Settings: Canon 7D with Tamron 18-270 mm Lens. F9 at 1/13th of a second at ISO 320. 

#10
Here is our final image. Its very warm. To warm. 

#11
In photoshop I will remove the warmth as I process the raw giving me the final image. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

#12
This version was shot early on with just natural light. I like the look but feel like its a little flat and needs something. 

#13
I took it into Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and added some Tonal Contrast. I love the look. It makes the clouds pop and gives the image a painterly feeling. 

#14
Its been a great shoot.