CP09 – Sunbounce Guerilla

Hey Bert, saw this running at ‘Kina, didn’t have the sound on though. Great stuff! Love the “larger” shirtless guy!

Cheers
Duncan

Hi Bert, another great video, really enjoyed this because it was off the cuff, you were using minimal equipment, and got some great images! Thanks for sharing once again!

Cheers
Neale

I would like to know, was that sunbouncer really better than having bare flash or maybe flash and shoot through umbrella? Whadda ya think?

Hi Bert,
thanks a lot for the Video and Pictures.
I am wondering, too, how did you like the sunbounce compared to, let’s say, a shoot through umbrella?
Looking at the pictures, I would say, the light is a bit more edgy and crisp. And the sunbounce seems to be a bit easier to handle in windy situations.
I like the guerilla style a lot. have to give it a try some day. How did you convince your models for the shoot? Any model releases or so? Just wondering.
Greetings from Germany,
Phil

Great pictures!

When you are out and approach people who you’d like to model, do you find that they always want you to email them the pictures, or mail them prints?

How do you go about this? Do you wait for them to ask, or do you offer to send them pictures, as a way of bargaining with them? Is it difficult to get people to take part?

I like the last pictures most

nice new video

greets from germany

fotoknobi

thx all

@teemu, phil, sarked: it’s not a question of being better than an umbrella or a bare flash. It’s another kind of light. It will be very suitable for some situations and in other cases a softbox, umbrella or bare flash will be better. I’ll write a review of it later.

@phil: Stepping up to these people was the hardest part. But everyone said yes. I think the trick is to find a place where most people are relaxed and have time. Your succes rate will be probably much lower if you try to get model in the metro station at 8u30 am.
We had model releases. There were only two underage girls we shot, who didn’t return the release signed by their parents (so we didn’t feature them).

@Virgil: I have something up my sleeve considering post processing but you’ll have to be patient for a few more months.

@Jonathan: I think it’s no more than fair immediately mention that these people will get the finished pictures (high res on cd-rom). It’s also written in the model release and they also get a DVD of the movie.

@fabrizio: Doing it together is way more fun. And you always learn a good deal when shooting with another photographer. Sunbounce is actually a German company and their stuff is pretty easy to find in Europe: http://www.sunbounce.com/cms/index.php?id=europa

@sarked: I’m usually on auto white balance on these run-and-gun shoots. We didn’t use any gels here.

Finally, we get to see this Great stuff, I really love your videos, both as tutorials and just to hear how you work and think…You should really visit Las Vegas over here in the States, so I can watch you work in person!

Bert,

Good stuff as always. I really enjoy the behind the scenes videos. They’re really helpful in understanding the environment of where a shoot was done. I would have had no idea how to get these shots at the beach were it not for the video.

I really like your results. It’s quite inspiring to think such beautiful photos can come from an unplanned shoot with minimal equipment.

Thanks for sharing.

Erik in Boston

ok, I’m getting old… I didn’t saw that page the first time I was on their website.

I agree that is funny, but you know, in love and in war all is permitted

Amazing and inspiring. Makes me want to head on out to the beach and take pictures of people who catch my eye. Thank you for doing these videos. You inspire many to try new things.

Jerad

@sarked: I’m not using model releases that often, although I probably should. But in this case I was working with complete strangers, some of them under 18. Model releases seemed like the best thing to do knowing that the pictures and video would end up online.

@Ron: I really should do a workshop tour in the US some day.

@Erik: One of the most important things I lie to show in my video’s is that you can create almost everything you want no matter the location with limited amounts of gear and people. So your comment makes me really happy.

@Pete: I will show some of my postprocessing stuff soon although I think I don’t do anything special. The key to me is to consider taking the picture and processing it as one thing. I usually know how I will process a photo, at the time of shooting. So I shoot with postprocessing in mind.

@Jerad: never wait, just go shooting

Wonderful images – love the texure in the midlength of the older gentleman. And great instruction on how shooting can be relatively simple. Thanks so very much for sharing!!

Laura in Florida

Thanks for wonderful video and pics. Cool stuff

Great video ! I wasn’t aware Sunbounce was a german company and I thought their gear would be har ot come by in Belgium thanks for the tip

Great video! I think the product is marginally better than my collapsible large 5-in-1 reflector/diffuser but at many times the cost.

Thanks a lot

@workloadmaster: my attitude is that you can create everything you want anywhere at any time with the right equipment and some creativity.

@stephan: Studio Technic in Brussels has Sunbounce and so does Calumet in Antwerp. You can also order straight from the Sunbounce website.

@frank: You are right … and wrong. It depends on what you use it for. Try using a collapsible in even moderate winds. I shoot mainly on location in often daunting conditions. That’s where the Sunbounce ‘shines’. I also think it has a bit of a different look. Not better or worse than a collapsible but certainly different.

Hi Bert,

Sorry to say, sorry for me that is, I only just even heard of you. Very lax, I will rectify immediately. Picture 12 rang the bell for me. I really like the way the bulk of the picture was slightly off focus, but her face was pin-sharp. Standard portrait ‘trick’ I know, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done so well, and so simply. Brilliant shot!

I think, maybe, you got things a lot easier in Germany with the ease that you photographed 2 under-age (just) girls. Here you would more likely get mobbed or arrested as a pedophile!!
I got ‘pulled’ Just the other day by security and a store manager……for taking a shot of a sleeping dog, with owners consent AND approval!! Apparently, for ‘security’ reasons, TESCO yes, TESCO in case you missed it, do not allow photography in their stores, O.K., but I was in the CAR PARK!!! Just what ‘security threat’ do they imagine I posed(sorry ’bout the pun…NOT) SITTING IN MY WHEELCHAIR! I always said I was going to ram-raid Mothercare, but I’d never have a dog as an accomplice!

Keep shooting and posting. As for me? I’m gonna spend a few days going through your archived work. Thanks so much for sharing.

Doug.

thx

@Adam: After reading your comment I’m considering getting sponsoring from a diaper manufacturer

@Doug: I’m from Belgium but I guess it will be harder to do in Germany. But here too it got harder to do this kind of stuff. I think we picked the right spot to shoot. On the beach there’s always a more relaxed atmosphere and because everyone can see what you’re doing I suppose it feels safer to some people.

@Allan: happy to hear you learned something.

Bert,

I simply love your videos. They are inspiring and with your touch of humour I just get addicted. Keep up the splendid work on both fronts (video and photo).
Greetings from Switzerland

Hi Bert,

Really love your work and the instructive video’s. I just started in the world of Modelfotography, but realy love it. I still don’t have the guts to shoot more with flashes outside, but it wil come , still waiting for my ND filters…already for 2 months..

Could it be possible to have a step by step movie on how you come to your end results. Where do you place the light, etc.

Hey Mr. Stephani! I can’t tell you how much of an inspiration your videos and pictures are! I’m still somewhat new to photography, I’ve only been doing it for a year and I was mostly a nature/wildlife photographer but lately i’ve been getting into portraits and I gotta say you make it look so easy! You take such amazing photos, I just hope I can be that good one day

I was curious which model micro mini you recommend (i.e. which material) the zebra/white silver/white or the white/black. I this you were using the silver/white in the video but I am not sure.

Great Video Look forward to the next one.