Strobe Projector Light -- Joe McNally's Book

[KevinStecyk]

I am currently reading The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters (Voices That Matter) [sponsored link] by Joe McNally.

On page 72, he has a gorgeous picture of Michelle Pfeiffer wearing necklace with huge gemstones. Surrounding Michelle are a bunch of forgotten and dusty masks from the Smithsonian. Michelle's face is softly and beautiful lit, and the diamonds are brilliantly lit. I find this photograph stunningly beautiful.

A quote from the book...

How to Get This Type of Shot

So I lit her with a straight-up beauty light combo. The gem? Got a strobe projector, one of those puppies that can throw a 3,000-watt second piece of light the size of a dime across the room.

Cut masks in the shape of every gem to be shot and dropped them over the projector. An assistant stood with the unit and followed the massive stone of Michelle's chest. There's so much extra light pumping into just the gem that is is ricocheting back off the statues, resulting in the little splotch of light just to the right of Michelle's face.

Michelle's living, breathing, Hollywood glamour. The diamond's still life. Both are beautiful and both need to be lit differently, just all at once.

My question is, what is the "strobe projector" that he is referring to that can throw a high intensity light across the room at the size of a dime?

I highly recommend this book, by the way.

[KevinStecyk]

Here's a great video that shows a prelude to his new book referenced in prior post (video):

Joe McNally: The Moment It Clicks

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I highly recommend watching the video.

The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters (Voices That Matter) [Book: sponsored link]


And here's a very worthwhile link of McNally at Google giving a presentation. Just a heads-up though, this video lasts about an hour. Very worthwhile.

Video: YouTube - Authors@Google: Joe McNally

At about 44 minutes into the video, you can see the Michelle Pfeiffer photograph that I referred to in my original post. I am curious as to the "strobe projector."

[MichaelMoenning]

One tool that helps photographers place a sculpted piece of light into a scene is the focusing spot. This is usually a stand alone light or an attachment on the front element of a strobe. It allows you to project a shaped piece of light into a scene with a great deal of accuracy. I've never heard it called a Strobe Projector Light, but I've used Speedotron's Focusing Spot a number of times for the same effect, without Michelle Pfeiffer of course! Here's a link to the product: Speedotron Variable Focus Zoom Spot Projection Attachment.

Hope that helps!

M

[KevinStecyk]

Hi Michael,

I am sure that is what he was referring to.

I see a search page on B&H here as follows:

Projection Lenses for AC Flashes | B&H Photo Video

I think they are also called "Projection Lenses."

Thank you for responding to my question.

Best regards,
Kevin

[MichaelMoenning]

You're welcome and please excuse my Speedotron bias. It comes from living in Chicago so close to the mother ship (Speedo is headquartered here). I forget how many other manufacturers provide similar products.

M

[David_Buzzard]

Norman made a specialized strobe head that was basically a slide projector that had a strobe head instead of a light bulb. You could use it to project slides on a background, or cut out shapes. You see them from time to time for a few hundred bucks (not including the power pack) on eBay.

Joe McNally is one o the best in the business.

David Buzzard's Technical Blog

[michaelnotar]

i think this is it, with an added 150mm lens projection attachment listed in accessories.

Broncolor | Pulsospot 4 - 3200 W/S Fresnel Head | 12-3022 | B&H

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