Richard Liston Photography

UNITED COLOURS

admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:04:52 +0000

At a recent lighting and portrait workshop we had a great time playing with colours, especially block colours, which works fantastically in portrait photography. The lighting was a very simple three-light setup with two lights illuminating the background at f/8 while the subject, the delightful Julie who was wearing her own very colourful and versatile designs, was lit at f/11 with the key light.

This session indicates how effective colours can be in a portrait session, so be bold next time you’re in the studio.

For more lighting techniques and workshops, go over to www.randbphotoschool.com

Portrait lighting studio workshop

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:59:51 +0000

I’m running a complete studio lighting workshop starting on February 1 and running for six weeks. For more details and booking information navigate to the following link http://randbphotoschool.com/complete-studio-lighting-workshop/

Richard Liston

Studio portraits with flash

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:29:48 +0000

Achieving studio-quality results with your Speedlight on-camera flash is possible, as shown here. This image was created using a Metz 58 AF-2, an umbrella, reflectors and remote triggers. Nothing more. I run regular photographic workshops where you can learn the skills of a pro. Visit www.randbphotoschool.com for details of upcoming workshops.

Frances and Eddie’s military wedding at Sandhurst Academy

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:50:59 +0000

Image by Richard Liston

Some images from a recent wedding at Sandhurst Military Academy. View full wedding here

Image by Richard Liston

Back to basics

admin — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:16:52 +0000

At the next meeting of the Portrait Group at the Camera Club we will go back to basics and look at Broad lighting, Short Lighting, Butterfly Lighting and Rembrandt Lighting.

Time: 7pm to 9pm

Venue: The Camera Club, Kennington

Date: July 19th 2011

Broad Lighting by Richard Liston

Portrait Lighting updates

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:39:13 +0000

I have moved all correspondents of my monthly Portrait Lighting blog to www.randbphotoschool.wordpress.com Drop in and have a look

Portrait blog – November 2010

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:07:35 +0000

Many photographers use as many lights in a shoot as they can get their hands on; my preferred style is to use as few as possible – we only have one sun, after all.

However, being one to always push myself out of my comfort zone, for this shoot I used four lights, yes, four. The aim was to get an even, smooth soft light without the image looking dazzled under the glare of watts.

The setup was simple. Two lights illuminated the background set at f/8, which was one stop over the key light, which was set at f/11. Here’s where it gets a little interesting. The key light was positioned to the right of the photographer, who was facing the model. The fill light was slightly to the left of the key light, but positioned at a much lower level – around waist high. If you imagine a bank of lights slightly offset to your right, you’ll see what I mean.

The lower light is to avoid light fall-off and to punch a little light back under the chin. So, while I’m not an advocate of using a battery of lights aimed at the model, this image shows that it can work, the flood of light keeping the image crisp and shadows to a minimum.

Makeup courtesy of Helen Hogg http://www.hhmakeup.com/

Model: Emma

Photographer: Kevin Ricks

To see my latest workshops, visit http://randbphotoschool.wordpress.com/

Image by Kevin Ricks

Location, Location, Location

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:58:50 +0000

As a wedding photographer you are fortunate enough to work in some of the best venues around and these venues can inspire you to better picture-taking. One of the first venues I worked in was Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park and, a splendid Georgian mansion that remains one of my favourite places to work. Weddings there are a pleasure because the grounds and the lodge itself are so spectacular, with so many romantic hideaways and open vistas to the west that it would be difficult not to take outstanding images.

Another place that I like to photograph is High Rocks in Tunbridge Wells, the grounds and the beamed barn creating excellent photographic opportunities that would please any bride and groom.

Closer to home is The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, a spectacular setting for any bride with the River Thames on one side and Greenwich Park’s iconic meridian landmark on the other; sandwiched between is the College with its majestic columns and ornate chapels.

Sited just a stroll away from the Naval College is the Clarendon Hotel that overlooks Blackheath, which has some fantastic rooms and a large garden, making it the perfect place for a near-city centre wedding.

At a recent wedding I had the pleasure of photographing at the 18-century Ramada Newbury Park Hotel, a splendid Georgian Manor House set in 16 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, which was once the family home of the celebrated romantic poet, Percy Shelley.

Staying with the literary scene, while photographing a wedding at Grim’s Dyke country hotel I could not help but get lost in the ambience of the magnificent former country residence of Sir William Gilbert, one half of the extraordinary dramatists, Gilbert and Sullivan. Grim’s Dyke country hotel is only 12 miles outside central London but it feels a world away with its grand staircase, a beautiful setting for any bride, and its gardens. As perfect as one of Sir Gilbert’s operas.

As grand as Grim’s Dyke but placed firmly in London is Dulwich College. The college is better known as a school but its opulent grounds and grandeur make it perfect place for weddings.

I’ll update this wedding venue blog from time to time to keep you informed of just some of the places where I enjoy photographing.

Richard Liston

www.richardliston.com

A nervous groom outside Grim's Dyke Hotel

The boys at High Rocks, Tumbridge Wells

Dulwich College

Wayne Drew

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:46:38 +0000

I had the pleasure recently of photographing Wayne Drew, the chairman of Ability Media, the initiative from Leonard Cheshire Disability that gives disadvantaged people access to the media, for The Ability Media International (AMI) Awards. I photographed Wayne in the study of the Fan Museum in Greenwich, using a mixture of daylight from the large windows and my Elinchrom lights fitted with a softbox. The images were produced using a Canon 5DmII and a 100mm f/2 lens.

Location Lighting Winter Workshop

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:16:50 +0000

I’m running a location lighting winter workshop on Sunday December 5 in central London. Follow the link for more details

http://randbphotoschool.wordpress.com/

Richard Liston