Mixing ambient light

Here's something quick I did last week. Just a basic setup, combining the ambient light to provide a warm background, but still emphasizing the coffee cup and steam with a couple of strobes.

This is not hard to do. Here's a basic setup shot so you can see where everything is. Notice, that Ashley is the actual photographer :) I'm just the assistant setting it all up :)


Here's the final shot, which is straight out of the camera (SOOC) with a crop only. No post processing adjustment to the image.


Here's how I did it.

Once the camera is set, distance, focus...etc. Take a few test shots with just the ambient light. Find the setting that provides the best background light (exposure) you like. Once this is set, then adjust your strobe settings to highlight the cup. I added a second strobe to highlight the steam, which is behind the cup to the left.

That's basically it. Don't hesitate to snap away and test until you get the best combo of light you like, and then boil up the coffee in a pot and pour it in the cup. The steam will rise and start snapping...it is digital, so no worries...you will get different steam patterns, so the more you snap the more to select from later.

Have fun!