Photographer Manfred Jasmund has been working as a photographer for 15 years, and for the past 5 years, he has also operated his own photo studio near Cologne. His work, specializing in character portraits, has earned him several awards. Since he previously worked exclusively with studio flashes, he was very excited to test the Weeylite ninja 400 II LED continuous light as part of a collaboration with us. Learn more about working with continuous light and his experiences during and after the test here.
The Goal of the Shoot
To put the continuous light to the test, the photographer invited two different models. Jasmund enjoys working with a single light source in the style of "the old masters," as he calls it. What he means by this is clearly illustrated in the following image.
In his view, often nothing more is needed to capture an impressive portrait. In addition to the Weeylite ninja 400 II, he used a reflector and a softbox attached to the continuous light for the shoot. Furthermore, he worked with a Canon 5D Mark IV camera and a Sigma 28-70 2.8 Art lens. All of this with the aim of implementing his photography style, visible in the following image, with a continuous light instead of a studio flash.
Working with an LED Continuous Light
Right from the start of the shoots, Jasmund recognized a major advantage in working with LED continuous light. "What you can see is what you get," said the photographer. Thanks to the continuous illumination, it is easy to see how the exposure will be in the final photo. This allows for precise light adjustment.
Already with the first setup, the photographer noticed that working with LED continuous lights offers several comfortable features compared to studio flashes. For example, the white balance with the camera was playfully easy, as the specified color temperature of the continuous light could simply be adopted into the camera settings. For the shots themselves, the brightness of the light was set between 85 and 90 percent, with the aim of keeping the camera's ISO value as low as possible.
For the design of his lighting setup, he was also positively surprised that he could regulate the brightness of the light, making the setup comfortable for the model as well.
From the photographer's perspective, the light was positioned top right at a 45-degree angle to the model, so that the highlight appeared on the shadow side of the face. This lighting setup is also known as Rembrandt lighting.
In the character portraits that Manfred Jasmund photographs, the catchlight in the eyes is particularly important to him. In his opinion, shots without this catchlight appear demonic or somewhat lifeless. This effect can be precisely adjusted thanks to the constant control over the illumination with the Weeylite ninja 400 II, as he demonstrates with this result with model Thomas.
| Focal Length | Aperture | ISO | Shutter Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 mm | F/7.1 | 640 | 1/100 seconds |
The side parting of model Vanessa challenged the photographer in another melancholic portrait. Since her hairstyle created a unique light effect, the continuous light had to be readjusted to this situation. In the final result, the shadow of her strand of hair on the portrait looks like a tear running down her right cheek.
| Focal Length | Aperture | ISO | Shutter Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 mm | F/5.6 | 640 | 1/80 seconds |
Conclusion on working with the ninja 400 II
Even when unpacking the LED continuous light, which made a very high-quality impression on the photographer, it scored points. From Manfred Jasmund's perspective, the adjustable power of the light is also a great feature. "Painting with light just gets easier," says Jasmund. After the shots, only minor retouching in photo editing software is necessary, if at all. Post-processing is therefore reduced to a minimum. The strong light output makes it possible to work with ISO ranges that guarantee optimal results. With an open aperture, even the lowest ISO values can be used. For Manfred Jasmund, the Weeylite ninja 400 II is therefore a clear recommendation for work in the portrait sector. He was able to perfectly implement his photography style even with a continuous light, as the results show.
Do you also have great image ideas that you'd like to share with us? Feel free to tag us on Facebook and Instagram! We look forward to seeing your creativity!
Share:
Creative outdoor shooting ideas with the portable LUMIS LED lights
Sit Photography with the Lion Rock Gimbal L