The Flash Photography Field Guide

Lighting Up a Forest

Turning a dark forest into a well-lit playground for motocross bikes is a complicated task, requiring every light to be built up separately before the bikes themselves can be let loose.

The shot below was taken for a double-page spread in a motorcycle magazine, but the natural light was awful. It was dark and gloomy—not the kind of environment the magazine wanted to showcase these brand-new bikes in. To combat this, a corner in the forest was chosen, and the lights were built up one at a time. Four Elinchrom Ranger Quadras were used, fitted with 18cm reflectors to stop the light spilling around too much. These were triggered by the built-in Skyport radio triggers— essential as some of the lights were hidden behind trees! ...