David Hobby, the Lighting Man
-
CREDIT: Photograph by David Hobby.
David Hobby has become something of a hero in the photography world for teaching amateurs how to use affordable lighting techniques to achieve professional-quality results. Here we take a look at some of his own creations, which he shared with the Strobist community on Flickr. At right, a Howard County police chopper, shot at twilight. "As far as I know this kind of ground-to-air wireless lighting has never been done before," Hobby wrote about the photo.
-
Photograph by David Hobby for the Howard County Arts Council.
Dancer Stephanie Yezek is gracefully illuminated as she flies through the air.
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
The Baltimore Fencing Center in Columbia, Md., gets the dramatic lighting treatment.
-
Photograph by David Hobby for the Howard County Arts Council.
The lighting sets the mood for a solo performance by soprano Jillian Finnamore in a shower in the Hotel Monaco in Baltimore.
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
Who knew that it's possible to look poised while being scrunched into a locker?
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
Careful lighting brings the muscles of a dancer's back to life.
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata appears larger than life.
-
CREDIT: Photograph by David Hobby.
Even frogs can use some well-thought-out lighting to make an impact on a tree.
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
Reading in bed looks natural with clever lighting.
-
Photograph by David Hobby.
David Hobby turns the camera—and a Lumi softbox—on himself. He also bounced a flash off the ceiling right over the camera for some (3-stop-down) fill, he explains. Hobby's Flickr captions are often filled with precise explanations about how he got particular results.