Keep Moving with the Profoto B2 & Rémi Chapeaublanc

You go where you want to go and capture things as they are. Or you stay where you are and light things how you want. These used to be the only two options a photographer had.

But the Profoto B2 presents a third option – do both. Keep moving and shape light.

To prove this, we asked traveling photographer Rémi Chapeaublanc to bring the B2 with them out into the field. This is what he did.

[richardburton]

Fantastic portraits. Absolutely beautiful.

[doverjaquesfineartphotogra]

The videography and story is very powerful, a joy to watch.

[noenken]

If anyone here would have taken a look at Rémi's website it would be pretty clear that these shots are exactly the way he wants them. There was no mistake made, this is simply what he does.

[joakimdrake]

Well, that was certainly a different portrait style from Remi. Their eyes are completely dark and look dead. Almost as if they're from a horror movie.

[MrSimonj]

Nice video, but shockingly terrible portraits, what the hell are you thinking of Profoto?!

[mrharpman]

The BTS shots are much better. The have a mood and a feeling. This pictures with the flash could have been done in any Studio. :(

[tedyancyful]

Can't stop laughing this is so hilarious ..he drag all that equipment way over there for that! Could have done it with a yongnuo lol

[GiuseppeParisiArtist]

The light in the video is far much better than the light made in those pictures. Damn.

[Napoleon-Blownapart]

I'd echo what everyone else has said. I expected something amazing in a Joey L style given the subject matter and locations but the final shots were very average and could have been shot with a speedlight and a small umbrella or softbox. Not a great advertisement for very expensive pro lighting gear.

[DavidWilliamsPhotographer]

I enjoy a lot of the profoto videos. I'm also a B2 owner and user. However, the still images were not impressive in this video like most other profoto videos. I love the way the video was made. But the images are lacking in quality. If Profoto wants to follow me on a shoot, I'll be happy to show a better way to use the B2 kit on location.

[edpereiraphoto]

Nice video, but I think the portraits looked great from the actual video footage of the subjects being lit by the modelling lamp!

[wildhorse]

The video is more powerful than the photo result., r u happy?

[tomblachford]

Agree with the rest of the commenters and glad i am not alone. Great video but the end result made me want to punch myself in the face. Shooting them Steve McCurry style with daylight in their doorways would have given a portrait 100x more powerful. Eyes are the windows to the soul and in these shots they are completely black. I am a loyal profoto customer and will remain so but give me something to be proud of. This stinks.

[NativeEarthlingAI]

Other than the eyes being completely blacked out from an error in overhead light angle . . . it's the lighting ratio that is the main issue. Looks like 3 or 4:1 face to background which has the effect of removing the subject from their environment - which is the opposite of his stated goal. The BTS video looks better because you do not have this issue. I don't follow this guy so not sure how he got a Profoto gig like this. Lots of uncertainty in the dialog like he had no idea what the point of his work was. Very odd.

[ScottWilder]

I enjoyed to the video work more than the portraits. Very harsh lighting from above the subjects. Seeing as this is a promo piece, I would think Profoto would want better representation of their products abilities.

[stevenrix]

Pour la traduction anglaise "la nuit porte conseil" dans la video, c'est "Sleeping on it".
Le profoto B2 est superbe, j'en possede un.

[Adnephstormer]

Merci beaucoup pour ce reportage: ca m'a fait du bien. Je me reconnais beaucoup en lui.
Les angoisses elles sont terribles, elles vous écrasent ...mais au final et effectivmnt tout se fini toujours bien!!!
merci

[ollyyung]

I understand that this style is "what he does", but the top down lighting style in his actual portfolio has the subject's face more evenly lit, with a bit of fill in the bottom or the light at a less aggressive angle, and eyes that aren't so dead. I think the grid and size of the small octa really created extra harshness that wasn't flattering. I wasn't expecting a soft "Annie Leibovitz" type of portrait, but these are still not good even considering Remi's style. With a modifier so small he needed to pull it back farther to achieve a more even look.

[martinm]

Nice trip. Poor lighting. Should be the other way around if your selling flash gear...

[iamwhatiam]

the transmitter is bigger than the camera :)