Amateur photographers can now get studio quality results, even with a cell phone camera, without a studio thanks to photographer Jeremy Mason McGraw’s new lighting modifier.
Ever a fan of “a trick of light and shadow,” McGraw’s name will be familiar to many area artists and photographers. His work is noted for its storytelling quality and striking warm, inviting light. His magical light painting photos have even graced the pages of the Eureka Springs Fun Guide in times past.
In 2004 McGraw combined his photographic storytelling and enthusiasm for travel to form what is now Global Image Creation, headquartered in Bentonville. His work has since been featured in numerous international magazines and television productions, and has been commissioned for luxury hotel portfolios and destination locations around the world.
That adds up to a lot of time setting up, adjusting, moving and resetting a number of lights and then changing it all for a different effect. Looking for something faster, McGraw experimented and eventually invented Halumin™ in 2020, the first in a new category of photography lighting modifiers. He believes it could Haluminate the industry.
“I made Halumin™ because there have been so many times in my years of commercial photo shoots that I wished I had something like it,” McGraw said. “It’s quick to set up, has a small footprint, and packs into a carrying case smaller than most backpacks. In a shoot lasting only a few minutes, you can capture a flat lay photo, an upright detail shot, even beautiful rim lighting – all with one lighting device. Subjects that were traditionally tricky to capture now become quick work.”
With his invention now ready for mass production, McGraw has set up a Kickstarter page to raise manufacturing funds. He recently demonstrated Halumin™ for an enthusiastic group in Eureka Springs representing makers, artists, photographers, and restaurant owners to explain how it simplifies the mechanics of photography and video lighting, then invited guests to shoot their own photos using it.
Halumin™ takes light from your flash and surrounds your subject in the staging area with a narrow cylinder of light to give seamless rim lighting. Moving your subject away from camera and you create softer lighting. Towards the camera and textural details become pronounced. Adapters to attach it to studio lights are even available.
This timely creation arrives just as the growing need for product image placement in social media and advertisement has made small photography a magic spot in the industry.
“Anyone using images of small items for their business will benefit,” McGraw said. “Such as a creator, online seller, restaurant or antique store that uses images but doesn’t have a photographer on staff or access to a studio.
“Professional photographers who would like a faster, more versatile solution than traditional light modifiers will find Halumin™ can quickly accentuate textures and contours that are often not noticeable to the naked eye.
“At the same time, it creates a sleek reflection on shiny surfaces without producing hard shadows and allows the joy of discovery without having to bring in different kinds of lights. In short, it’s the key to showing off the quality, condition or beauty of your wares.”
To see how it works, McGraw invites the community to join the Haluminati on Kickstarter.com. Once there, just type Halumin in the search bar. The page has photo images with and without the modifier, plus information and updates there and at haluminphoto.com. McGraw’s global work can be seen at globalimagecreation.com.