Miami Poolside Self - Portrait
by Larry Tiefenbrunn
After my appearance on Scott Kelby’s The Grid—where I introduced the new Platypod Mag Deluxe Set and the Super Adapter Survival Kit—Mina and I drove down from Tampa to spend a few days unwinding at the beautiful Grand Beach Hotel in Miami Beach.
On Saturday night we were dressed formally for an event, and the setting around the pool was just too perfect to pass up. Warm ambient light reflecting off the hotel, palm fronds overhead, and that deep blue glow from the water… it was the ideal time for a self-portrait. And, of course, the perfect excuse to show off the versatility of the new Super Adapter system and a few of my other Platypod tools.
To help set the scene even more: it’s about 8 p.m., warm Miami air, and I’m jogging back and forth around the pool trying to nail the composition and finalize the lighting setup. Just a few feet away—maybe ten or fifteen—there’s a gentleman soaking in the Jacuzzi, blissfully relaxed and in “high spirits”, watching me with growing curiosity.
Every time I moved a Platypod or tightened a strap, his head tilted like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
Eventually he called out, “What is all that?”
I told him I’d explain everything once I had my shots. Even though he knew absolutely nothing about photography, he was fascinated by the gear, the setup, and especially the fact that I had invented all the Platypod components. It was one of those funny, unexpected moments that makes behind-the-scenes work so enjoyable—an impromptu audience for a mini lighting workshop I didn’t know I was giving.
Building the Key Light
I knew I wanted the pool and the palm trees in the frame, so I began by scouting for a position that would let me capture the environment while still allowing solid lighting. My Profoto A10 was going to serve as the main light, positioned at a classic 45°/45° angle camera-left.
There was only one problem: I needed height.
I had my Gitzo Traveler tripod with me, but even fully extended, it wasn’t tall enough. Fortunately, I also had two Platypod Handles, and by fully extending them I gained an extra 21 inches of reach. Combined with the center column of the Gitzo, I suddenly had a 7-foot compact light stand—perfect for the A10.
On top of that improvised stand, I mounted my prototype Super Adapter Core with fly-nuts, locked down the included cold-shoe clamp, and attached the A10 securely.
Adding Rim Light for Separation
To create separation from the background, I brought out a Profoto A2 as a rim light. Since I had repurposed my tripod, I needed a different mounting solution.
The answer was elegant:
A Platypod Delta, one leg fully extended, strapped directly to a palm tree.
The tree was thick, so I daisy-chained three Delta straps—one from the Delta itself plus two from the Platypod Strap Set—to get nearly 60 inches of wrap. Using the double D-rings on each strap, I was able to cinch everything down extremely tightly. The result was rock-solid security for the A2.
I added the 3-inch Spigot Adapter from the Super Adapter Survival Kit to the Delta, attached the A2, and instantly had a perfect rim light.
Camera Setup
With both lights in place, I mounted my Nikon D850 on a Platyball Ergo, which sat on a Platypod eXtreme placed on a nearby table. Since the tripod was now functioning as a light stand, the eXtreme became my camera support.
Focusing in near darkness isn’t easy, so I used my iPhone as a temporary modeling light—holding it up just long enough to grab focus. I switched the D850 to self-timer mode and had it shoot nine frames at a time. This allowed Mina and me to try different poses within each burst without needing to constantly walk back and forth.
After a few rounds, we came away with several beautiful portraits. Below is our favorite.
For the Tech-Curious: EXIF Details
- Camera: Nikon D850
- Lens: 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6 at 40mm
- Exposure: 1.0 sec @ f/4.5
- ISO: 64
- Lighting: Profoto A10 + A2 in TTL, set to a 2:1 ratio
- Processing: Photoshop 2026 + Nik 6 Color Efex (Pro Contrast), slight crop
This little poolside experiment turned into a fun, creative evening and a great reminder of what’s possible when you combine small, portable tools with a bit of imagination. The versatility of the Platypod system never ceases to amaze me—even when I’m the one behind the camera and in front of it.
