July
Canon 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm, ISO125, 1/100, f/4, natural light 4 image composite
July 27, 2011
It's been just over a month since our last shoot. Seems longer.
We talked about different things to shoot for July but nothing set in stone. Sometimes we just choose a general location and choose the look while we are out. On a side note, I have had quite a few people email and ask me how we come up with the shoot ideas. It really is a collaboration between the two of us. Most shoots I can't even remember who originally thought of it but it is always a result of teamwork. Kat is very creative and willing to do whatever it takes to get the shot.
We started at Big Cottonwood park next to an assisted living center. It was an overcast day and the lighting was great! It had rained really hard the previous day so the ground was really wet.
This first image is one of my favorites from the day. I don't usually catch candid shots of Kat and I really liked the feel to it.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm, ISO160, 1/160, f/4, natural light
It was really great to be out shooting with Kat again. We picked up right were we left off and got some great images!
Canon 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm, ISO160, 1/160, f/4, natural light
Canon 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm, ISO160, 1/125, f/4, natural light
Canon 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm, ISO160, 1/500, f/4, natural light
We then headed up by Cottonwood Mall. I wanted to do a collage inspired by some of the old Andy Warhol paintings. We grabbed a few images on the East side of the mall. Each with a different pose and different wall texture. The opening composite image is the result. I pushed the highlights farther then I normally would and went with obviously unnatural coloring. Most of what I shoot has to stay within certain 'standards' and it is great to get back following my own preference and finding the look for the specific image.
In the front corner parking lot was an old hobbit house. I think someone left it there for us to shoot :)
It had a large round door and was approx. 10 foot square. It was finished on the inside with wood floors and greenish walls.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/8, 2 strobes
These next two images were shot with natural vignette from gridded single monolight. I was going for a moody image with a spotlight effect. I think I try too hard sometimes to capture the Kat I know. When I back off and just let her be herself the images are a lot more natural. This first shot is my favorite from the day. I love focused and hard light creating the dramatic shadows to compliment drama in Kat's mood.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/9, single strobe
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/9, single strobe
We stopped over at KFC and Kat bought me a couple BBQ sandwiches to eat on the way to the next location. I could get used to this. Maybe I will start leaving my wallet home :)
We ended up down in the west part of Salt Lake down by the freeway.
First couple images were captured just below Pictureline and the graffiti wall images are in the same general area.
I love the relaxed smile in this first one.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/50, f/6.3, single strobe
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/7.1, single strobe
On these next images we wanted to capture some with extreme perspectives and all the cool distortions that come with it.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/8, strobes
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/8, strobes
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/13, strobes
This last one is my favorite from the graffiti wall.
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/80, f/8, strobes
The sun had set so we decided to get one more image that we had previously discussed. The shot involves dragging the shutter to exaggerate the motion of one of the trax commuter trains while flashing Kat with a single strobe to freeze her motion. We headed over to one of the station platforms and proceeded to do some test shots. We did a test shoot on a South bound train. Got everything set up to shoot the North bound train as it arrived at the station. Let me start by saying that I know better then to fire a flash into the eyes of a commuter train driver. It seems sorta obvious I think. However, the train driver must not have believed I knew better. As the train approached he slowed down and stopped just before getting to us. He then announced over his PA system that we couldn't be taking pictures on the platform and we needed to go somewhere else. Kat proceeded to wave at him with one of her fingers and this seemed to upset him a little. He rambled something and then announced that he was going to call the police. I think the driver is just ignorant of the law and especially the laws governing where and what you can photograph. Certainly he would have a point if I were firing flashes in his face but that was not the case. Anyways, we knew there was not an issue with shooting so we basically ignored his request and waited for the next South bound train. The South bound train came a few minutes later and we got the shot. After we got the shot, a transit officer approached us to talk about the situation. Her only concern was if we were on the tracks and if we were flashing the driver (you know what I mean). She was fine with everything we were doing and seemed a little frustrated the driver had called her out. We were actually done though so no problems. We really need to stay out of trouble :)
Here is the final image. It is a 1/2 second exposure with a single gridded light source
Canon 1Ds MKII, 17-40mm, ISO125, 1/2 second, f/4, single strobe
It was great working with Kat again! I forgot how much I missed it and the synergy we share on a shoot. I'm looking forwad to next month.
