PROJECT ONE



      The first project did not go off without a hitch but I feel as though the end product came out rather well. I ran into some issues when trying to find a dress for the ethereal shoot as the boutiques that I visited were not too keen on me using them without purchase, which is understandable. The experience with my model was absolutely amazing as she came prepared with everything that I asked of her. She was epic on both her hair and makeup for all three looks and was pleased with the final products. The equipment that I rented from ProPhoto Connection worked how I wanted them to, especially when trying to create the high contrast feel for the "rock and roll" look.
      The editing process took the longest as I was very meticulous with the feeling I was trying to create so the use of color and contrast was very important to me. I wanted to keep the flush pinks and warm tones for the ethereal look to bounce off the model's, almost platinum, blonde hair. Light was extremely critical when creating this look because I wanted it to seem as if the light was creating a halo around the model and I think it was rather rewarding in the end. For the athletic look, I felt it to be important that I kept the look as natural as possible while trying to extenuate the dancer's boy. I did this by keeping the background dark and ambient and shed light onto the subject with the large octodome to create a wash of light along her body while still keeping the shadows to emphasize her muscular physique. The edgy look worked out really well with the inclusion of the set elements like the XLR cables and the Carvin Amp. I think it added some much needed dimension to the space rather than having an empty white backdrop. During the editing precess I was really focused on enhancing the contrast of the images to go with the rock and roll feel. Since Alex did such an amazing job on her hair and makeup I also wanted to highlight that by making her skin and hair look amazing so I really took my time when airbrushing her skin or spot healing out some of the stray hairs.
     All-in-all the shoot was definitely a success even though I didn't accomplish absolutely everything that I wanted to do (getting the dresses) but the results of all three shoots expressed the goal that I was trying to accomplish for this project. I waned to take the same person and insert them into completely different scenarios and make them look extremely unrelated by using the tools of location, lighting, and styling. In that regard, I feel successful.

Here are the completed series of images:

Look One: Ethereal 

Look Two: Athletic

Look Three: Edgy

Project One

Project One:

Complete three separate shoots, all incorporating the same person. One in a studio, one in natural light, and one using a combination of both. One image will be chosen from each shoot to represent the person in a new way and express the dramatic differences that shoot styling, lighting and location can bring to each “look”.

During the week, I figured out my concept for project one. This included researching possible "looks" or ideas I wanted to explore. I figured that the best way to approach this project was to brainstorm ways in which I could make my subject appear different in each separate shoot.


 I decided to do three completely different concepts for each individual shoot; the first, which is the ambient light shoot, would incorporate a fairy and ethereal like setting. In order to pull this look together I would need a fairly talented makeup artist as well as an endorsement from an establishment in which they create the types of dresses I am hoping to capture. I have researched several boutiques in the area and I plan on contacting and/or going into all of stores by this Wednesday and expressing my ideas. I can hopefully create connection within these boutiques by exchanging the rights to my photographs for use of their dresses during the shoot.


For the second look, I wanted to go the complete opposite route and do a rock an roll themed shoot in the studio where interesting lighting techniques could be used to capture an edgy emotion. I have contacted a student named Ian Lipton about borrowing his guitar and amps in order to create a set within the studio. I hope to bring the model to the opposite side of the spectrum and have completely different hair and makeup for this portion of the project.

In order to create the lighting techniques that I believe would be the best to execute this look I have researched the different Light Shaping Tools that are available through Profoto as I already have two strobes from their line. These items include:

Zoom Reflector

This zoom reflector can reflect a wide array of light while also creating a "streak like" direction of light and could be beneficial when trying to light the backdrop in an interesting way.

Softlight Reflector - Silver

The next item is a softlight reflector in silver which will help to create the harsh light and high contrast on the subject that will aid in the rock and roll look I want. 

Soft box RFi 5' Octa (150 cm)

The last item on the list is a 5 foot octabox which can be used to blast a large amount of light on the subject and the background as opposed to the beauty dish that will focus more light mainly on the face and body. With these three light shapers, I feel as though I can achieve the rock and roll set that I am hoping for.

I will rent these tools from ProPhoto Connection in Irvine and use a 50% student discount in order to lessen the cost.

For the last look, I am going to combine both ambient and studio lighting in an outdoor setting by bringing my portable strobes out onto the university's track and setting the large octabox in the direction of the subject. I plan to create a fitness action shot in which the subject can use as another "look" for their portfolio. I want to create a sense of motion while simultaneously freezing the shot by having the subject run and capture that moment with high frequency strobes. The shoot will take place at dusk where I can combine the colorful background of the sunset with the strobe and create a interesting combination of colors and light to create a very prominent shot. 

In order to represent all three of these looks, I wanted to find a subject who could pull off each one. The person that I chose is Alex Kessinger who is a senior dance major with a minor in theater technology where she has gained skills such as costume and makeup design. We spoke about the concept and she offered to do her own hair and makeup as she felt she could demonstrate each of these looks with her abilities. I feel as though working in collaboration with my subject in this way will help to improve the outcome of the shoot as she wants to use the images for her portfolio as well giving us a combined interest in making the images the best they can possibly be.

The shoot is planned for Friday, February 19th at 4pm and Saturday, February 20th at 4pm. We will travel to a Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park where tall grass and exotic trees will help to create that ethereal feel I want for the first look.

The same day (Friday), we will travel back to my in home studio and set up for the second look. As the sun will be down by this time, we will schedule the fitness shot for the next day during the sunset where I have already spoken with the athletics department about bringing my equipment onto the field.

I am looking forward to getting started with the shoot and will update the blog as I find my dresses or add equipment and pieces to the set.