Stock Clouds

Today the clouds looked fantastic!  I went down to pacifica to get some cloud stock for later use of my composite projects! I did a quick photoshop retouch on it. Though i normally put behind the scenes and current ideas on this blog I felt that the image was beautiful enough to put on this blog!

Genevieve the actress

Had another shoot on Friday Nov 13th.
This shoot went well also!
Can't explain much about the shoot, except it was great listening to swing music while Genevieve modeled.

Note: First time i used the smoke machine!  I WILL BE BUYING ONE OF THESE NIFTY ITEMS VERY SOON.

Nasha Photoshoot

This blog is dedicated to the model i worked with on Thursday the 6th of Nov.  Her name is Nasha or is it natasha.  She is the most sweetest model I have worked with this year.  By sweet I mean happy to be part of this photography project.  The shoot went extremely well! Her boyfriend was really nice and patient with the shoot and very respectful to all of us.  AND the 49ers won! The very next day she sent me an email thanking me again for the wonderful shoot, but it was the part when she wrote " she needed that boost of confidence" that got me a little choked up. Never had a model express that much gratitude.  So with that said here's to you Nasha till we collaborate again!

The Miracle shoot

     Though I had no MUA/HAIR on the set and a cancelation from the 2nd model.  We (Me, Peipei, Marina, Kevin) still pulled this shoot off.
I'm very happy on how the image turned out!
It comes to show that if your willing to make it work, you will be successful.
Thanks for all who contributed

Set up: 1hour
Shooting time: 45min
Post production: 2.5 hours

Reflectors as my Main and fill light

Was curious to see what type of lighting characteristics were when use of reflectors as my main light source.  Surpirsed by the beautiful light i decided to use another reflector for a fill!  I shot this in RAW but when converted to JPG it darkned everything down! however has a nice feel to it!

Lighting set up: 20min

Post:20min

Here is the diagram for you who is interested in lighting.

  

Still Life 3

I've helped out 4 styling students in the past month.  Gotta admit it was really fun to photographing for them!  Here is one of the last shots i did for Bethlehems projects! I love the lighting and the combinatino of the modern pants with the classic purse and necklace.

Still Life 2

Had a couple of styling students asking if i can help them out with their project.  Here is Bethlehems' (stylist name) project.  Though this was her first photoshoot, I think she did a great job!  She is by far one of the most organize person i have every worked with on a shoot! Actually Gena was very organize to the bone!  Have a good feeling about Bethlehem.

Styling: 30minutes (each)
Lighting: 45-1hour
Retouching:3 hours

Working on 40's-60's era

I always wanted to do a 40's-60's era photoshoot!  So for my final i decided to base my project on that era and photography style.  The Model is the Lovely and charming Arlyle.  She was dedicated for the shoot and she did her own Make up and Hair, she also brought her own wardrobe, which looked fantastic on her!
    I must also point out that I am a huge Hurrell fan! And because of him my lighting style it is what it is today! So this first shot and retouch is dedicated to George Hurrell.

Model: Arlyle
lighting set up: 1Hour
Photoshoot: 2 Hours
Post production: 3Hours

Charmed

I really wanted to put this image in my port but after spending hours fine tweaking the other image i thought it be best just to have this image be part of the Charmed portfolio

Set up lights:3.5 hrs
Shooting time: 30 minutes
Post: 45 minutes

Diagram of the shoot
(Future reference)
(Next time,  add more light on the background when using cookies. )

nostalgia

It's been 3 years since I last photographed a still life.  So when Sofia a styling student at The Academy of Art asked me to photographer her still life project I was a bit worried!  I just wasn't sure if i can pull it off.  But after much flagging, reflecting, screening, and everything that is associated with photographing a still life object this is the result.  Some highlights and shadows might be unpleasant but overall i think we did a pretty good job.  I'll admit this project definitely took me back to the City College era where I did nothing but still life.  (As a matter of fact i came into AAU as a still life photographer.)  Nostalgia set in so much that i decided to use hot lights rather than strobes for the background lights.
SHOOT TIME: 4.5HRS
POST: 3
Eating a cookie and drinking an orange juice that was given to me by Sofia : 30 seconds!

Here is a clearer diagram of the set up shoot

New Work

I really need to start pushing myself to do more fashion work with my style.  Last Saturday i did a shoot the a very talented team! MUA Christine Chan , Hair stylist Kristina, model Ana.  They were a big part of making the shoot successful.  Just one minor thing, the look piece on the camera changed the viewing angle  of each shot making it difficult to compose the subjects properly.  Thank God i learned it now than in the working field!

Realize

Today i was looking at my work and realize i tend to place my subjects on the right side of the page than the left.  I also notice i use the color blue alot in my work.