1-day "anything goes" studio setups

[jerryph]

What a Saturday I had, it was a studio photographer's DREAM situation!

We were invited back to Studio4Fun and this time, they got a local camera retailer to lend them for a day a SLEW of all kinds of lighting equipment. I have never gone through so many permutations ever!

The setups included:
- ambient light (large windows)
- 3 sets of constant on "hot lights"
- 8 Profoto Compact 600 W/s monoblock heads
- 4 Profoto Professional 2400 W/s monoblock heads
- one 10 foot umbrella (yes that is not a typo!)
- six 4 X 6 foot Profoto softboxes
- several umbrellas
- Pocket Wizard Multimax and II's for all cameras and lighting setups
- Of course I brought my Nikon speedlights

Then I just went from setup to setup taking wonderful pictures of models just waiting around for all us photographers to get into gear. In that one day, I shot well over 700 photos on three 8GB CF cards. Once the morning was over, and I had gone through each setup at least twice, I started to mix and match and then run away with a couple of the models into more remote parts of the building (we had permission to do so) like the main fuse panel room, the basement, unused parts of the building... anywhere we basically wanted as long as it did not disturb anyone and was legal... lol

I have never had a chance like this Saturday to really PUSH myself and think my way through so many setups and changes... each challenging you in a different way.

Here are a few pics of the results:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3311923710_1b162ec5f9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3311888488_5551ca0c6e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3311060355_861dc4ac7c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3311891036_b243d01bb9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3299834223_62b60a80d9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3301030964_66cdef9bb2.jpg

There was one "special" model (Chastity) that I had the pleasure to work with for all of 15 minutes. Now, there is no nudity, nothing really unsafe about it, but what she is wearing is provocative (shall we say "erotic"), and the nature of her persona may be NSFW (not safe for work) at some job locations, so instead of posting the photos here, I will just post the link to my flickr slideshow below. If you are at work, please skip this one, ok? :)

Enjoy!

http://flickr.com/photos/jerryph/sets/72157614468302606/show/

[coffee]

Great series Jerry. I especially love the shot of the model sitting on the swivel chair. Great work.

[dkippen]

Jerry - when do you open your own studio? These are terrific.

[jerryph]

Thanks Debbie, I feel that my portraiture is finally just starting to come around. I had a fantastic time with the models, and if given the chance, would do it again in an instant. :D

[julimucca]

Those are realy awsome!

[laura]

Amazing photos Jerry as always!
Cam I ask you about your set up for the fourth one, the one with the models back showing, what did you use, I would love to try it.

[jerryph]

Amazing photos Jerry as always!
Cam I ask you about your set up for the fourth one, the one with the models back showing, what did you use, I would love to try it.

Oh, that one was much to complex to explain... lol Just kidding!

In truth this one was the easiest setup as it used *no* equipment short of my D700 and 70-200 lens. Lighting was the 3:00PM afternoon sun streaming through a large south-western facing window.

Angle the model anywhere between 45 to 80 degrees, set up the camera and shoot away.

Some EXIF info from this photo:
Camera: Nikon D700
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 200 mm
Exposure: +0.80
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

The complete set is available here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryph/sets/72157614388419341/show/).

Sometimes, one doesn't need thousands of dollars of equipment to get nice results, but it is such a pleasure to use the "nice stuff", especially for the first time. :D

[laura]

Wow, only natural light! It does look like a it done with a very expensive lighting set up though. I'm going to have to try this natural lighting set-up. Thanks Jerry

[deelee1]

Hey There...absolutely great shots! I want to grow up to be like you.:D
I took just recently took (was given) an early retirement. So now is my opportunity to pursue my passion. I started out with a Sony A100 when they hit the market and just recently bought a Nikon D700. So when I read your response to the praise about your shot of the young lady with the halter top on, I was happy to know that the D700 is worthy of the $$$ that I spent. :rolleyes: I purchased a 50mm 1.8 and a Tamron AF 28-200mm (the latter because I got a great deal on it.
Anyway...I will be happy when I begin to produce shots even close to yours!!! Best Regards, DeeLee1

[jerryph]

Thanks for all the kind words, but with all the enthusiasm shown, I am sure that you will be right up there and passing me soon enough... lol

Though the D700 is very pricey (and at this level, one really doesn't skimp on lenses else instead of helping, it cuts down on the quality that the D700 can put out on top of the costs of the camera), what I like best about it is that it really lets me push myself in many ways that no other camera has ever been able to.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3479100900_c1749aa4c4.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3479100830_2a432643a6.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3478333925_c9860afe4c.jpg

Right now it seems to be flowing more towards portraiture and wedding/engagement shoots (and my latest purchases seem to bear that out), but I keep falling into different photo opportunity after opportunity and loving every moment. I'll have to make a couple posts again about my latest exploits... lol

I just ordered a 1000 W/s Photogenic studio head and an Alien Bee Vagabond II battery pack for some high powered portability. Time to have some more great fun!

[owenmorris]

Jerry you lucky man, some beautiful photography and angles there also beautiful and good models.I have to agree with Joseph the swivel chair pose is awsome as are the rest..

Owen

[jaydi]

What a Saturday I had, it was a studio photographer's DREAM situation!

We were invited back to Studio4Fun and this time, they got a local camera retailer to lend them for a day a SLEW of all kinds of lighting equipment. I have never gone through so many permutations ever!

The setups included:
- ambient light (large windows)
- 3 sets of constant on "hot lights"
- 8 Profoto Compact 600 W/s monoblock heads
- 4 Profoto Professional 2400 W/s monoblock heads
- one 10 foot umbrella (yes that is not a typo!)
- six 4 X 6 foot Profoto softboxes
- several umbrellas
- Pocket Wizard Multimax and II's for all cameras and lighting setups
- Of course I brought my Nikon speedlights

Then I just went from setup to setup taking wonderful pictures of models just waiting around for all us photographers to get into gear. In that one day, I shot well over 700 photos on three 8GB CF cards. Once the morning was over, and I had gone through each setup at least twice, I started to mix and match and then run away with a couple of the models into more remote parts of the building (we had permission to do so) like the main fuse panel room, the basement, unused parts of the building... anywhere we basically wanted as long as it did not disturb anyone and was legal... lol

I have never had a chance like this Saturday to really PUSH myself and think my way through so many setups and changes... each challenging you in a different way.

Here are a few pics of the results:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3311923710_1b162ec5f9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3311888488_5551ca0c6e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3311060355_861dc4ac7c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3311891036_b243d01bb9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3299834223_62b60a80d9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3301030964_66cdef9bb2.jpg

There was one "special" model (Chastity) that I had the pleasure to work with for all of 15 minutes. Now, there is no nudity, nothing really unsafe about it, but what she is wearing is provocative (shall we say "erotic"), and the nature of her persona may be NSFW (not safe for work) at some job locations, so instead of posting the photos here, I will just post the link to my flickr slideshow below. If you are at work, please skip this one, ok? :)

Enjoy!

http://flickr.com/photos/jerryph/sets/72157614468302606/show/
Hi checked out your chastity link and can I just say they and she is beautiful and absolutly nothing risque about what she is wearing.....just normal saturday going out gear.... :)

[treetop]

Jerry, how jelous do you think I can get? LOL