December Strobist Shoot

rwells

We held our December Strobist Shoot this Saturday, and it was quite the operation. We had 22 photogs, 12 models, MUA, three theater lighting fellas, several aircraft along with some classic & hot-rod cars. Unfortunately, since I was one of the organizers, I didn't get to participate in the shooting, with the exception of a few quick pics near the end.

Anyway, just thought I would share what I did get...


Strobist: All shots (except the hot-rod) were with 5DMkII ~ 580EXII in Kasey Beauty Reflector via PW TT5 on flash and camera body as controller. Shots 3 through 7 also had some stage lights on the plane. I gelled my flash to match.

jeffreaux2

Nicely done Randy.

2 and 8 don't do a whole lot for me, but the rest are top notch.

lizzard_nyc

Hi Randy,
Man I really dig #3, #4, and #6. Love the processing work (which as you know may be good or bad thing.)--but they just rock! Very fitting for the images, IMO.

Not crazy about the bridal ones--but I think #10 is the best without the cluttered background. It's also a little different than most bridal shots, so I like it.

I cracked up when I read about you finding that hotrod--I can only imagine the inner struggle you must have had, shoot the models or the hotrod? lol. Glad you got some shots at least.

rwells

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Nicely done Randy.

2 and 8 don't do a whole lot for me, but the rest are top notch.

Hey, Thanks Jeff

I'm with you on #8 ~ I took 4 shots of her standing right where I found her, plastic all sprawled out on patio under her (most of it cloned out), and 5 sitting, total of about 5 minutes. She was freezing and I was unprepared. I hope I have more time at my next wedding in two weeks


Thanks for looking and commenting!

rwells

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Hi Randy,
Man I really dig #3, #4, and #6. Love the processing work (which as you know may be good or bad thing.)--but they just rock! Very fitting for the images, IMO.

Not crazy about the bridal ones--but I think #10 is the best without the cluttered background. It's also a little different than most bridal shots, so I like it.

I cracked up when I read about you finding that hotrod--I can only imagine the inner struggle you must have had, shoot the models or the hotrod? lol. Glad you got some shots at least.

Hi Liz,

I should have known which ones you would prefer. If your not careful, your going to wind-up like me ~ not sure if I can even produce a "normal" image anymore <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/rolleyes1.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

The hot-rod; My heart just sank when I saw it there. That's my all-time favorite hot-rod make/model/paint job, and all I could do was snap three pics while leaving the premises :cry It wasn't a choice of shooting the models or the car, I was working a different hanger ~ sniff, sniff.

Thanks for looking and commenting <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > <SNIFF, sniff>

jeffreaux2

rwells wrote:

Hey, Thanks Jeff

I'm with you on #8 ~ I took 4 shots of her standing right where I found her, plastic all sprawled out on patio under her (most of it cloned out), and 5 sitting, total of about 5 minutes. She was freezing and I was unprepared. I hope I have more time at my next wedding in two weeks


Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ah....I see the clone work now that you point it out.....the turn off for me was the saturation behind her....the color balance between her and the BG seems out of kilter.....AND...the BW shot in the same setting looks soooo much better IMO. #2 Seems to me to surre somewhat the same issue. Her legs seem cooler than the warmth of her upper body. Was she wearing some sort of hose?

Oh...and forget plastic. Hit Wally-world up for a double or queen sized white flat sheet. It's a better match than plastic for bridals....and you can throw it in a douffle....in your truck/car....and forget about it. It will be there when you need it....and it is also good to lay in the foreground, just out of view, for outdoor portraits for fill.

BTW....are you near Austin?

rwells

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Ah....I see the clone work now that you point it out.....the turn off for me was the saturation behind her....the color balance between her and the BG seems out of kilter.....AND...the BW shot in the same setting looks soooo much better IMO. #2 Seems to me to surre somewhat the same issue. Her legs seem cooler than the warmth of her upper body. Was she wearing some sort of hose?

Oh...and forget plastic. Hit Wally-world up for a double or queen sized white flat sheet. It's a better match than plastic for bridals....and you can throw it in a douffle....in your truck/car....and forget about it. It will be there when you need it....and it is also good to lay in the foreground, just out of view, for outdoor portraits for fill.

BTW....are you near Austin?

Your pretty much right on the money with your observations. We were getting everyone off of the premises and I was asked to go out and take a few shots of her. I couldn't even move her (no time what-so-ever ~ with the dress and all). I ran out to the car and grabbed my BD, which still had the full CTO from the other hanger/shots. I forgot about it, but the image did not . That's the kelvin difference you note, and unfortunately why.

I didn't put down the plastic. But I have no idea why they didn't have the plastic tucked up under the dress. That's a good pointer about the white sheet for fill


The hanger shots: My hanger wasn't heated like the main "shoot" hanger, and some of the models got really cold (about 40 degrees). Matter of fact, in a couple of shots I had to selectively desaturate/color adjust their hands and legs due to them being red from the cold. I tried to get those legs close to her face color, but couldn't quite get there.

I'm in the Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) area, about 3 hours North of Austin. Are you coming to Texas? If you are, let me know.


Thanks for your input Jeff

rainbow

Looks like a fun session...

#3 really stands out for me. Reminds me of posters in my childhood... Perhaps trading cards? Anyway, looks like the models and the photographer got this one perfect.

jeffreaux2

rwells wrote:

The hanger shots: My hanger wasn't heated like the main "shoot" hanger, and some of the models got really cold (about 40 degrees). Matter of fact, in a couple of shots I had to selectively desaturate/color adjust their hands and legs due to them being red from the cold. I tried to get those legs close to her face color, but couldn't quite get there.

I'm in the Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW) area, about 3 hours North of Austin. Are you coming to Texas? If you are, let me know.


Thanks for your input Jeff

Ah yes...the cold....I have an entire set of an outdoor night time wedding ceremony I am muddling through with red extremeties from this past Saturday night. I feel your pain!

...no trip to Texas planned, but I have an uncle who owns a '32 Ford roadster. It's black and if memory serves...flamed. It isn't as retro as the one here, but carries more of a Boyd or Foush stance and look. It's pretty though...and I believe he recently moved back to Austin from Colorado. He is also a photography enthusiast....though not quite as bitten as you and I. Ill check with him and see where he is these days, and maybe put you two in touch if he is indeed back in the lone star state. Having access to a hanger like that to shoot cars in is great. I watched with disgust while they tore down a huge dilapidated hanger near me. It would have been great for these sorts of shoots.

I have a high school senior to shoot. He and his father have been doing a ground up resto on a '69 Rally Sport convertable. They are nearly 5 years into it, and are trying to finish in time for a senior shoot with it....but I have no idea where to put the kid and the car as a backdrop. Maybe a football stadium......I dunno.


Oh well...Im off topic...back to your thread....(sorry)

Swartzy

No Fair! What a fun time Randy. I do like some of the processing here...edgy, assorted colors. I would love to see some processed for the era. How cool!

rwells

rainbow wrote:

Looks like a fun session...

#3 really stands out for me. Reminds me of posters in my childhood... Perhaps trading cards? Anyway, looks like the models and the photographer got this one perfect.

Thanks rainbow, I appreciate your comments.

These models were very easy to work with and would actually do what you asked Wanted him to look serious/tough and her smitten ~ I think we got there.

rwells

Swartzy wrote:

No Fair! What a fun time Randy. I do like some of the processing here...edgy, assorted colors. I would love to see some processed for the era. How cool!

This was a very successful shooting event for the group. I had a fun time herding/watching/helping the photogs and models. Wish I had more images to work with! ~ Well, I've got a few more stashed away, we'll see...

Thanks Dave