OK Everyone, here's a chance to first guess me

Bilsen · April 11, 2012

I have a shoot scheduled at the end of the month with a rather terrific prop:

Not sure if it will be outdoors or indoors but it will definitely be at the nightmare time (10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) because that's when the jet is available.

Model will, of course, be Cindy wearing camo gear and a camo bikini.

Obviously, I DO NOT want to screw this up so any suggestions re lighting (outdoors or in) are HUGELY appreciated. Keep in mind, I may have an assistant (the jet owner) this time. My lighting kit is a 580 EX and two 430 Ex speedlights with all sorts of modifiers, plus a 5-in-1 reflector.

Thanks.

divamum · April 11, 2012

I'd make sure you have an assistant, even if you need to take one with you - no point leaving it to chance when you're going to HAVE to make it work.

Didn't Swartzy do a bunch of shots with a plane? Worth searching in here. I think he did them kinda Fantasy 40's style, but worth a look.

The camo/bikini "look" is of no personal interest to me so no idea where to find samples, but probably makes sense for you to google around to see if you can find something similar, and reverse-engineer the lighting of the ones you like.

Bilsen · April 11, 2012

Thanks Diva.

Now let's say she's wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Does that change anything??

divamum · April 11, 2012

Seriously - the whole swimsuit-with-hardware-is-sexy thing is a whole genre I don't really "get"

Boys clearly love it though, so enjoy - makes for some great photographic discussion!!!

Overfocused · April 11, 2012

divamum wrote: »

Seriously - the whole swimsuit-with-hardware-is-sexy thing is a whole genre I don't really "get" Boys clearly love it though, so enjoy - makes for some great photographic discussion!!!

Eh, I don't get excited by the girls with hardware thing either. When it comes down to it, I just want the girl, lol.

divamum · April 11, 2012

Back to lighting - if it is inside and you want to light it up all over, aren't you going to need a lot more than 3 speedlights to do the job? Can you use one of those parabolic umbrellas and a quad mount or something?

Just thinking out loud. I'm definitely interested in the technicals on this one

Bryce Wilson · April 11, 2012

Couple O' Questions:

Is she going to be allowed to sit on/in the plane?

How tall of a step ladder are you bringing with you?

Nikolai · April 11, 2012

Looks like a soviet jet, you better get soviet uniform ;-)

Hackbone · April 11, 2012

Use your speedlights in Ettl and go either manual or av on the camera. Using this combination you can get some crazy sync times all the way up to 1/2000 even at 2.8. With a combination of boosting or reducing your cameras exposure mechanism and boosting or reducing your flashes output you can do alot outside. Just keep the flash as close as you can if you've got direct sunlight. I'd throw the modifiers away as they will eat up light if you've got high noon light. Don't forget you can block sunlight with a gobo if you've got the other guy. Use your flashes in master/sync mode an use the infra red it the sunlight will permit it.

If you flash is in the shot you should be able to clone it out if you pay attention to the shot.

Can't wait to see the results.

MJRPHOTO · April 11, 2012

Find Moose on the site. He is the best at taking plane shots that I have seen

Bryce Wilson · April 11, 2012

Nikolai wrote: »

Looks like a soviet jet, you better get soviet uniform ;-)

Or, better yet, a mechanics uniform. If it's a soviet made jet, nine times out of ten it's going to need to be worked on!

Bilsen · April 11, 2012

Thanks all.

The jet is a Czech fighter that is now privately owned. She'll be in it, on it and next to it.

I'm not sure yet if we will be indoors or out but sunrise/sunset is not an option. It's midday nightmares or nothing.

As for Cindy, I'm having second thoughts about a bikini (actually I have LOTS of thoughts about Cindy in them

). I kind of like the overalls/mechanic idea and if I can find a poopy suit close to her size, that might be cool too.

Lighting - What I got is what I got. If inside, I do have that big softlighter and a couple of umbrellas that might work. The stepladder goes with the jet. Probably 7 feet or so.

Hack, I'm gonna definitely try that idea. I'm also gonna get some Native Am friends of mine to do "Cloud but no rain" dances.

Nikolai · April 11, 2012

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

The jet is a Czech fighter

And where, do you think, the entire Soviet block was getting their weapons from?

The isignia clearly marks it as a Red Army property. Most likely it was "sold" from one of of the USSR bases in Eastern Europe by some enterpreneaurial-minded high ranking officer, like a chief of the airbase...

And yeah, I second the motion of putting your model into the motorist half jump suite (and nothing else:-). A few grease marks would finalize the makeup...

kevingeary · April 11, 2012

If you have a tri-bracket for the speedlights I'd use that as the main light and your reflector for fill. Or you could get away with just the main hard light in these probably since the jet is so cool

FlyNavy · April 11, 2012

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

I have a shoot scheduled at the end of the month with a rather terrific prop:

Not sure if it will be outdoors or indoors but it will definitely be at the nightmare time (10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) because that's when the jet is available.

Model will, of course, be Cindy wearing camo gear and a camo bikini.

Obviously, I DO NOT want to screw this up so any suggestions re lighting (outdoors or in) are HUGELY appreciated. Keep in mind, I may have an assistant (the jet owner) this time. My lighting kit is a 580 EX and two 430 Ex speedlights with all sorts of modifiers, plus a 5-in-1 reflector.

Thanks.

What airport will you be shooting at? If I am off that day I might be able to stop by and be your voice activated light stand.

BrettDeutsch · April 12, 2012

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

Thanks all.

Lighting - What I got is what I got. If inside, I do have that big softlighter and a couple of umbrellas that might work. The stepladder goes with the jet. Probably 7 feet or so.

I agree with Diva, 3 speedlites aren't going to do the job if you need to light the whole plane. There are lots of great rental shops -- plop down some $$ and get some gear for this shoot if you want to take advantage of this terrific prop. If you're working with partially with ambient light, however, you better check out the color ahead of time. I imagine the lights in the hanger or the runway are going to be some sort of ugly fluorescent mess. If so, you'll need to gel your strobes to match or else things are going to look real funky.

Moving Pictures · April 12, 2012

Bryce Wilson wrote: »

Or, better yet, a mechanics uniform. If it's a soviet made jet, nine times out of ten it's going to need to be worked on!

Soviet jets are like Harley-Davidsons? Who knew?

ilbcnu · April 12, 2012

Scott Kelby has an ipad app called Scott Kelby's Lighting Recipes - lesson 8 is a shoot with pilot & helicopter outside & inside. If you can access that it might give you some ideas (I think it was a free app)

FlyNavy · April 12, 2012

John, I have 2 Alien Bee 800's, 2 Alien Bee 400's, 3 transmitters and 4 Paul Buff Cybercync receivers. Plus all the soft boxes, umbrellas, light stands, booms, etc. I also have 3 Lumopro 160 flash units that have built in slaves. My friend has the new Lithium Paul Buff battery that he would loan me. Plus my daughter is a USAF pilot and has lots of petite flight gear. I also have my old Navy flight gear (Almost Vintage). I would like to help (gratis) if it works with my schedule.
Cheers,
John L
flew2low@gmail.com

Bilsen · April 12, 2012

Thanks all.

Amanda, I'll look that up as soon as I leave here.

JohnL, the airport is in Montgomery, Orange County NY near Stewart AFB. The shoot is from 10:00is to 2:00 ish.

I'm very grateful for your offer BUT I'd need to ask the owner and possibly the FBO if there are going to be more than the three of us in attendance. Just a courtesy you understand but I don't want to surprise them with a full crew.

Let me know if that timing works and, if so, I'll go about asking the various important people. Either way, thank you for the too kind offer.

FlyNavy · April 12, 2012

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

Thanks all.

Amanda, I'll look that up as soon as I leave here.

JohnL, the airport is in Montgomery, Orange County NY near Stewart AFB. The shoot is from 10:00is to 2:00 ish.

I'm very grateful for your offer BUT I'd need to ask the owner and possibly the FBO if there are going to be more than the three of us in attendance. Just a courtesy you understand but I don't want to surprise them with a full crew.

Let me know if that timing works and, if so, I'll go about asking the various important people. Either way, thank you for the too kind offer.

What date?
John L

Bilsen · April 12, 2012

Duh.

Sunday, April 22.

Bryce Wilson · April 12, 2012

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

Duh.

Sunday, April 22.

Darn! If I didn't have a booking that day, I'd have been tempted to fire up the old 182 and fly in and join you for this too, that is, if I could of gotten the invite.

Mike Bishop · April 12, 2012

I'd like to see some pull backs when it happens. It's sounding like a great shoot and a fun challenge. I'm very interested in how you end up overcoming any lighting issues.

Bilsen · April 12, 2012

Mike Bishop wrote: »

I'd like to see some pull backs when it happens. It's sounding like a great shoot and a fun challenge. I'm very interested in how you end up overcoming any lighting issues.

YOU'RE interested. How do you think I feel?

Bilsen · April 12, 2012

Bryce Wilson wrote: »

Darn! If I didn't have a booking that day, I'd have been tempted to fire up the old 182 and fly in and join you for this too, that is, if I could of gotten the invite.

I'd be happy to include you in the courtesy request to the owner but are you sure burning that much AvGas is worth it just to watch me? Or is it possible the thought of Cindy and a fighter have some interest to a straight male pilot? Hmmmmmm.

OK Everyone, here's a chance to first guess me

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