Glamour Portraits: Studio & Location

The story behind my posting these images follows:

Top image: This was shortly after I started teaching my self studio flash photography. 1980-1981. I was not comfortable or confident using umbrella flash lighting yet. So I used a large V shaped reflector, if you can imagine a big refrigerator box cut in half at the corners from top to bottom, and then paint the inside Bright white flat (gesso) paint. then cut a hole near the center, like a diamond shape. Point the lamp heads right at the white inner surface take the picture from the other side, thru the hole, of the softly lit subject. That’s how I took this. I think she felt even more relaxed because I was on the other side of the box, she felt more private.

I had recently purchased a Norman 200b portable flash kit which was all Manual. You had to know your stuff. All it does is put out a consistent light pulse, at 3 different levels. It has 50 watt seconds, 100 w/s, and 200w/s. Back in that year I found flash metering in broad daylight was hit and miss to put it nicely, and this little shoot was significant because I figured out what power, distance, f.stop, etc., using guide number calculations through trial and error, and nailed the exposure perfectly, so this little experience made me much more confident using, my Norman set up in this environment.

If my memory serves me correct, exposure was: 125th/second @ f11, flash: 100 w/s, distance 9 feet, processing: 15-20% push.

That’s the eastern edge of Mission Bay behind her, and it was a very Breezy day, look at her hair. I love the effect of the sun sparkling on the water. Great expression, because it sizzles with a bit of excitement. The exposure (lighting, contrast, etc.) accentuates this expression. Even the cropping could not be better, and I created it without a computer (Hair on left margin NOT PhotoShopped). This shot was a lot of fun to create, very enjoyable, great memory. I want to thank my friend Gina, for being such a good sport and posing me on this day. Here’s looking at you, kid.

Camera: Nikon FM
Film: Plus-x

Film Processed by myself as usual

Going With The Flow, La Jolla

First of all let me say that normal average people should not attempt this stunt! You must both be in top physical condition and excellent swimmers no matter how friendly the conditions appear (green flag). Plus you need extensive familiarity with what exists where (rocks etc.) under the water in that area. With this understanding,  This was relatively safe enough for me and my model, because of our love of the water, familiarity of the area and green flag conditions, and both of us being in excellent shape and good swimmers. Although I almost got my camera wet taking this one! Yes, I was in the water with her, jumping off of the bottom, so as not to get my motorized Nikon FM camera, wet. We were having fun! There was no undertow or anything like that. Besides, I was 22 and in the best shape of my life. Really, who else besides me could pull off a shot like this, especially getting the lighting this good. I even used the white water as a natural reflector.  I miss those days, shooting Kodachrome slide film, it was just more magical back then (you had to really concentrate to get in that “stream of consciousness” state to get the shot, then you wouldn’t know how good it was for a few days. Then you would go over the film which was an intense revelatory experience and usually ecstatic to some degree). I thought I knew I had it, right after I took the 4th frame (I had developed an ability to temporarily memorize the picture I had just taken, I would get an immediate impulse feeling if it was good or not, so I could decide “in the moment” if I  “got the shot” or not). I took an even more (double maybe treble) spectacular picture of her posing on the rocks, after this, which belongs to my Iconic category of images. Maybe someday you’ll get to see it. At least I promise to post something else of her a little later.