Portrait Wednesdays: Madame Butterfly
“See, the night doth enfold us! See, all the world lies sleeping!” ― Giacomo Puccini With Wordy Wed-nesdays running so many years I thought it was time for a change and inspired by Gary Bern-stein’s 1988 book Burning Cold decided to see how many Wed-nesdays I could publish a different portrait of the same model, in this case Pamela Simpson. Over the next who-knows-how-many weeks I’ll be showcasing a different image of her...
Portrait Wednesdays: In The Pink
With Wordy Wednesdays running for so many years I thought it was time for a change and inspired by Gary Bernstein’s book Burning Cold decided to see how many Wednesdays I could publish a different portrait of the same model, in this case Pamela Simpson. Over the next who-knows-how-many Wed-nesdays I will be show-casing a different image of her that was made over the five years that I’ve photo-graphed Pam showing her many, many...
No Photoshop Please, We’re French
In 2009, French lawmakers proposed a law that photographs where a model— the key word is “model” not your aunt Sally—has been photoshopped be labeled as such. In 2017, that law is now going into effect. The BBC reports that the Photoshop rule does not apply to the removal of blemishes being or retouching to hair. France 24 reports that as of October 1, 2017, anyone who publishes a photo in which Photoshop is used to “either slim or...
Shooting FourSquare’s 48-inch Softbox
When it comes to softboxes, bigger it always better—and softer. FourSquare’s FSK48 48-inch softbox is big but is only 20-inches deep allowing to fit in tight spaces like my 11×15-foot home studio. For location work, it knocks down to 20-inches long, fitting into the pouch that’s included with the $319.95 kit. In addition to the front diffuser, an interior diffusion screen is included to soften and diffuse the light even...
Working with the Classics: Speedotron
“Remember that the person you are photographing is 50% of the portrait and you are the other 50%. You need the model as much as he or she needs you. If they don’t want to help you, it will be a very dull picture.”—Lord Patrick Lichfield Speedotron’s power pack and head systems are the studio lighting world’s equivalent of the American muscle car. They’re made in the USA, ruggedly built to take hard use, and powerful. The...
Shooting Portraits with Lowel’s Blender
The Lowel Blender’s twin-LED design makes it possible to fine-tune its color output to match (or contrast with) whatever kind of existing light that you’re grappling with. This tiny (4.5 x 3.75-inches) unit produces 56W of light, is dimmable from 100% to 10% and is powered by a 120V AC adapter or the optional ($27.88) camcorder battery sled (uses Panasonic, Sony or Canon batteries.) The Lowel Blender 3 Light Kit includes three...
How Did You Make That Shot? It’s Back
A studio session … provides the greatest chance for control. [But] even though there is total freedom.—Eve Arnold I started ‘How Did You Make That Shot?’ in 2012 but last year I only wrote one post, so in response to reader requests, I’ve brought it back. I promise to make an effort in 2017 to update this series, especially as I put my newly refurbished home studio back to work this year. Flashpoint’s 13-inch...
