Photoshoot RECAP: Gigi (pt-2)
Posted under: TRUCK PICS!!!! Let me explain the excitement.
I first came across the idea of photographing in the back of a big 18 wheeler when I came across workers unloading a big rig. The lorry had white canvas siding and a white plastic top which diffused the light perfectly. Furthermore the long crate created fantastic lines and geometries. With Tonya’s shoot I wasn’t able to get my hands on a semi, but we were able to get the Budget guys to lend us one of their bigger transportation vehicles to use for the shoot. (in case anyone was counting I have use 7 different words to describe ‘truck’ in the past few sentences…although I do admit ‘transportation vehicle’ is cheeky, but it’s late, so give me a break.)
Anyways, you’ve already seen some of the shots with Zachery in the back of the truck, but I wasn’t able to use the lines of the truck to their full potential. These shots are the first ones I took working with Gigi in the back of the truck. I think everyone thought I was a bit nuts wanting to photograph in the back of a truck…even Gigi had the look of doubt in her eyes at first. But she took it in stride and went along with my whacky idea. These truck shots you see are actually some of the last ones of Gigi we took in the truck. It did take me a while to get the right angles and lighting right. Follow the link to see more pics and read more explanation on lighting/positioning.
These shots did not come out the way I had expected, as this truck is slightly different from the big rigs I saw. This truck had solid sides/tops which essentially created a dark box. The big rig with canvas all over would’ve provided a natural soft box for the model, hence the styles I had in mind initially is rather different from the ones I have achieved here. Fortunately the truck was parked with the back to the sun, so we simply had to keep part of back sliding door open so that we can get some fill lighting for Gigi.
I had started the shoot photographing with my 17-55 and Gigi standing rather far back into the truck. After a few shots and positioning, I realised this was not the best way, as I was not able to capture all the lines leading into Gigi. So I brought Gigi closer to the front of the truck and whacked on the Tokina wide angle and started shooting at 11mm in order to get all the lines converging dramatically.
One of the main problems shooting with a wide angle is the wide angle distortion…if you shoot portraits close up, you end up with lots of awkwardly positioned and proportioned limbs. So to combat this, one way was to keep Gigi’s face relatively centred (as the above pic) because centre of the wide angle lens is the area with the least amount of distortion.
Another way to combat the distortion is simply exaggerate all the angles and go with the flow…you’ll end up with some whacky looking shots like the one above, but I think it works and gives more attitude to the photo. I have to give credit Gigi for her patience going through these shots and poses. Gigi is quite a natural herself working through the various looks.
After all the shots with the converging lines, we thought we would have some shots of Gigi on the ground. I think the pretty girl/dress contrasts with the grunginess of the scene…or I could just be bullshitting you to make you think I planned it all…or did I.
Final one of Gigi lounging in a truck, a most hospitable place. If you were wondering, the first four shots had a SB-900 in a softlighter to camera right. And you can spot the two SBs strapped to the back of the truck to give a tad bit of back lighting, sometimes just gelling to create a bit of interest. (Is it bad that the word ‘gelling’ just reminded me of the Dr. Scholls adverts?…you gellin’) nvm….the last two shots just had the softerlighter to high to camera right.
I really like the portability and softness of the softlighter…however sometimes it’s almost TOO soft to create any edginess in the photos. Got to be at work in 7 hours…good night peeps, enjoy the photos.
Ps. To see more of Gigi: click here
Also as I mentioned in previous posts, Gigi’s hair by Tonya, makeup by Renny and wardrobe by Keisha.