Exhibition and some portraits

[Ash]

I'm part of a group Exhibition in the UK, anybody who can get to SWINDON, the exhibition starts tomorrow and continues for just over a month. Would be nice to see any of you :)

I have a few 4x5 shots printed on Ilford Warmtone FB 12x16 (the first 3 shown here). The rest of the shots are not part of the exhibition, but I decided to put here for viewing now that I've scanned the negs

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img059_sm.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img056_sm.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img052_sm.jpg

[Ash]

The exhibition is at the WYVERN THEATRE, down the stairs toward the entrance to the theatre. My work is visible straight away - I picked the prime location just to the left. There are of course six other photographers from my class also exhibiting, all their work is digital, printed on an Epson A2 printer (but printed at 'super-A3').

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img053_sm.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img068_sm.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img067_sm.jpg

[Ash]

All the images were taken on a RAZZLE 4x5, and ERA 100 film. I can't seem to find any sellers of ERA film anymore, so please let me know if you can find any!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img065_sm.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/img062_sm.jpg

[Mick Noordewier]

Ash,

These are terrific. You've got very photogenic friends. Umm, did you by any chance print them reversed? Either the t-shirt lettering on #3 is backwards, or I'm sinking into dyslexia.

-Mick

[Ash]

Yes, I did scan them backwards, I was in such a rush I didn't have time to reverse them! I'll do that now, thanks ;)

[Ash]

All have been flipped, so refresh the thread if you've already viewed :)

[Pete Watkins]

Good stuff Ash, are you gonna tell us about the lighting?
Congrats,
Pete.

[Ash]

How about this? :)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/second-belated/razzlefda2/DSC01800.jpg

Meter reading was f/8 on background and f/11 on foreground (just behind floor reflector).

[Pete Watkins]

That's fairly simple but very, very effective. Am I right in assuming that you used a Tessar? The floor reflector has really done the buisness.
Congrats again,
Pete.

[BarryS]

Very nice and congratulations. You might consider a touch of hair light next time to get a little more separation from the backdrop. A small snooted flash, high and behind the subjects would work.

[Frank Petronio]

Good expressions and overall quality Ash -- you're really getting the hang of this photography stuff, ehh?

[Ash]

Thanks all.

Pete, I was using a Fujinon 150/5,6 on the Razzle... set to f/11

Barry, the left hand light was reflecting from the ceiling to get enough of a catch on the head, but yes, I realised I should have placed it differently or more strongly to get that extra separation.

Heh, thanks Frank... I hope so!

[Frank Petronio]

I think you are getting a little flare from the lights though. What most people do is attach large black mat board/foamcore "gobos" or flags on the lens side of the lights when you have big open sources like that.

You might also consider moving the lights closer to your subjects, it looks like they are a bit too far away.

And the hair light/ceiling bounce could be moved back equal or behind the subject, with another flag to shield the background from getting too much extra light spilling on to it...

Sorry, art directing...

[Darryl Baird]

a cheap version of the hair light "snoot" could be a medium sized mirror, easy to place (reflecting hard light back onto the back of the head) if you have constant modeling lights in the main strobe head

[Ash]

Frank, because I was limited to two lights, and a small studio, I had to forfeit flags. I had wished to place flags either side but I was relying on the left hand white-reflector to bump up exposure on that side, that's where the diffusion was becoming flare I think. Same for the left hand bounce. In a large studio I would have that above, almost like vogue lighting but with a black backdrop, that wasn't entirely possible.

Thanks for the idea Darryl.

[Ash]

Bump in case anybody else in the UK doesnt know of the exhibition, or in case they wanted to see the shots :)

[BarryS]

Ash-- When I'm shooting in smallish rooms with drop ceilings, I've found a scissor clamp to be very handy.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3569-REG/Avenger_C1000_Ceiling_Scissor_Clamp.html

I learned about them from my film/video experience and they're cheap and easy to use. You attach the clamp to the ceiling and it provides a 5/8" stud to attach a swivel adapter with a flash shoe (or any light that attaches to a 5/8" stud).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5156-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_2905_Swivel_Umbrella_Adapter.html

There are a lot of inexpensive older speedlight units that have variable power and sometimes a light trigger. Snoots can be made from black foil or otherwise improvised. A safety cable should always be used to secure the light.

[Gerry]

nice portraits, like the calmness of the images... I would have used some more powerful flash units so you could get smaller f-stops and more depth of field. I prefer to have as much in focus as possible, some images seem a tad unsharp. I guess it is a matter of choice, just a suggestion.

These photographs were shot at f 64 (powerful 4800w speedotron flash unit) with a 8x10 camera and a 300mm lens.

http://www.gerryyaum.com/sex%20worker.html

[Gerry]

Ash a razzle? good for you, am heading down that road myself soon, hope it is as successful as your work.

[Stephanie Brim]

I'd like one, too, actually, but I think I'm going to need something with more movements first. And, really, $1000 for a camera isn't in the budget right now.

These are really nice portraits, by the way.

[Jim Galli]

Glad you bumped. I missed these first go. Wonderful work Ash. Guess we'll all be saying we knew him when..........

[Ash]

Thanks for the comments all :)

Yes, there is an issue with sharpness but it couldn't be helped too much in the time I had to do them. All the straight portraits were shot in the same morning, maybe 10 minutes apart. 5 minutes max with each person.

[Gerry]

Ash well done then thats a difficult timeline, thats stuff the pros have to deal with. Karsh had 10 minutes or something like that to shoot the world famous Churchill tough guy(took his cigar) photograph(also a 4x5 image).

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/screen/karsh/karsh_churchill.jpg