Return from Oz

Back in September I had the opportunity to shoot with Aussie Model and Make-up Artist Darnah Morgan.  We had a really exceptional first shoot, or as Darnah phrased it, "Magical".  In fact Getty Images requested three images for their "stock" from our shoot, and to date we have made $120.  I think I can retire now.

Darnah and I stayed in touch and discussed her potential return to "The States."  Earlier this year she told me she would be back and that we could collaborate once more.  Fast forward and now Darnah has been stateside for about three months, but she has been really busy running her family business.  We picked a date and discussed some ideas for wardrobe, including some of the clothing from Yesterday Sportswear.

*** TANGENT *** About a month ago Brian and I decided we would pick one city a month and hit up the local models to shoot with us.  It gives us a chance to get away from the Central Valley and the arid climate. June's destination was Santa Monica for two reasons, 1) Darnah lives there and 2) I miss the beach.

So we (Brian, Rob and I) met Darnah at her place at 3:00 PM to help pick out the wardrobe.  I always feel weird looking through women's clothes and shoes to pick out what I want to shoot.  No, cross-dressing does NOT interest me, at all.  Brian tried some Vegemite, then we packed up and headed out to Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade to meet the other models.

Once on location, the weather was cool, breezy and slightly overcast, typical June Gloom. To some it is perfect weather to shoot Natural Light, but again when everything is diffused you get minimal shadows which can make photos look flat and boring.  So out came the speedlight with an OmniBounce to provide some direction and contrast.  We shot in the alley between Third Street and Fourth street and had to contend with gawking pedestrians and rubbernecking drivers. We shot about three "tops" from Yesterday Sportswear and then at around 6:00 PM packed up and hiked down to the Santa Monica Pier. 



You may wonder wear did Darnah change wardrobe, well at the start of our shoot the three of us guys formed a semi-circle against a building so she could switch her top and bottoms on crowded Arizona St.  As we broke from our ranks, I looked up and noticed Darnah had changed right underneath a security camera.  We all laughed and figured the Security Guard must have enjoyed the show.

It was about a 1/2 mile walk down to the beach where we set-up right next to the pier.  I definitely got my exercise carrying 45 lbs of gear across the sand.  We shot until 9:20 PM. For the Beach shoot I used my 43" RPS Brolly, an SB-900 with a 1/4 CTO Gel, and the Pier lights as accent/fill lighting.

The walk back to the car was long and tiring.  I'm pretty sure I had boys for this sole purpose, to be my assistants.

If you have a chance, check out Brian's images from the shoot on his FLICKR page. In fact this image is a Behind The Scenes shot taken by Brian.

So What Did I Learn:

• Travel Light: How many lights did I use? One speedlight as the key on the majority of the images and as fill for a few.  Part of my problem when doing On Location shoots is:

1. How Available is the light?
2. What angles can I use? 
3. How cluttered is the background?
4. How do I keep the Subject's Head in a Clean Space.  

Brian and I are challenging ourselves to travel ultra-light depending on the shoot. One lens, One Flash, One Modifier, and a Lightstand.

As Darnah put it, we made some more Magical images.  It was good seeing and catching up with my Aussie friend.  Hopefully we'll be able to do a few more shoots before she leaves.

Thanks Darnah for being such an awesome model and friend, and for the Jelly Beans!!!