COMPlacent

COMP is an acronym for Collaborative Organization of Model Photography, which was started back in 2010 by fellow photographer Tim, a.k.a. PhotoCPA.  Tim is based in Fresno and has been shooting for several years.  I met Tim via Model Mayhem back in 2009 after photographing a couple models from Fresno Area, Anahy and Emily, at my first group shoot.  I attended his first "group" shoot titled Thriller back in October of 2009 and had a really good time and really enjoyed working all the photogs, models, MUAs and Hair Stylists.

This past December, Tim asked if I would be interested in participating in another COMP shoot, so the wheels were set into motion and next thing you know, we have a Meet-N-Shoot set for Sunday, Jan. 20 up in Fresno.

Brian and I left about 8:20 AM, we were supposed to leave at 8:00, but Brian rarely is on time.  We arrived at 10:30, said "Hello" to all the other COMPers who I haven't seen since June of 2011. Brian and I looked around the facility to stake out an area to shoot.

I decided to bring my speedlights and HONL modifiers, which really worked well in the cramped spaces. I tried several images with flash and a few without using available light.  I think I just wasn't in the mood to shoot even though there were Stylists, MUAs, HS and assorted other people.  The original goal was to create "Fashion" images, but after seeing the locale, and wardrobe it just didn't work.  I'm at a point were Glamour photography is very contrived and flat out boring.

After shooting a couple models and then standing around for an hour, four of us took a lunch break.  When we returned, we got chastised for being gone for half an hour.  Hmmmm...  I'm at the point where group shoots are fun, but I like shooting in more intimate settings and the "churn and burn" set-ups just don't spark any creativity.

I guess it's okay to have a crappy shoot after having several good shoots in January.  Let me be more specific, the models, locale, wardrobe, and Tim did excellent, I just wasn't feeling it.