Lighting The Way

There's a new photo studio in Beeston that opened earlier this year called The Flour Mill. And yes, you've guessed right, it is based in an old Victorian flour mill.

Sian the owner has done a great job of turning it into a working space for artists. It's one large, light airy room that has been painted white.

I visited the studio for the first time a few months ago to interview Sian for the magazine that I write for, but returned today as the studio was running its first photographic workshop. All about lighting.

There were eight of us in total, and the workshop was led by professional photographer Nick Dunmur. He first went through the main types of lighting. We then split into two groups and practiced what we had learned, using ourselves as models.

This is my version of Steve. I used a bit of side lighting, just to highlight his face and body, but wanted to keep it quite dark, almost mysterious. Just enough information to see who it is, but not why they are there.

It Takes One To Know One

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing a fellow photographer yesterday, who has recently opened a studio in Beeston, in an former flour mill.

It's a lovely big airy and light space, that's just been painted white. Including the floor. There are lots of windows each side, which haven't been obscured with blinds or curtains.

Sian opened the studio earlier this year whilst still studying photography at university, although she does already know how to use a camera properly. This is more to do with the history of photography.

Once she finishes her course, Sian will be able to concentrate on her business more and make use of this excellent studio space. One which I hope to use somehow in the near future.

Sleeping Like A Baby

Just messing about today and decided to have a go at creating a newborn baby photo, as Gail had bought a cute little babylike doll dressed in a bee costume some time ago and it looks quite cute in its yellow and black outfit. Plus of course it doesn't start crying or filling its nappy.

Using the poses and props that I've seen professional newborn photographers use, I came up with this, using bits and pieces from around the house.

Yes, I realise that I've overblown the ribbon and blanket at the back a bit. But it's a learning curve for me, as I have never shot any babies in studio like conditions. Would be interesting to have a go sometime though.

Kelli

It's been a quite a while since Gail and I have been to a model shoot.  So tonight we made amends and drove over to Long Eaton, where we met up with model Kelli Smith and a few other photographers for three hours of taking pictures and having fun.

We've shot Kelli before, nearly two years ago at another studio, so it was nice to meet up again. She is getting married in July, and retiring from modelling, so it was a opportunity not to be missed.

Lighting Up Kit

Gail and I spent a very enjoyable and educational day in the company of top professional photographer Stuart Wood.

His photography is quite wonderful, and many of his images have appeared in top magazines and has had several front covers of the Radio Times.

There were only four of us on the course, and so it was like having one to one tuition. Firstly he went though some of his portfolio, and told us how he had created the pictures. Sometimes with many lights, sometime with just one, or just using natural light.

We then went on to learn about Rembrandt, butterfly, and split lighting. And of course the 'Inverse Square Law'.  Which is very useful to know when placing lights next to your model.

Our model was called Chantelle, and sat patiently whilst we all took photos of her, which showed the different styles of lighting.

Stuart also showed us a very neat trick with a single lamp and a sheet of white material on the floor, as in the photo above. Below is the result. Genius eh!

Forever In Blue Jeans

Gail and I spent a very enjoyable evening at a local studio, shooting the very delectable Nicole.

There was only three of us, so we all got a fair go at snapping our model in the three outfits that had been picked.

This is the first one. I think she looks a bit like a young Olivia Newton-John, when she appeared in the 1978 movie Grease playing Sandy.

I took this shot using my OMD. I've hardly touched my Nikon D3s since I got the little Olympus. I'm very happy with the camera and think that I've taken quite a few reasonable shots with it now. Maybe I just need to keep improving my photography, so I get more good shots.

Little Miss Sunshine

Another shot of the lovely Jade Samantha.

Great smile from a lovely lady.

Cuddles

Here's Jade, a model that Gail and I shot tonight at a local studio.

A lovely girl. Petite, happy and very photogenic, as you can see.

She is actually naked here, but I like the idea of Jade cuddling this furry cushion. I wanted to use a big teddy bear, but alas the studio didn't have one.

Flying The Flag

For once I have been standing in front of the camera. It doesn't happen very often, as I think I take a rotten picture. Some people have mentioned that about my activities behind the camera too!

This was taken by the in-house photographer at Adee Phelan's salon in Birmingham's The Cube building. I think it works well in black and white. You can still tell that it's the Union Jack behind me.

I quite like the pose. Maybe a touch of the Richard Branson. But without the wooly jumper.

Model Material

What happens if you mix five photographers with a dozen models in a great studio, with lots of sets, lights and props?

The answer is hopefully some great photographs.

Well that's exactly what Gail and I have been doing for most of the day, at this converted factory in Long Eaton.

And what fun we had. Being given a model to work with for about 30 minutes, and using the different backdrops, such as bedroom, barn, hospital and with a real motorbike.

This particular model is called Lily and very good to work with she was too. She had not been modelling that long, but was very relaxed in front of my Nikon as we played around with the sets and poses.

Before anyone asks, no she wasn't naked, but was wearing a tight cream coloured latex dress. The power of the camera eh!

Motorbikin'

Gail and I went on a model shoot this evening, at a local studio in Clifton where we have been before.

It's always a bit of an adventure, as you don't always know who the model/s are going to be, or what they will be doing.

But tonight we did, as Lee the owner of the studio had booked a professional model by the name of Emma Kate Dawson.

A member of the group had driven there on his motorbike, so it was drafted in as a welcome prop for Emma to pose on.

She was very good to work with, and changed into different costumes, for the different areas of the studio.