Keeping it Simple

Sometimes people want to make things too complicated as a photographer.  I prefer to keep it simple.

Simple

This photo is a perfect example.  One light, plain background, model and a chair.    Nothing to distract away from what I wanted to be shown.

Of course you can do a fuller set too.

Full Set

Even this is still pretty simple.   I could have easily added a table to the background with some flowers or a vase.    Even a painting on the wall.   I find it very easy for those additional props to become distractions, so I prefer the simpler set.

You really need to consider does the extra prop add value to your photo.  Sometime yes, but often it just becomes clutter.

In design you will often hear, remove one thing once you are done and it will get better.  I think the same concept works for photography.

Orcatek Photography – Phoenix

Fun with Harold

Harold

I always like working with Harold, very easy going and professional.  We were working on some photos for an upcoming calendar and decided to try some shots with a chain.

Whenever I shoot men I like to use a lot of shadow, and this was no different.  The shadows help to define muscles.  This was a very simple one light set.  A small reflector on the light off to camera left and a bounce card to camera right for just enough fill to see the details such as his ear.

I don’t like to use softboxes for this type of shot as the harsh shadows with this type of light tend add the the masculine look.  The spill from the main light also provides just enough light for the background.

I work in a dark studio using the modeling light to see exactly where the light is falling.  It is often just a movement of a 1/4 inch that gets the light to fall how I want it.

I will be teaching an introduction to studio lighting class July 23.

 

Boudoir in tight spaces

Whenever I get to shoot boudoir on location, I often have no idea what I will be faced with.  Sometimes it is large rooms with more space that I can dream about.  But in many cases I am presented with smaller locations that can be interesting to work within.

Boudoir in a hallway

This shot a hallway was the location of choice.  Sure I could have her stand in the hall, leaning against the wall.  And I did for some of the shots.  But I like to take advantage of the space and show it off.  By bringing her down to the ground, the close walls could be used to create an environment focused entirely upon her.

I like to emphasize the confinement of the spaces to make them a feature as opposed to a limitation.  Small places do create lighting challenges, but most photographers know how to bounce light around to get it where they want it.

Use the whole Sauna

Here I was shooting using a sauna in a home.  So of course it wasn’t that large.  In fact both me and might lights were outside the sauna.  Now if she was lower spread out on a seat, the sauna could have been any size.  But with her standing, reaching to the ceiling it creates a whole new mood, like she is trapped in the corner with nowhere to go.

Yes smaller locations can be a challenge to work in, but they also let you create looks and moods that are unique and interesting.  I’ve gotten to the point where I look for these opportunities when shooting on location.

I’d love to hear from other photographers and see some of their tight space boudoir photos.

Orcatek Boudoir Photography, Phoenix, AZ

Fun photo technique

Ok, so I saw these really cool “photos” on the web and thought I need to learn how to do this.  So here is my first attempt.

Watch carefully

If you watched, you will notice that every once in awhile, the photo blinks. Fun and sometimes spooky effect.

How it’s done is not as hard as it seems. The key is to get some good material. I shot the “photo” knowing that I would be creating this type of result. The model needs to hold perfectly still as you capture a series of frames for the blink. With newer DSLR’s the video function works great for this.

You then bring the frames of the video into Photoshop as layers. Determine which frame will be your “Master Frame” and perform all your retouching on this frame. I have this frame as my top layer. I will then use masking to allow the lower frames to peak thru.

Open the animation window in Photoshop. You will see that it automatically adds the first frame. This should be your master frame with the mask turned off. Click the new frame button and activate your mask. Add another frame on turn off the first layer that is showing thru the mask. Continue adding frames and turning off the prior layer until you have added them all into the animation. You need to make sure you end back on your master frame.

Now you can set the time delay on the first and last frames. 2-4 seconds is good for the first frame. And 5-10 for the last.

Now choose the menu to save for web and save as a gif. This will output the file as an animated gif, and hopefully it will have worked. You can open the file in your web browser to test it.

Orcatek Photography – Phoenix. AZ

Where to put the light?

Where to put the light is a question I am often asked when teaching my boudoir photography workshops.  Of course as many of you know, there is not simple answer to that question.  Even moving the light just a few inches can have a huge impact on the final result.  Look at the next two photos.

Boudoir light hidden behind

And version two.

Boudoir light partially hidden behind

Both shot have the light behind Charlie’s head.  One it is completely hidden and in the second it peaks out over her shoulder.  The frames were take just a minute or two apart.  With the change in pose came the need to change the light.

Now of course I could have kept the light hidden in the second shot too.  In fact I shot the first frames that way and wasn’t loving it.  So I move a few inches to get a hint of light and the shot worked for me.

I always start with a “standard” lighting set-up, but often I will fiddle with it as poses changes.  This is even more critical in fine art nudes, where I typically use less lights to achieve the effect.  A move of just a inch or two can mean all the difference.

Of course the rest of the lighting for this shot was also important.   There was a large softbox up and to camera left and a large reflector to camera right bouncing both the softbox and the backlight onto Charlie.  Two lights and some reflector panels is pretty typical for me.

I will be teaching a boudoir photography workshop this summer.  If you would like more information just drop me a line at workshops@orcatek.com

Phoenix Boudoir Photographer – Orcatek

Fine art nude photography workshop a hit

This past week’s fine art nude photography workshop was a huge success.  I would like to thank Dee Copenhaver for the behind the scenes photos in this blog post.

After checking everyone in, I started my demonstrations of various lighting sets.  I use a mannequin as it is a quick and easy way to move the “model” in relation to the light.

Fine Art Nude Workshop Mannequin

I show  how cross light can be used to show texture and highlight muscles.  Our male model will benefit from this type of light to show off his abs for example.  Of course since my abs would be too distracting, I use the veins on my hand to make this effect obvious.

My veins show cross light effect

During the workshop I demonstrated over 15 different lighting set-ups.   Then the students had a chance to work with the models in each of the lighting sets to see how posing can be used in conjunction with the light.  I would provide guidance when they were working on a pose to show a slight move could dramatically improve a photograph.

One of the more fun sets we did was a silhouette set-up.  Interesting shapes were what we went for, while still making the human form key.  Making sure that limbs did not hide one another was one of the keys to an interesting silhouette.  Angles and extension of limbs to create lines was also a topic of discussion.

Silhouette nude poses can sometimes require a little help

We spent the final part of the workshop discussing workflow and handling of images.  A brief overview of the reasons for using Lightroom or another image manager vs merely relying on the file system.

The students all created some amazing photos.   Many of the students are looking forward to the next workshop already.

If you are interested in our workshops sends us an e-mail and I will keep you update to date.  Most workshops are taught in Phoenix or Las Vegas.  Topics include  Fine Art Nudes, Boudoir, Fashion, Lighting, Automotive and Glamour Nudes.

workshops@orcatek.com

Attend my fine art nude photography workshop

Orcatek Photography

Class up a stripper boudoir set

For a long time I have been requested to add a stripper pole set to my boudoir studio.  I was hesitant for a while because I wanted make sure that my style could be represented in this set.  I want my boudoir images to be sexy and classy, nothing that someone might regret later in life.

So how to keep the concept of a strip club from becoming raunchy was the challenge.  The solution was actually more obvious that I thought.  Just keep the poses classy.  Sometimes you just can’t see the shot until you try it.

So stripper pole set was created.  Use a variant of my musician stage set lighting to create a mood.   Colored gels and grids for control allowed me to get the look.  Then some time in Photoshop to bring the club into the set.   And viola!

Phoenix Boudoir Photographer, Orcatek

It is in the Eyes

Sometimes you stumble upon something that creates a unique photograph.  The key to finding it is to just listen to what you hear.

The other I was in the dressing room chatting with one of the models while she touched up her make-up when she mentioned that she loved the way her eyes looked in the mirror.  She said she thought the lights looked really cool in her eyes.

I took a looked and it was very interesting, so I grabbed my camera and decided to grab a few shots.

The unique catch lights were created by the four lights which surround the mirrors.  This arrangement creates a box of light around the pupils.   I had to shoot into the mirror to get the shot.

It was something I don’t recall seeing before, but as with most things in photography, it is unlikely that this is the first time this has been done.  Still it was a fun shot to create.

Orcatek Photography, Phoenix, AZ

Water and Boudoir Photographs

Sometimes as a photographer I want to mix it up a bit.  So when I have a willing person in front of my camera, I like to do some shots that I don’t always get a chance to do.

I find that using water can make for a very sexy photograph.  However this time of year it can be a bit cold, so it is not often that I do these shots.  Jenni was a trooper and was willing to do whatever I thought would create the shot.

Bringing light in from the side allows the light to catch the water droplets, making them pop.

The end result was an amazing series of photographs.  Not sure how we will limit it down to the few images needed for the page from this set-up.

I kept the studio very warm and used warm water.   I shot a few frames and let her jump back in the water to warm up and then some more shots.  It takes a bit longer this way, but it was worth it.  In the summer I just turn off the AC and the cool wet clothes feel good, so I typically do these shots then.

If you have the chance, play around with some water.

Boudoir Photography in Phoenix by Orcatek

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season!