Prom Night

I'm not sure I like all this '51st State' shananigans we're importing from over the pond: MacDonalds is bad enough, but now our traditional qualifying dances (well that's what they were when I was a boy) have been usurped by 'Prom Nights'; complete with dress and floral wrist corsage.

Well, OK, I admit, I do love it really (though i'd like my reluctance noted for posterity); the gowns are simply spectacular and, in full dressage, the girls who wear these gorgeous creations assume all the singular aspect of walking works of art.

So, it should come as no surprise that I jumped at the chance to shoot a little prom Dress series for a local Dress Shop.

The lighting was pretty simple: two softboxes at 45 degrees camera left (f/8) and right (f/5) and a hair light, camera right (f/8), behind the girls.

The backdrop was purchased for an earlier shoot at a charity event. It doesn't look like much when it's hanging, but with light on it, it magically changes. I added a couple of curtains and tie-backs and the little stand with flowers for what, I hope, is a nice effect - considering the constraints of the studio.

The models - Caitlin, Metja, Sam, Charlie and Nicola were all courtesy of www.firststepmodels.co.uk Make-up by Nicola. Hair by Allyson.

Chillin'

Saturday was one of those days when everything just seemed to go according to plan: I got up, went to the shops, bought some basics, and then set off for the studio.

I spent the next six hours playing with off-camera flash for a still-life set. I didn't even take as many pics as I usually do but seemed, instead, to spend much of the time fussing over shadow-casts and trying out different gels.

When i got home and down-loaded the Raw files, I found I had just one file which was close to capturing what I'd originally intended. But I really enjoyed the day, nonetheless.

On Sunday I had the pleasure of welcoming Brian, Samantha and their little one, Megan, to the studio for a family portrait shoot. Again, I really enjoyed myself and I trust that Mum, Dad and their baby girl also enjoyed themselves.

Today took me to different aspects of Life's vivid spectrum: I attended a funeral this morning - the mother of one of my good friends and, this afternoon, I had the pleasure of having Tom and Scott visit AND the added pleasure of welcoming the vivacious Charlie and her partner Keith who both arrived a little after Tom and Scott. We whiled away the afternoon talking general photography and had a good natter before darkening skies and the sound of rain spitting against the window reminded all that a sodden evening was fast approaching and we all said goodbye.

So. once again, I'm going to busy myself this evening in processing Raw files to Tiff. and then send them of to Brian & Samantha for their perusal.

Bridal Couture

Having uploaded my last wedding shots for the scrutiny of the client, I've - at last - had some time to return to the 'Glitterati' bridal gown shoot that took place at the studio a couple of weeks back.

It was my mate Tom Thomson's gig, but I was there to capture a few images of my own - portflio work for my web, mostly. Some of the captures I got were - in my own opinion - pretty stunning. On saying that, I had Charlie, Joyce and Zoe in front of the camera wearing the most gorgeous creations from Glitterati, so it would have been difficult NOT to have got some quality pictures!

I was most pleased with the results I got from my 400D though: Tom and I were sharing the synch lead for the lighting set up so, when I wasn't using the 5D I took some candid shots with the 400d and a Sigma 30mm /f1.4 lens. The only light in the place radiated (rather weakly) from my desktop, low-wattage fluorescent light. The MUA had turned this around to face her client and the light spilled over from the right hand side. There was also a very little ambient coming from the blinded window in front of the models. I shot at ISO 1600, 20-60th sec. at f1.4 with the white balance set at Fluorescent. The result was that the pictures took on a goldish hue which, in tandem with the fact that they were so grainy, I really loved.

I haven't really started working with the pictures I took with the 5D yet, but these are a few of those I got from the ambient/flurescent set.

Time goes bye

It's almost a week since I last blogged, and I can just sense the increased levels of tense excitement building as my wordless hours wear on.

Well, ne'er mind. Here now!

Last Friday night was spent with a good friend at his caravan which is currently sited at Coldingham. Getting there was torturous: blustery winds whipped heavy rain into a crescendo which jostled the car all the way from Edinburgh to the Borders.

We got the gear in and then settled down to enjoy a glass of wine (or two); chatting until we retired to our respective beds.

Despite the gloomy conditions of the previous evening, the weather decided to follow the weather forecasters scripts for a change; the sky was deep, deep blue, dobbed only by the very occasional fluffy wee cloud which wandered over the otherwise clear vista.


We did a circuitous walk of just about 3 miles, but that took us almost four hours, with both of us stopping on the beach at Coldingham and at the harbour in St. Abbs. Picture opportunities materialised with every few paces, so a lot of time was spent setting up the tripod and getting the right capture.


I've been to Eyemouth before, and I really have to keep the promise I made then to get around that area of the coast. The problem is that the scenery around there can be so breathtaking that you can't help but spend hours in the same location.

Having harvested all we could of the tiny little strip of coast that we could cover in the time we'd given ourselves we returned to West Lothian. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching Laurel & Hardy movies with my Grandson Duncan - he's only just discovered the warm comic magic of 'The Boys' - while my Granddaughter Jodie chummed Grandma on a shopping expedition.

I had breakfast with the kids on Sunday morning, but had to leave early to meet my fellow photographer Tom Thomson at the Studio for a pre-arranged bridal shoot on behalf of 'Glitterati', a bridal gown design and hire company run by Moira and Bill Withers.


This wasn't my shoot, but Tom had offered me the opportunity to join him and indulge my thirst for more portfolio shots. In exchange, I hosted the group and waived the studio fee for the shoot - which lasted from 10am till 6pm.


I had a great time shooting the gorgeous Charlie, the beautiful Joyce and the youthful (and very professional) Zoe in a selection of startlingly wondrous gowns. But this was one of those very rare occasions when the camera's myopic, 2-dimensional eye just fails to do justice to the exquisite scene presented to it. The girls were transformed into goddesses of classic Greek magnitude when enveloped in these astounding examples of bridal couture; their own natural loveliness enhanced by the shape, colour and finest details of these 'art-piece' gowns.


I took so many pictures, but I haven't had time even to appraise them yet, much less process the raw files, but I will post a selection as soon as I do.


Today, I have to process some of the pictures I took during a commission for the McAdam family and, tomorrow, I'm going to the opening of the new Debenhams store; they have commissioned me to document the staffs' first day, so I have agreed to be there at 7.30am and get some formal staff pictures before going on to collect some more candid shots of both the opening, and the first few hours of the day.