Because
magazine photography fees are so much lower than their commercial
advertising counterparts, the photographer is usually rewarded
with maximum creative freedom and a guaranteed photo-credit --
so often the key to securing the high-paying commercial assignments.
I used that creative freedom in this assignment.
As opposed to what one might expect from talented comedian David
Allen Grier, I found him to be serious, very direct, and a man
sharing my own passion for the martial arts. In this fasion layout,
I opted to shoot with only a single 250-watt tungsten bulb, hanging
from a C-stand, against the white seamless studio cove.
Allowing the background to fall off nearly three stops rendered
it a deep gray. The excessive contrast range and equally dramatic
falloff from the small light source in such close proximity to
the subject created even greater visual drama in the subject.
In the suit shot we went for a variety of subject expressions,
keeping his form still to retain as much detail in the wardrobe
as possible. But when he changeed into the leather jacket, I wanted
to see those fringes fly -- so we shot it with maximum motion
as David feigned using the light bulb as a fighter's speed bag.
Subject: David Allen Grier Client: Black Elegance Magazine Creative Team: John McMurray, Art Director Location: Gary Bernstein Studio, Culver City, California
Camera: 35mm Lens: 85mm Lighting: One 250-watt tungsten light Film: Kodak Ektachrome Professional Tungsten El 320 Exposure Metering: Incident Exposure: 1/60 second at f/4