Ruby Lau - Crouching Tiger like !

Hey all,

So I am finally starting to get caught up on things. But I do say.... "starting to" ! But here are 2 great images from a model shoot I did with Ruby Lau.

These images were very simple to create. So if your interested here is the techy info on it and if your not interested just enjoy the images.

Techy info:

1. single mono head with white "shoot thru" umbrella

2. light was high on camera right

3. f/8 @ 1/125th (100 iso)

4. there was a silver reflector underneath her to bounce light back up to face

5. and a commercial grade fan at camera right blowing hair.

6. background was White Seamless paper, and distance was about 8 feet away from the background so the light fall off will make the white paper turn GREY !

I Think I photographed a Hollywood Actress: Do you know who "Monica Bellucci" is ?

Ok.

So I confess.

I really didn't photograph the famous actress "Monica Bellucci". But I swear the minute Megan Tealebi walked into the studio, that was what I thought. I was literally so blown away by her resemblance that I even called out to her as "Monica" a couple of times.

Well, she has been so patiently waiting to see some images from our session so I thought I would get a few finally up on the blog.

Check em' out.

Rockie

When you get clients who are Beautiful & Sexy but never felt that way ! (Jenn Urquhart)

Jenn, is one of my very favorite client's and now friend !

Can you believe that when she first called me and commissioned me to do a shoot with her, during the consultation Jenn actually believed that she was not all that sexy !!!! ????? LOL. I don't know about you but all I see is pure sexiness and Beauty radiating all over the place. Judge for yourselves !

Well for all you photography junkies, all of these images were shot with natural light !

Jenn had a sliding glass patio door, so that is what I used for my light source.

I used a good mix of what we would call window lighting, and flat lighting.

The very last image was created once again with an alternate lighting style. I used two 400watt/sec strobe lights from Opus lights. Only the reflector was mounted, with no diffuser. the flash was then literally aimed at her but feathered, and it was only used like a "hot light source" and not triggered as a flash.

More images to come soon on my website ! (http://www.therockphotography.com)

Enjoy !

Rockie

PS. Jenn you are still my most sexiest client ! Where can I find more like you ?

Alternative Portrait Lighting

So, have you ever had a portrait session where you used your flash right on your camera and your image looked like the image on the right ?

No matter how you twisted your flash or dropped the exposure to soften it or reflect it or diffuse it, the image just didn't seem to come out the way you envisioned it or imagined it.

Images like the one on the right are all to common in the photography. With this image, I simply bounced the flash up in the ceiling to soften the light but as you can see if you look right behind Jenn, there is still a shadow and the image is not really all that pleasing to the eye.

Another problem that I had was the lay out of Jenn's apartment.

It was basically the shape of an "L" and didn't give very many options to the natural eye. This would make creating various images with different looks quite difficult.

So what would some options be ?

LIGHTING OPTIONS ON LOCATIONS

I usually take the time when I arrive to a clients home to have a look at where the natural light is. And if there is no available light, then I start looking for alternative lighting and how I may use it in a portrait or commercial image. (in the following post I will show you how I used the natural light I found in Jenn's home to create some beautiful images !)

In this case, Jenn's home was primarily lit with this lamp you see on her right and a few halogen's in the kitchen. The problem with the lamp though was it's height, which was about 4 to 4.5 ft high. But I think I found a solution that would make for a great image, that I think is better than just flash on camera. Coolest thing is that I pulled off quite a few different poses just from this one area alone all from posing. But we will save that discussion for another time. Have a look for yourself and let me know what you think.

Rockie

Vanessa Sequeira

Here are some images from a session I did with Vanessa. All these images were done in natural light with no flash or reflector. Believe it or not, the images look like we shot on a warm day but it certainly wasn't as both Vanessa and I cand testify. It was so cold, and I do mean freakin' cold that we were only able to stay outside for an hour and that was really pushing it ! What a trooper Vanessa was !

But hey we got some great images though and that I must say was worth it. Oh and check out Vanessas dress... now is that hot or what ??? Gotta love it. More images to come.

cheers,

Rockie

Vegas Workshop (Part 3)

Ok.. LOL.. I promise this will be my last post on my Vegas Workshop !

What can I say... I had a blast there with all my photog friends and took some wonderful images to boot. But here are some more for ya.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Don't forget to leave a comment.

Blessings,

Rockie

*********************************

This is Tiffany. One of our many beautiful models who not only graced us with their presence but were so patient with us as we practised on them. The only Model I never had a chance to practise on surprisingly was Nancy ! So Nancy, your coming up to Vancouver so we do Vegas Part 4 !!!

[Tech info: back lit the subject in broad daylight. No flash and no reflectors]

This Wonderful couple were not even our MODELS ! LOL. What had happen was Scotty and I were talking about this concept for this shot, but at that moment all our models were occupied. So when this couple walked by I asked them if they would be willing to stop for a few moments and model for me ! Man was I blessed. ! What cha' all think ?

So I loved this concept so so much that when I saw Tiffany not doing anything I shouted out to her to come on over and I went and recreated this once again. Only this time I just could not decided which color tones I wanted to finish the image with so I did both.

Which one do you Like the Most ? Post me a comment.

[Tech info: both these 2 with Tiffany and the couple right above were created with secondary lighting. I used a 580ex flash, and the ST-E2 infra-red flash trigger to bring the flash off camera. Brynn from Vancouver held the flash on the Left hand side and the rest was just finding the right exposure to match the back ground with the subject. Also these images were takin' in broad daylight outdoors !]

This final shot of Tiffany is one of my favorites. I am such a sucker for "prayer" poses ! When we had all arrived and I saw these super cool big huge Bronze type doors, and then saw the saree that Tiff was wearing I knew I need to get a "prayer" pose.

[tech info: this was all natural light shot, and hand held.]

Vegas Workshop (Part 2)

Here are some more images from my Vegas Workshop I took this February with Scott Robert Lim. Scott by the way is our wedding instructor at Image Explorations Workshop. Unfortunately his class is already sold out, but if you want to be put on the waiting list for 2010, just contact our office at: don@macgregorstudios.com and request to be put on the list for 2010. Just remember that a deposit must be made for spot to be held.

Enjoy Rockie

Vegas Workshop (Part 1)

I was recently in Vegas taking a workshop from famed wedding photographer Scott Robert Lim. And let me tell you, it was a blast ! Not only were we in Vegas (a place where I have never been), but I also met some of the best up and coming photographers around ! (more on them shortly) I was blessed to say the least.

Check out the follow images I made while down there. Some were from the Neon Boneyard (kind of a neon sign graveyard) and the others where made at 2 different hotels.

It was an investment that was well worth my time and money. More Images to come !

Blessings and enjoy !

Rockie

Nicole DeMarinis - Second shoot !

So don't know if you remember me introducing you to my fav italian model... but here she is once again in another great shoot. Enjoy.

Rockie

Susie Lee

Hey all..

This is a super great friend of mine.. Susie Lee. She is an actress, and TV host for a new show coming your way. Will let you know once it airs on TV. These images are from a recent shoot for her New Head shots. Check em out. You can view more images on my web shortly.

Cheers.

Rockie

Pia

These images are from a session with Pia. Kept it very simple and just really focused on Pia's personality. So sweet she is. I live the one where she is giving a super cute look. This came about because during sessions, when my clients and models start to get a little stiff in the mouth I tend to ask them to do something silly. Actually that is a great idea, I am gonna have to post up a "silly pose" posting. You'll crack up at how many times we actually do this in a shoot.

Enjoy.

Rockie