Welcome to a real behind-the-scenes look at my latest photoshoot! Join me as I share some highlights, funny moments, and the creative chaos that made this shoot successful. You can't show too much, but here's a glimpse into the magic happening behind the camera, in a somewhat abstract way.
Kicking off our behind-the-scenes look at my latest shoot is a photo of the real boss who was security on set, my fur kid. I work hard to support his lavish lifestyle 😂. He gets all the ladies, so watch out, world! With his long hair and big heart, he's just like his "Dad". We're starting to look alike, aren't we?
Up next is a photo that gave everyone a good laugh. This was taken at the end of the shoot, showing how wild and frizzy my hair looked after letting it down following a long, hot day of shooting outside.
Next, we have two photos of the large format film I shot throughout the day. I've been sticking with the Fuji Provia 100F and Kodak Ektar combo for the last few months, and it's been working really well for specific projects. You'll also notice "Be the Light" written on one of the photos, a little reminder to stay inspired. For this shoot, this combo truly captured the essence of the vision. I also had the same combo ready to go in 120 medium format, but it wasn't needed after all since movements were necessary for the setups. I'm switching things up for my next project that needs more dynamic range and have ordered some Portra 160 in 4x5, which arrives this week. Can't wait to see how it performs with the new concept.
The next photo showcases some of the teardown process, featuring various items used during the shoot. You can see the 4x4 frame with diffusion, an Arri hot light with a CTB lighting filter to match the natural sunlight, among other essential equipment.
These two photos show the custom paint mixes used during the shoot for backgrounds and various items. I've been on a futuristic kick lately with colors and effects, so you have to get proactive and create what you need since such abstract options aren't readily available in the industry. Didn't that blue come out beautifully?
This next group of photos features a new to me Fuji Fujinon lens I had to order specifically for this photoshoot. I didn't have this particular focal length in 4x5 and planned to get it eventually, but the concept called for it urgently. I ordered it from Japan the week of the shoot, and it arrived in just two days.
Here we have a photo of the wide-angle bellows I used for this shoot. Essential for achieving the necessary movements and adjustments with my large format camera, these bellows allowed for greater flexibility and precision in capturing the perfect shot.
This photo showcases the color lens filters I used with black-and-white film. These filters are essential for controlling contrast and tonality, allowing me to achieve the desired effects in my monochrome shots, even though they weren't directly related to the concept of this particular shoot.
This next photo captures our lunch break setup, featuring a colorful assortment of fresh fruit and classic Mexican Coke bottles. Shooting in the heat made staying hydrated crucial, so we had plenty of water. However, we also needed some caffeine and light food from the fruit to keep us energized without feeling weighed down.
To wrap up our behind-the-scenes experience, here's a serene image of clouds drifting across the sky.
"Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour." - Walt Whitman
Feeling good and ready to execute? Let's get started on your next photography project.
Click the link above to begin!
