October 2011
2 posts
7 tags
Nick Knight goes GaGa (again) for i-D Magazine
copyright, Nick Knight.
Nick Knight may be fashion photography’s Andy Warhol. He pushes his work conceptually, technically and stylistically. Usually in a $3000 suit. This outtake from i-D Magazine’s 30th birthday cover shoot with Lady Gaga, though, lands on the tamer side of Nick-ness. Straightforward black and white. Yet still quite beautiful in its simplicity. This image of...
4 tags
Alex Prager lights more than just bags for Bottega...
copyright, Alex Prager.
Alex Prager is hot stuff right now. If you haven’t heard of her (shame on you—less telly), you surely will. Her fine art work is brilliantly cinematic. She’s a sort of modern-day Cindy Sherman and has been exhibited at little museums like the MoMA and Whitney in New York City. When Bottega Veneta asked her to shoot their latest advertising campaign, they were rewarded...
September 2011
6 posts
8 tags
Annie Leibovitz Lights Oz’s Twister for Vogue...
copyright, Annie Leibovitz.
Talk about a challenge. In 2005, Vogue Magazine posed this to Annie Leibovitz: take the Wizard of Oz, one of history’s most important films. Recreate the iconic scenes, but add your own personal, touch. Looking at the photo story as a whole, I have to say Annie nailed it. Crushed it, actually (it certainly didn’t hurt to have Keira Knightley at her disposal). Google...
5 tags
Mario Testino’s ultra-flattering, wedding-worthy...
copyright, Mario Testino.
In a Vogue issue paying homage to the Royal Wedding, Mario shot Freja Beha Erichsen, Lara Stone and Natalia Vodianova in some of the season’s loveliest wedding gowns. It also marked the first time the magazine had been published with a choice of three different covers. This silk soft cover shot of Lara was created with five lights.
Camera: Hasselblad H2 with 150mm lens...
6 tags
Ellen Von Unwerth’s old-school Hollywood lighting...
copyright, Ellen von Unwerth.
When Absolut Vodka asked ex-model-turned-fashion-photographer-extraordinaire Ellen Von Unwerth to tackle their new ad campaign, she jumped at the opportunity. Working with Kate Beckinsale and Zooey Deschanel, Ellen brought a playful, enchanting aesthetic to the imagery (makes me fancy a tall glass of Absolut right this moment, actually). This enigmatic still (I’d...
6 tags
Michael Thompson rocks Rihanna with his softly...
copyright, Michael Thompson.
Rihanna may currently be entangled in a dab of plagiarism controversy over her latest video, but that doesn’t take away from the utter sexiness seeping from this January 2010 GQ cover. Michael’s soft, backlighting paints a glamorous yet angelic picture of this rock and roll siren. Five strobes did the trick.
Camera: Hasselblad H3D-39 and 100mm lens, handheld 10 feet...
4 tags
Steven Meisel’s wonderfully flat lighting for...
copyright, Steven Meisel.
Steven’s sizeable fashion story in the November 2010 Vogue Italia, “Venus in Furs,” shows a collection of androgynous, porcelain models splayed on top of each other. The lighting is flat, but deceptively so. With two strobes, there’s just enough shadow to pique our interest and separate the models from the background.
Camera: Hasselblad H2 with Phase One P45+ digital...
5 tags
Mert & Marcus give up some super-sexy lighting to...
copyright, Mert & Marcus.
This image from Dsquared2’s “Aseptic Chic” fall/winter 2010 ad campaign is actually relatively tame compared to the others. The dark and haunting sexiness juxtaposes quite nicely with the sterile, glassed and coolly-lit environment. It’s hot, in a this-may-give-you-nightmares kind of way. And I wouldn’t expect any less from M&M (or D&D, for that matter) who...
March 2011
1 post
5 tags
Annie Leibovitz lights Keith Richards for Louis...
copyright, Annie Leibovitz.
Annie and Keith go way back. Way back. She toured with the Stones in their heyday and shot some pretty amazing imagery. With only about 10 minutes to work with Keith, Annie went old school with her lighting. Simple. Moody. Elegant. And somehow made Keith look (dare I say) “good,” with only one light.
To see a higher res version of the shot click here.
...
February 2011
6 posts
4 tags
Alex Prager's retro 60s lighting for her fine art...
copyright, Alex Prager.
Alex is white-hot in the fine art world right now. She’s a self-taught photographer whose influences include William Eggleston, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch. He work usually involves 1960s-styled women, lots of wigs and fantastic use of color. This 2009 shot entitled Rachel and Friends is both gripping and eerie. It was created with five lights.
Camera: Contax...
7 tags
Bjorn Iooss lights up paradise (and Irina Shayk)...
copyright, Bjorn Iooss.
Many, many, many people get excited for the annual release of the S.I. swimsuit issue. But this year, no one is more excited than Bjorn (son of famous sports photographer, Walter). This shot of Irina was an add-on: an image possibly for an advertorial. Never intended for the cover shot. But some early morning sun, a little lycra, sand and a Russian supermodel earned him...
3 tags
Craig Cutler's uncharacteristically loose lighting...
copyright, Craig Cutler.
Craig is a master of lighting. He’ll light a bottle of booze for three days until it’s “just right.” This shot is a departure from his typically fastidious nature. It’s raw. It’s a little sloppy. You can smell it like a scratch-n-sniff. Kudos to Craig for getting out of his comfort zone and driving home the point that it’s all...
4 tags
Mark Seliger lights cowboy Shatner to match the...
copyright, Mark Seliger.
There’s something about this image I just love. It could be Shatner’s complete commitment to his character. Or that he might be the closest thing to a modern-day cowboy we have. I’m not sure. But Seliger has captured the indescribable perfectly. And with only one light (plus some late-day sun).
Camera: Mamiya RZ67 with Phase One P45 digital back and...
2 tags
Guess the Lighting and Professional Photographer...
One thing that’s happened during my hiatus is pretty cool. After many emails and a couple phone conversations, the editors at Professional Photographer Magazine in the UK have asked me to contribute monthly. Starting in this February’s issue, I’ll have a new GTL page in print with completely exclusive content (sorry, you won’t find those guesses here). Pretty exciting...
1 tag
Guess the Lighting: So sorry I've forsaken you
GTL, will you ever forgive me? I brought you into this world and cared for you tenderly. Then suddenly dropped off and left you to fend for yourself. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.
But I’m back.
Actually, it wasn’t that I had lost any love for GTL. Or was caught in mountain cave. Or had gone on a sixty day computer fast. It’s more of a good news/bad news thing....
December 2010
2 posts
3 tags
Gary Salter's comedic lighting of elderly...
copyright, Gary Salter.
Gary’s well-conceived and beautifully-lit image illustrates the aftermath of a seriously-senior football match. Every detail is accounted for (I personally love the prosthetic leg hanging off the back wall) and the casting is superb. Gary shot this with 5 lights.
You can see a higher-res version here.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark III with 35mm lens, set on a tripod 8...
4 tags
Michael Thompson lights Julianne Moore as "La...
copyright, Michael Thompson.
This portrait taken in 2003 for the cover of American Photograph magazine pays tribute to Jean-Auguste Ingres’ famous 19th-century painting La Grande Adalisque. Michael was originally supposed to shoot Julianne in a couture dress, but was so inspired by her flawless skin he switched directions. To this day, there is much debate over which is sexier. My two...
November 2010
4 posts
5 tags
Mert & Marcus' fashionably moody lighting of Diane...
copyright, Mert & Marcus.
This shot from the September 2009 issue of Interview Magazine mixes the provocative fashion of Eyes Wide Shut with German military regalia. Like only M&M can do. It was created with 4 lights.
*Special thanks to Alex MacPherson for the suggestion.
Camera: Hasselblad 553 ELX with Phase One P45 digital back and 80mm lens, handheld 10 feet back. Shot at 1/125,...
3 tags
The Panasonic Lumix G2 television ad
Okay, this isn’t a lighting guess. But it’s pretty funny. And somehow seems to fits in here. Maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe everyone just uses the Lumix. Or not.
4 tags
Tony D'Orio lights a toddler to look like the boss...
copyright, Tony D’Orio.
This ad for Huggies wipes portrays the young, otherwise cute baby as a serious, demanding, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer CEO of his parents’ lives. I think this matches a pose Lee Iacocca made for Forbes Magazine back in the 80s and was created with 3 lights.
Camera: Hasselblad H1 with Phase One P45+ back and 80mm lens, set on a tripod 5 feet back. Shot...
4 tags
Richard Avedon's 1969 lighting for Willem de...
copyright, Richard Avedon.
This portrait of de Kooning taken in 1969 is a prelude to Richard’s American West series. Though it may seem it was taken in the studio, it was actually snapped outdoors in natural light. White paper is taped to the side of a house for the backdrop.
Camera: Deardorff 8x10 with 360mm Schneider lens and Kodak Tri-X 400 film, set on a tripod 8 feet back from the...
October 2010
9 posts
4 tags
Lyndon Wade's graphic lighting for his "Room 107"...
copyright, Lyndon Wade.
The Room 107 series is pretty sick. There are 12 or so different scenarios that take place in the same motel room. Everything from porn shoots to kidney harvesting to gangster shakedowns (how about that super realistic blood splatter?). This image was created with 6 strobes and 4 room lights. Check out a hi-res version here.
And yes. Lyndon is David Lindsey’s...
3 tags
David Lindsey Wade's lighting captures every inch...
copyright, David Lindsey Wade.
Check out a hi-res image here.
This action-packed image is from David’s personal series depicting a drug bust gone bloody. It was created with 5 lights and the sun.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II with 28mm lens, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f16, ISO 100.
Lighting: The key light on our hero shotgunner is a silver beauty dish at f16, positioned...
4 tags
John Keatley's lighting on his Annie Leibovitz...
copyright, John Keatley.
This rare portrait of Annie (not taken by herself) was shot for the Seattle Metropolitan and showcases the fact she looks through the camera viewfinder with her left eye. It was created with 3 lights.
Camera: Hasselblad H3D-II 31 with 80mm lens, set on a tripod six feet back. Shot at 1/125, f11, ISO 100.
Lighting: The key light is a gridded, small softbox at...
3 tags
Roger Hagadone's Big Love lighting
copyright, Roger Hagadone.
Roger’s naughty polygamist, as I like to call her, is a striking image that takes you a bit by surprise as you look from top to bottom. It was created with 5 lights
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark iii with 50mm lens, set on a tripod 10 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 100.
Lighting: The key light is a white beauty dish at f8 boomed high above camera and angled...
3 tags
David Drebin's highly cinematic lighting in his...
copyright, David Drebin.
This striking and filmic still is from David’s book Room with a View (inspired from the eponymous Conde Nast Traveler column). It was taken in the NY Standard Hotel, 12th floor, and created with 2 lights.
Camera: Canon 5d Mark II with a 28mm lens, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 100.
Lighting: The key light is a white beauty dish with grid at...
5 tags
Platon's lighting for the controversial Bill...
copyright, Platon.
This was Clinton’s last official portrait as president, created with 1 light for Esquire. After a session of typically presidential posing was complete, Platon asked Clinton to “show him the love.” The result caused a stir in the political mediasphere. Bob Woodward said on Larry King Live that, “the tie is an arrow pointing to his penis, his legs are...
4 tags
Gavin Bond's lighting for Zach Braff and Giant...
copyright, Gavin Bond.
This cinematic portrayal of Zach Braff atypically kicking ass in a barroom brawl was for the March 2006 issue of Giant. Gavin used 4 lights (and a large imagination) to make it happen.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II with 35mm lens, position on a tripod 8 feet back from Zach. Shot at 1/100, f11, ISO 100.
Lighting: Although Gavin uses both HMIs and strobes in his photography,...
4 tags
Heimo Schmidt's ethereal portrait lighting in his...
copyright, Heimo Schmidt.
Heimo’s Myths reinterpret the Norse mythology of Icelandic culture and give it a modern sensibility. This meticulously art-directed image was created with 1 light.
Camera: Toyo 45Aii with 150mm lens and Fuji Pro 160s film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/60, f32, ISO 100 (pulled 1/2 stop).
Lighting: the key light is a white umbrella at f32 set 8 feet to...
3 tags
Simon Harsent's "gentle" lighting of Mr. T
copyright, Simon Harsent.
With the Hollywood remake of the A-Team, Mr. T is back in vogue (did he ever really leave?). This typically moody Harsent portrait was created with 2 lights.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II with a 24-70mm lens, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 100.
Lighting: Simon’s portraiture is usually dark and lit with an elegant simplicity. The key light is a...
September 2010
19 posts
4 tags
Saverio Truglia's not-exactly-natural sunlight for...
copyright, Saverio Truglia.
This charming image begs the question, “is it natural light or not?” Though it may seem this shot was lit with sunlight through the window and some tv glow on the recliner, Saverio used 10 strobes to create the effect.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II with 35mm lens, set on a tripod 20 feet back from the baby. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 100.
Lighting: The key...
4 tags
Hetherington's moo cow lighting confirmed
Well now isn’t this cool? Yesterday, Andrew Hetherington posted the actual lighting for his cow portrait on What’s the Jackanory?. And I wasn’t all that far off. Here’s the scoop with Andrew’s edits (not a bad drawing, either):
As promised after Guess the Lighting had a go at my Moo Cow set up here’s the full reveal. Ted wasn’t too far off
...
4 tags
Andrew Hetherington's moo cow from his "Made in...
copyright, Andrew Hetherington.
This crisply-lit bovine was shot in the village of Cootehall, Ireland when Andrew returned after a 10-year hiatus. It was created with 1 speedlight and a six-pack of room temperature Guinness.
Camera: Hasselblad 503cw with 80mm lens and Kodak Portra NC 160 film, set on a tripod 12 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 160.
Lighting: The key is a speedlight at f8...
4 tags
Julie Blackmon's painterly environmental lighting
copyright, Julie Blackmon.
Although Julie oftentimes uses digital collage and montage techniques in her imagery, I’m guessing this shot, entitled PC, was created entirely in-camera using 4 lights.
Camera: Hasselblad 503cw with 50mm lens and Kodak Portra NC 400 ASA film, set on a tripod 8 feet back from girl. Shot at 1/60, f11, ISO 400.
Lighting: The key light on the little cherub is a...
3 tags
Guess the meat couture: correct answer
*SPOILER ALERT* Don’t read any further if you’d still like to try and guess who the two photographers are. If you have already guessed or have no idea what I’m talking about, read on.
copyrights, Terry Richardson (left), Ted Sabarese (right)
So there you have it. Terry shot the meat Gaga and I shot the meat skirt with potato skin top. But how?
GAGA: This Japan Vogue cover...
5 tags
Antoine Verglas' dreamy backlighting for Angelina...
copyright, Antoine Verglas.
Pre Brad. Pre mother of 37 children. This 2000 portrait of Angelina for British GQ was created with 3 lights. Soft lights.
Camera: Pentax 67 with 90mm lens and Kodak Portra 100 negative film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/30, f5.6, ISO 100. The image was color, then scanned and converted to b&w.
Lighting: The key light is a large octabank at f5.6...
1 tag
Guess the "meat couture"
This is a slight departure from the norm, but hey, it’s Monday. Try to guess who shot these two outfits made from fresh, USDA prime cuts of beef. First one to post the correct answers wins total consciousness, on their deathbeds. Which is nice.
And which adornment looks the meatiest of the two? Ready. Go.
We can talk about lighting at a later date.
4 tags
Howard Schatz's incandescent lighting for his...
copyright, Howard Schatz.
This stunning, hyper-dramatic image from Howard’s 2009 “boxer study” has won quite a few awards and garnered slabs of recognition. Though much of the effect was created in-camera using 6 lights, there is a good deal of retouching happening here, too.
Camera: Hasselblad H2 with Leaf Aptus 75 digital back and 80mm lens, set on tripod six feet back....
3 tags
Rineke Dijkstra's thoughtfully simple lighting for...
copyright, Rineke Dijkstra.
Sometimes compared to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus,” this awkward, yet beautiful, seaside portrait from Rineke’s Beach Portraits was created with only 1 light and the sun.
Camera: Linhof Master Technika 4x5 with Rodenstock 150mm lens and Fuji Pro 160S film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f16, ISO 160.
Lighting: The key light...
5 tags
Steven Klein Lights Amber Valletta red for Italian...
copyright, Steven Klein.
Steven Klein’s work usually tends toward the dark - from his lighting to his provocative narratives. This image of a caged Amber Valletta wearing, i believe, a horse bridle (and isn’t that a mountain lion I see directly behind her?) was created with 3 lights.
To get a better look at the pic, click here.
Camera: Canon Powershot G10, handheld 8 feet back....
3 tags
Martin Schoeller's lighting setup for Henry...
copyright, Martin Schoeller.
Not one of the more popular images from Martin’s Close Up book, Kissinger’s 2007 portrait is my secret favorite. To me, Martin has captured every gut-wrenching decision Henry ever made in this single expression we’re uncomfortably close to. He created this with 4 light sources.
Camera: Mamiya RZ67 with 140mm macro lens and Kodak portra VC 400 ASA...
4 tags
Eric Ogden's lighting for Penelope Cruz portrait
copyright, Eric Ogden
This highly cinematic and dramatic fine-art portrait of Penelope Cruz tells a million stories, each one as haunting as you care to make it. It was created with 3 lights.
Camera: Mamiya RZ67 with 90mm lens and Kodak Portra VC 400 ASA film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/125, f8, ISO 400.
Lighting: Eric considers shadow and darkness additional...
4 tags
How Irving Penn lights Kate Moss for Vogue
copyright, Irving Penn
Though this timeless image of Ms. Moss from 1996 could have been created with a 2 light setup, Irving shot it using only natural light from a large skylight in his studio.
*Thanks to Nico Silberfaden for suggesting this image.
Camera: Rolleiflex 2.8f twin lens reflex camera with Kodak Tri-X 400 film, set on a tripod 8 feet back from the model. Shot at 1/60, f2.8, ISO...
3 tags
Jeff Minton's crispy-ish lighting of Juggling...
copyright, Jeff Minton
Jeff’s lighting usually has a seemingly simple, pleasing quality to it (though there’s more going on than we’d think). In this image for the New York Times Magazine, Jeff has managed to evenly light the room and bring out the character of the subjects with 4 lights. To get a better look at the image, click here.
Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II with 35mm lens,...
4 tags
Dan Winters' lighting for Schwarzenegger portrait
copyright, Dan Winters
This personality-filled, personality portrait of the Governator from Dan’s book Periodical Photographs was created with 2 light sources.
Camera: Sinar F1 4x5 camera with Schneider 210mm lens and Kodak Portra 160 NC negative film, set on a tripod 8 feet back. Shot at 1/60, f22, ISO 80 (pulled 1 stop).
Lighting: The beauty of all Dan’s images lies in his...
2 tags
What does an "octabank at f8" really mean?
I’ve received a bunch of questions asking what I mean when I say things like:
“The key light is a silver beauty dish at f11”
“Another medium softbox at f2.8 is four feet to camera right”
“The fill is a medium strip at f5.6”
All of these f-stop numbers are the individual light levels your light meter will read at the listed shutter speed and ISO. For...
3 tags
Sacha Waldman lighting for Kohler campaign
copyright, Sacha Waldman
This mid-century feeling ventriloquist shot from the Kohler faucet campaign (photographer’s alternate cropping) gets funnier the longer you look at it. It was created with 9 strobes and 12 AC slaves with standard household, screw-type, lamp socket connections.
Camera: Contax 645 with 55mm lens and Leaf Aptus 22 back, set on a tripod 8 feet from closest models....
4 tags
Andrew Zuckerman lighting for "Creature" book...
copyright, Andrew Zuckerman
One of the many shots compiled for Zuckerman’s book Creature, this quite gorgeous and graphically-framed image of a Bald Eagle was created with 4 lights.
Camera: Hasselblad H1 with 120mm macro lens and Leaf Aptus 75 digital back, set on a tripod 6 feet back from the bird. Shot at 1/125, f5.6, ISO 200.
Lighting: Andrew’s goal is to make the bird look as...
1 tag
New posting style starts today
Starting today, I’ll post in a new, simplified format. No more of the automatic picture slideshow. If you were a huge fan of that, much apologies. I think the new look allows you to better compare the photo with the lighting diagram. And some older computers didn’t handle the slideshow very well.
The post will be up shortly. Let me know what you think.
August 2010
21 posts
4 tags
