Hollywood Glamour Photography | Darkmans Darkroom

Model – Bianca Malise, Nude plus Glamour Lighting Diagram

Darkman — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:09:02 +0000

I did this nude/boudoir shoot with Bianca Malise a while back at her San Diego residence. Done in her upstairs bathroom to give a feeling of intimacy, and set in place that makes the subject feel naturally relaxed and at home.

This image in particular receives many questions as to the lighting and how it was shot. It’s actually pretty simple and mainly with existing light, with the exception of one additional light acting as both fill and key light.

The existing light was metered to be approximately 1+ stop higher than the key and fill light, to give a nice rim light on her hair and her left side. It was also set this way to illuminate the scene with the existing lights in the bathroom, to make it look as natural as possible.

The Key and Fill Light, was a 200 watt Fresnel, with a diffuser on the barn doors. The diffuser was homemade, with a round embroidery frame from Walmart with a piece of white, sheer fabric, like synthetic silk to diffuse the light and make it a bit softer. I then hung this round frame on the barn doors of the Fresnel.

The shutter speed was set at 1/20th sec. and ISO 800, to allow the low wattage lights to take hold and register. The Key and Fill light were placed a ways back from the subject so as not to overpower the existing lights and to allow them to be brighter for rim lighting. The Key and Fill light also give a nice little catch light in the eye. The catch light brings the eye to life and gives a sense of realness to the image.

Bianca is sitting on the counter top of the sink with her back to the mirror and leaning toward the camera. The resulting shot was a really warm toned image of a really pretty model with a nice figure. Capturing forever, the image of youth and vitality, which is a selling point for all boudoir photography.

Enjoy…

Bianca Malise, Nude Boudoir

Bianca Malise Nude Boudoir

Bianca Malise, Glamour Lighting Diagram

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Free Photo Prints from Darkmans Darkroom

Darkman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:45:41 +0000

Hi Folks, I just wanted to let you know that if you sign up for my mailing list, I give you the instructions to get 2 free photographic prints from me. Also if you give me your birth date I will send you another print every year, for as long as I keep this up.

I like giving prints away, I also like selling them as well, but for signing up for my newsletter, I’ll give you 2 free prints.

Darkman…

PS you can sign up for my newsletter over there to the right, where it says Free Prize Inside.

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25% off Ed Verosky’s flash Photography eBook

Darkman — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:12:28 +0000

Ed Verosky is giving 25% off of his Flash Photography eBook. Use the code AUGSALE to get it for only $7.96 instead of $9.95

Great eBook, Great Price, use this Link.

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David duChemin Photography eBooks

Darkman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:46:19 +0000

David duChemin has made quite a mark with his $5 Photography eBooks that he sells on his website Craft and Vision. Not only are the eBooks filled with amazing information and how-to content but they are an incredibly affordable answer to how to make better photographs. His slogan “Improve your craft, spend less money” truly is a great slogan which he is standing by along with several of his other colleagues.

David duChemin and his site Craft and Vision will help you on your way to being a better photographer with 15 eBooks so far, and growing, all for just $5 or you can get all of them for just $60.

I’ve written a whole blog post detailing each book HERE.

or you can just go to his website and check them out here at Craft and Vision.

David duChemins Photography eBooks really do kick ass.

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The Illustrative Look – Band Photography

Darkman — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:32:16 +0000

I love band photography, it gives me a chance to seek out a bands presence, or their vibe and create something original. This band was a band that had been broken up for a few years and recently gotten back together and needed a photo for their press package.

They wanted something original, and cool looking, as well as something they called “Urban Grunge”. So I put them in front of a garage, and used strobe to overpower the sunlight, and when I edited the photo I used photoshop to paint a “Tag” of their band name “Wild Hare”.

I used a blend of high contract, layering and desaturation, to get that illustrative look of the picture. The only thing I would have done differently is to set the lights differently. I had the lights coming from either side of them, thus creating a criss cross shadow, which for some people can be a bit distracting. If I could do it differently, I would put one light to camera right and one light to camera center instead of camera left and right.

The Illustrative Look with Band Photography

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Comic Con 2010, Sometimes you just never know…

Darkman — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:42:23 +0000

Who you’ll run into at Comic Con 2010.

Kevin Grevioux was coming down one aisle, I was going across another and as he came around the corner we almost ran into each other. I looked up and was like “You’re that guy from Underworld, What’s your name?”. Duh, I feel so stupid.

I rarely get star struck anymore, because I’ve worked with a few big names now, but some people you just admire their work in films you know?
I really liked his work in Underworld and didn’t realize that he was one of the writers as well. Anyway he was really cool and let me grab a picture of him, and yes, his voice is really, that deep. Kevin Grevioux from the Underworld movis:

Kevin Grevioux from the movie "Underworld"

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10 Top Photography eBooks for $5, Spend Less Money, Improve Your Photography

Darkman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:04:49 +0000

10 Top Photography eBooks to help improve your craft without spending money! These Photography eBooks from David duChemin, Andrew S. Gibson, Corwin Hiebert and Dave Delnea are meant to help the photographer improve their photography skills without spending money. The photographers use a minimal amount of gear on many shoots and they are sharing their photography secrets with all of us, and all for only $5 each.

I highly Recommend these eBook if you are looking for the easiest way to improve your photography without spending a ton of money on new equipment. They talk about Light Theory, Editing, Black and White and Color. If you are seriously looking for an inexpensive way to learn more about photography and some experienced guys who weigh in as champs, these are the guys.

These books are produced by Craft and Vision

#1 The Magic of Black and White – Part I – Vision – $5

Andrew S. Gibson

The Magic of Black and White Part1

Black and white photographs are a different medium than colour and require an ability to see in monochrome. Becoming aware of the differences between black and white and colour images, in both how they are seen and what makes a great black and white image, is the first step to capturing images that will work powerfully in monochrome.

The first in a planned two-volume set, Part One discusses what makes a great black and white photograph, what to look for when learning to see in monochrome, elements of a black and white image, and potential subjects for black and white photographs. Part Two will examine the means of creating the black and white image in the digital darkroom.

#2 The Magic of Black and White - Part II – Craft – $5

Andrew S. Gibson

The Magic of Black and White Part 2

Part two of Andrew S. Gibson’s, The Magic of Black and White series is about the craft of converting the captured image into black and white in the digital darkroom. Where Part One – Vision, looked at the process of seeing and capturing in monochrome, Part Two – Craft, looks at the tools needed to turn a colour digital negative into a spectacular-looking black and white image using the software of the digital darkroom, specifically Adobe Photoshop.

The Magic of Black and White, Part Two – Craft is a 51 page downloadable PDF. We’ve forced the layout into a landscape format to make viewing on the iPad even better. Using a good PDF reader like GoodReader, these PDF eBooks retain the rich layouts we’ve always created, as well as allowing non-iPad users the same great experience they’ve always had.

#3 Below the Horizon - Understanding Light at the Edges of Day – $5

Dave Delnea

Below The Horizon

BELOW THE HORIZON was written by a photographer whose commercial work includes some of the finest resort properties in the world. Dave Delnea’s ability to see and capture the mood present in light at the edges of day have garnered him some exceptional clients and produced some amazing images. His secret is no secret at all; simply to understand and capture the light that is uniquely present when the sun is below the horizon and other photographers have put their cameras away.

Editor’s Note: I am really excited about this book, not because it’s full of secrets, it really isn’t, but because it was reading the rough drafts for this book that inspired me on a recent trip to Kenya to shoot images I am more excited about than I have been in a long time. The inspiration to go out and shoot in the exceptional edge of day light has re-ignited an excitement I’d lost in the busyness of being a working photographer. Highly recommended! (David duChemin, Vancouver 2010)

#4 Growing The VisionMonger

10 Things a Manager Can Teach You About Running & Growing Your Business – $5

Corwin Hiebert

Growing The Vision Monger

Corwin Hiebert is David duChemin’s secret weapon these days. A powerhouse of practical advice and know-how, he’s been managing David’s nuts and bolts so well we asked him to put some of it in writing. It’s not sexy stuff, it’s down and dirty day-to-day make-yer-business run better kind of stuff.

Whether your running a studio business or looking down the pipe at becoming a working photographer, it pays to learn management details not from a photographer, but from an accomplished manager who really gets it.

#5 The Inspired Eye I – Notes on Creativity for Photographers, Vol.I – $5

David duChemin

The INspired Eye Part 1

Understanding and nurturing our creativity is the first step in breaking out of our ruts. The Inspired Eye, Vol.I, is the first of a two-part discussion about the nature of inspiration and the creative process as it relates to photographers. A vital creative life and an understanding of how our own process work is the greatest asset a photographer can have and precedes any of our work with the camera or in the digital darkroom.

#6 The Inspired Eye II – Notes on Creativity for Photographers, Vol.II – $5

David duChemin

The Inspired Eye Part 2

The follow-up to the popular The Inspired Eye, Vol I, Volume 2 picks up where the first book left off and continues to explore the creative process for photographers. While less sexy than a new lens, understanding and working with your creative process is the core of what we do and will make your images more uniquely expressive. This is where vision begins.Volume 2 includes an interview about the creative process with Chris Orwig, author of Visual Poetry. All illustrations are from David’s own work chasing his muse, with film for the first time in 10 years.

#7 Chasing The Look – 10 Ways to Improve The Aesthetics of Your Photographs – $5

David duChemin

Chasing The Look

CHASING THE LOOK is about making intentional choices about the use of our gear and the settings on our cameras based on their aesthetic effect. It begins to answer the question we all ask at some point while looking at the images of others – “How come my photographs don’t look like that?” While part of that question is answered simply, that we all have different vision and therefore different images, part of it must also be that we are not paying enough attention to the look each decision brings to the final image. Chasing The Look walks you through those elements and encourages you to begin thinking aesthetically and not merely technically.

#8 Drawing The Eye – Creating Stronger Images Through Visual Mass – $5

David duChemin

Drawing The Eye

Drawing The Eye is about understanding and using the ways in which the eye reads a photograph in order to create more powerful images, and it’ll change the way you look at your craft. Broken into 4 parts, Drawing The Eye looks at this concept of visual mass, or visual pull, in concept, in camera, in post-processing, and then through creative exercises related to each of these sections.

Don’t let the egghead title fool you, this is not academia; it’s a real-world discussion about making images that are more powerful because they’re made with a fuller understanding of where the eye moves in an image, and how that understanding can change the way you shoot and process your images.

#9 TEN – Ten Ways To Improve Your Craft. None of Them Involves Buying Gear – $5

David duChemin

Ten

TEN was David duChemin’s first eBook and still the most popular by a landslide. The premise is simple, if photographers could cut through the noise and work on their craft without being bombarded with the need to buy more gear, and the newest and shiniest, we’d become better at our craft and create more compelling images. TEN is exactly what it says it is, an exploration of ten techniques and ideas that can improve any photographer’s work.

TEN was written in response to the question, “so where do I go from here, once I’ve learned how to use my camera?” TEN responds to that and gives you ten solid steps to take on your photographic journey, each with accompanying creative exercises, and none of them asking you to buy new gear.

#10 TEN MORE – Ten More Ways To Improve Your Craft – $5

David duChemin

Ten More

TEN MORE is the follow-up to TEN and picks up where TEN left off. The question it addresses is still the same—how can I improve my photography without spending a pile of cash on big lenses and the latest must-have widget? This is a short-course in taking your photography and can be read as a companion book to TEN, or on it’s own.

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Jean Harlow and the Bear Skin Rug for Vanity Fair

Darkman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:28:58 +0000

The classic Iconic image by George Hurrell of Jean Harlow on the Bearskin rug, is a classic that many photographers equate to the quintessential Hollywood Glamour. It’s really not that hard to reproduce if you know where the lights are coming from. All you need is a Polar Bear Skin rug(good luck). The lighting is the easy part.

The negative sold for about $57,000 recently in the largest auction of George Hurrells works by Epstein and Schwimer. I would love to have a copy of that negative.

So if you take a look at my diagram you can see where I have set the lights for the photograph, and in the second and third images I will point out to you why it is and how I know.

The hairlight which is on a boom and above Jean Harlow, this is easy to tell by the shadow direction of this light(fresnel) and how it falls onto Harlow in a tight pattern around her indicating it is a mid level tight focus, and above her.

The next light is a narrow focus photo flood light to the left of the camera at about 90 degrees from the subject, also indicated by the light shining on her left side of her body to camera right. Also see the bears nose for highlights. This lamp is low to the ground, pointing slightly up at Harlow.

The third light, called the Key light is also a flood, but set to wide, and more of a fill light than a key light. Take note of the catch lights in Harlows eyes, and the lightness of the shadows on her ribcage, the back of her right arm and let hand, and her face. This light is slightly higher than the second light, and set to wide to soften and lower the brightness, so as not to remove or blowout the shadows, but rather to open them up, so the camera can get that shadow detail.

This image is Hurrells signature dramatic lighting which is accomplished by painting or composing with light, rather than blast with light. A little here, and a little there. until the perfect balance is met. Some would say the brighter parts of the image are her hips and the left side of her face, drawing attention away from the face, but instead, it frames the face.

As with many of Hurrell’s works, he the broke rules. To him there were no rules. This is what made Hurrell different, stand out and noticed. Not just by clients but by other photographers as well.

The other reason I know where the lights go is in the book “The Hurrell Style: 50 Years of Photographing Hollywood“, it’s documented where the lights are, as Hurrell took extensive notes on his setups and layouts. That book is available here, at Amazon.Com.

Jean Harlow, Bearskin Rug Lighting Diagram

The light is shining on her left side to camera right, also see the bears nose for highlights.

Take note of the catch lights in Harlows eyes, and the lightness of the shadows on her ribcage, the back of her right arm and let hand, and her face.

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Model – Mia Vixen, Hollywood Glamour and Film Noir

Darkman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:17:04 +0000

Mia Vixen is a Southern California Model and Burlesque Dancer I had the pleasure of photographing a little while ago. This first shot Old Hollywood Glamour and reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe, with the second shot being more along the lines of Film Noir. Each shot was lit with Fresnel Studio Lamps, and each had a different number of lights used.

Can you tell how many lights were used? I’ll give you a hint: Look at the High Lights and the Shadows. That’s how I reverse engineer photos I like. Look at the shadows and the direction of the lights as well as with the high lights, there you will be able to tell where the light is coming from.

This is your typical Old Hollywood Glamour Style Photograph with a touch of Boudoir mixed in. The Lighting Diagram is below.

Mia Vixen Hollywood Glamour

If you guessed 3 lights you would have been right. One on her backside, one on her thigh and one on her face. The one on her face had a silk diffuser on it to soften the center but still give a hard-ish edge to the shadow on her cheek from her nose.

Mia Vixen, Hollywood Glamour Lighting Diagram

This next image could tell a story. A fine young lady is stranded at a bus stop late at night waiting for her bus. A single street light shines down on her. Her suitcase with all her worldly belongings props her legs up, in a recline. What’s a girl to do?

This would be a typical Film Noir type shot. How many lights?

Mia Vixen Film Noir

If you guessed 2 you would be right. On shining down on her like a single street light would, and a second one to camera left to open up the shadows a bit to keep her from disappearing int he shadows altogether. Hollywood Glamour Photography is often mixed up as or with Film Noir but there are some heavy distinctions, which I will go into at a later post. For now, enjoy the process.

Mia Vixen, Film Noir Lighting Diagram

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Model – Lindsey Lou, and Glamour Lighting Diagram

Darkman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:25:55 +0000

In this post I wanted to show how I lit this Hollywood Glamour shot of Lindsey Lou, with just one Fresnel studio lamp. Fresnel Studio lamps can be purchased at B&H Photo and Video, at various sizes and various wattage’s. These are what I use to get that Real Authentic Hollywood glamour photography look.

In this image you can see the Butterfly Lighting Pattern under then Nose, a nice crisp clean edge to that shadow, however if you look at the over all edges of the shadows you will see a soft falloff about them. This is the difference between using Fresnels and Strobes.

With a Strobe and a Grid, you get either a hard shadow with a no soft falloff, or if you use a Strobe and a Softbox, you get soft falloff but no Hard Lines where needed.

I also used my favorite bamboo plant to great a little drama on the left side of the image, on the white bearskin covering, as well as to balance out the images with the leaves just barely coming into the image. This is also to show where the shadows are coming from, sort of telling a story.

Lighting Diagram Below…

Lindsey Lou #1 - Darkmans Darkroom

Lindsey Lou #2 - Darkmans Darkroom

Glamour Lighting Diagram for Lindsey Lou

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Hollywood Glamour Photography | Darkmans Darkroom

Model – Bianca Malise, Nude plus Glamour Lighting Diagram

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