“The Shot:” Mark in the Studio

I thought it might be fun to start a new series on the blog. I calling the series “the shot.” The idea is that I’ll choose an image, past or present, and give a little insight into it. I might talk about how I shot it, where the idea came from, or what I find meaningful about it. Sometimes it’s nice to be presented with something more than a “purdy picture.”

For the first image in the series I’ve selected an image of my young friend Mark. He and his girlfriend Danielle were visiting me in the studio… just hanging out and killing time. That turned into a bit of a photo session, but not a particularly formal one. I have one or the other sit in front of a background and then just carry on a conversation with them. When I’d see an interesting expression or reaction to something said I snap a photo.

I’d asked Mark to put on my driving cap which I though would be a good look for him. Also, I’d asked if he had a cigarette he could place in his mouth. There was a shot I had in mind that had been done by Atlanta music photograper, Zack Arias (zarias.com, usedfilm.com, onelightworkshop.com), as inspiration. In that shot Zack had the musician sitting on a chair, smoking a cigarette and exhaling smoke. Shot against a darker background I really enjoyed his shot. Zack and I share a love for white seamless backgrounds and not surprisingly, that’s what I was working with that evening. As it happened, Mark’s cell rang as I was setting up the shot. If memory serves, it was his sister on the other end. I grabbed the shot while he chatted away. While the shot was partially staged (hat, cigarette, lighting, background), it also captured a real moment – his expression while having a phone conversation with his sister. It has a nice, natrual feel to it.

Technically speaking: The subject’s face is placed on one of the vertical lines of “thirds,” a classic portrait placement. The position of his arms form lines leading the viewer’s eyes to his face. The black shirt provides a nice contrast agaisnt the seamless white background. Mark was lit with a single studio strobe shot through a medium sized softbox. The background was “blown white” by an unmodified studio strobe mounted overhead and aimed at the background. An additional hot-shoe flash on the floor behind the subject helped to keep the background lighting even.

I hope you enjoy the image.