Folly with Caddie
CASE STUDY #21
CAMERA:
Hasselblad 503c
LENS:
120mm macro
FILM: EXPOSURE: LIGHTING:
Assignment
120 Fuji RVP
f/8 at 1/15 second
Luz 800ws pack; one head with a beauty dish
After packing up, I dropped the film off at the lab
This portrait was taken for New York Magazine. The
and rushed a clip test. I judged the clip that evening
subject is Caddie Huffman, costar of the hit Broad-
and rush-processed the four rolls for morning deliv-
way musical The Will Rogers Follies.
ery. The following morning I edited the film and sent my selects to the photo editor—very different than the
Visual Objective
digital workflow of today, but just as time consuming.
My goal was to capture the bright lights and excitement of being backstage at a Broadway musical.
Tips
When photographing a celebrity, getting friendly with Posing
their publicist can increase your access and provide
Caddie was a natural to photograph. I tried many
some real insight to the person you are photograph-
poses with her, but having her sit on her dressing table
ing. (In this case, I even got two complimentary tick-
was the best. With all the clutter and bright lights in
ets to the show.) Also, when you know you will be
the background, her scrunched-up position tightened
limited by time, it’s best to work out all the details be-
the frame and drew the viewer to her great smile.
fore you get to the location.
The Story
When the photo editor at New York Magazine called, I learned they needed a shot taken the same evening, before the show, and film the next morning. I arrived an hour before Ms. Huffman went on stage and had to setup and shoot within a half-hour. Knowing this beforehand, I decided to keep it simple and use one light with the beauty dish. This turned out to be the right thing to do. Her dressing room was about 8 x 8beauty dish
feet and filled with costumes and props; there wasn’t much room for more than two people, let alone lights and an assistant. I shot four rolls before I felt I got the shot—and before I ran out of time. LIGHTING CASE STUDIES
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