Outer Sam Pan

CASE STUDY #31 Outer Sam Pan

CAMERA: Hasselblad 503cw LENS: 120mm macro

FILM: Fuji RDP

EXPOSURE: f/8 at 2 seconds LIGHTING: Comet 1200ws power pack with 30-degree grid for main and 20-degree grid for hair light; Lowell Total Lite

Assignment This image was created during a test shot for my portfolio. I was experimenting with motion, strobe, and tungsten light.

Visual Objective During this session, I was working to create a dreamy image of my studio manager, Sam Verone.

Posing I had Sam tilt her head toward camera and look off into the distance. She stood still while I panned the camera to create the blur effect. something you’re not comfortable with. If it makes your heart beat faster and your palms sweat, you know you are on your way to creating something special. Of course, you shouldn’t risk your reputation by doing this on the job; test out new techniques on your own time.

The Story I was trying to perfect the motion-blur technique, mixing strobe with tungsten light—and I was fortunate enough to have an exotic-looking studio manager for my subject. I originally shot her against a black background, but it was too clean looking. So I placed green and blue 4 x 8-foot foamcore panels behind Sam with a black gap between them, subtly creating greater visual ambivalence. I felt the test was success, because after experimenting for about an hour I felt more confident about using this technique on an assignment.

Tips The best way to challenge yourself as a photographer is to try out a technique that is unfamiliar to you—

I try to do test shots for my portfolio, and for my personal growth as a photographer, once a month. Many of my test shots fail, but every once in a while I have a really great success that washes away all the failed attempts.

20-degree hair light 30-degree grid for main light

tungsten light

LIGHTING CASE STUDIES 85