Computers and Skateboards

CASE STUDY #42 Computers and Skateboards

CAMERA: Canon D30 LENS: 58mm focal length

EXPOSURE: f/19 at 1 / 125 second

LIGHTING: Profoto 800ws head with large Plume softbox for main light; another head placed in front of softbox with 40-degree grid; Profoto 800ws pack with 30-degree grid on boom for hair light; Profoto 1200ws pack with two medium Plume softboxes for side lights

Assignment This portrait of Craig Flint, owner of Computer ER, was shot for the cover ofChannel Advisor magazine. So I had him hold the board only for a few final shots. I submitted all the variations, but (as predicted) they used the one without the skateboard.

Visual Objective I wanted to create an edgy, contemporary portrait. I had noticed a trend toward strong rim lighting and wanted to emulate that style.

Pose Magazine covers can be restrictive when it comes to posing. The subject needs to fit within a strong vertical frame, and there need to be extra space above the subject for the masthead. In this case, the photo editor was planning to drop in a background, so Craig’s position was predetermined by the layout.

Story You never know where a job is going to come from. I received this job from a photo editor, Stacy Pleasant, I used to work for in the ’80s. She came across my name on the Internet when looking for photographers in Montana. The story got even stranger: the assignment was to photograph the owner of the company that services my computer. The site was a five-minute drive from my studio and Craig and his wife are actually friends—talk about a stress reliever!

I knew Craig was totally into skateboarding, but I also knew that the editor would not want that shot.

30-degree grid for hair light

Tips I cut out magazine images that appeal to me and file them away. Periodically, I go through the file to see if I want to apply any of the lighting techniques to my images. It is important to stay current and keep your work up to date. When you trying to catch the attention of a new client, they are always looking for something “different.”

medium softbox for side light

40-degree in front of softbox medium softbox for side light

large softbox for main light

LIGHTING CASE STUDIES 107