Saturday tease, setup included

[Nikolai]

Hear ye, hear ye!
Today, Saturday the 10th 2009 I finally came out of my holiday imposed photographic hiatus and had a regular studio shoot, first one this year:-) :clap
As always, a few setup pictures and a peek into the model's look:-) Sorry, no nudes today, that's on tomorrow's menu! :wink

#1: My current setup - front view. I specifically pulled up the gobo shades to allow the rim lights to be visible.

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452682795_fWpBa-X2.jpg

#2: The same setup, with the gobos in position and the sitting cube in place.

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452683180_tQAE7-X2.jpg

#3: Model's POV - view to her left (camera's right):


http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452682895_GtRAP-X2.jpg

#4: Model's POV - view to her right (camera's left):

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452682989_vJC5p-X2.jpg

#5: Model's POV towards the camera:

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452682637_eK4KM-XL.jpg

#6: Caren in position:

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452683517_xpoTg-X2.jpg

#7: Going for princess/cinderella look:

http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/452684143_uTwPi-X2.jpg

Enjoy, the finals are coming (albeit it may take a few days:-)
This post was made with the assistance of Star*Explorer (http://www.starexplorer.com)

[mayassa]

holly cow you have a lot of lights! nice:lust

[NeilL]

Many thanks, Nik. That's very informative. I have just set up my first "studio"(!) in a corner of a small room, just a cubbyhole. I'll send a pic.

[lisap]

I'm so envious of the height you have to work with and the gorgeous fabrics you always use. :lust (ok, ok....and the lights too....haha) My lower ceiling basement studio offers me quite a challenge when I have anyone over 5'8" or so and I love seeing shots of the really high ceilings :)

Can't wait to see the results.

-- Lisa P.

[jonh68]

The framing is a little off, and it looks like you blew out some of the highlights in the first few pictures. It's a good effort though. Maybe next time you can pay more attention.



Just kidding!

I have read critiques of his teaser shots like they were actually the real deal. :D

[Nikolai]

holly cow you have a lot of lights! nice:lustThanks! :thumb

[Nikolai]

Many thanks, Nik. That's very informative. I have just set up my first "studio"(!) in a corner of a small room, just a cubbyhole. I'll send a pic.
You're very welcome Neil! Glad to be of help! And believe me, I know the struggles for space:-)

[Nikolai]

I'm so envious of the height you have to work with and the gorgeous fabrics you always use. :lust (ok, ok....and the lights too....haha) My lower ceiling basement studio offers me quite a challenge when I have anyone over 5'8" or so and I love seeing shots of the really high ceilings :)

Can't wait to see the results.

-- Lisa P.
Thanks, Lisa!
Yeah, I hear ya... You'd think initially that the height doesn't matter, but boy you realize quickly you can't have enough.. Studio portraiture is such a space hog: you need length to use long glass, you need width to have an ability to put the rim lights properly, you need the height to have the poper hair light and some shooting angles... Arrgh...

[Nikolai]

The framing is a little off, and it looks like you blew out some of the highlights in the first few pictures. It's a good effort though. Maybe next time you can pay more attention.

Just kidding!

I have read critiques of his teaser shots like they were actually the real deal. :D

LOL :rofl
Thanks for stopping by! :thumb

[Sam]

Nikolia,

Thanks for taking the time to post photos of your set up.

I now feel like a strobe challenged photographer with only two strobes. :cry

Sam

[Nikolai]

Nikolia,

Thanks for taking the time to post photos of your set up.

I now feel like a strobe challenged photographer with only two strobes. :cry

Sam
Sam,
you're very welcome! :thumb
Don't I know the feeling... :sigh
Yet even two strobes can get you some nice images if used creatively. Especially if you add a few really inexpensive (and often DIY-able) gadgets, like reflectors, diffusers, etc. One the my best (and most popular amongst modeling crowd, it also pops up here at dgrin banner occasionally) images was taken with ... Home Depot worklights. :deal
So, as always, "it's not the size/gear..." :wink

[Tango]

Hey Nik, i need something for my portfolio...this is the look im going for, can you help? http://www.enjoyart.com/single_posters/celebrity/george_timeless.htm

[Swartzy]

Hey Nik, i need something for my portfolio...this is the look im going for, can you help? http://www.enjoyart.com/single_posters/celebrity/george_timeless.htm


ROFLMA :rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl :rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl :rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

[NeilL]

Hey Nik, i need something for my portfolio...this is the look im going for, can you help? http://www.enjoyart.com/single_posters/celebrity/george_timeless.htm


Where would you put the sunstar? :wink:wink:wink

[Nikolai]

Hey Nik, i need something for my portfolio...this is the look im going for, can you help? http://www.enjoyart.com/single_posters/celebrity/george_timeless.htm
:lol3
nice one! :thumb

[Tango]

i gotta find me some black socks.

anyway i dont mean to de-rail your thread, it is a very serious subject and i enjoy reading about you and your set-up etc...!

[Nikolai]

i gotta find me some black socks.
totally!

anyway i dont mean to de-rail your thread, it is a very serious subject and i enjoy reading about you and your set-up etc...!
NP, there is nothing to derail to begin with, it's just a teaser anyway, and yours made it more fun:-) :thumb

[Agnieszka]

You are killing me!!!!!!! :hang I wanna see the pics :D

[heatherfeather]

Man, Nik- you must have one wonderful wife to let you do that to your livingroom all the time.
I loved seeing your setup! (And I am trying hard not to be jealous of all your lights...)

Also I am really interested to see these photos- in the second one her dress appears so old fashioned compared to your usual I wonder where you are planning to go with it.

Waiting... waiting...

[Nikolai]

You are killing me!!!!!!! :hang I wanna see the pics :DThanks, Angie! You will, I promise:-) :thumb

[Nikolai]

Man, Nik- you must have one wonderful wife to let you do that to your livingroom all the time.
I loved seeing your setup! (And I am trying hard not to be jealous of all your lights...)

Also I am really interested to see these photos- in the second one her dress appears so old fashioned compared to your usual I wonder where you are planning to go with it.

Waiting... waiting...
Thanks, Heather!
Well, we didn't use that room like ever, so once I started to shoot on a regular basis it was a natural move...
And I bet I have at least one surprise for you re: that pink dress:-)

[clemensphoto's]

Nikolai,

It's great to see the rest of your studio. I have to agree you have a lot of lights and gear.

[Nikolai]

Nikolai,
It's great to see the rest of your studio. I have to agree you have a lot of lights and gear.
Thank you! :-)

[Zarathustra]

Nioolai, I am thoroughly impressed! I lurked here for about a year before joining and your work has always impressed the hell out of me. Your studio work always gave me the impression that you had something huge and expansive since nothing ever looks cramped in any way shape or form. That you are doing all of your shots in a room in your house astounds me! Thanks for the set up shots! :thumb

[Nikolai]

Nioolai, I am thoroughly impressed! I lurked here for about a year before joining and your work has always impressed the hell out of me. Your studio work always gave me the impression that you had something huge and expansive since nothing ever looks cramped in any way shape or form. That you are doing all of your shots in a room in your house astounds me! Thanks for the set up shots! :thumb
"So sprach Zarathustra!" :-) :rofl
Thanks! :thumb
As mentioned earlier, I'm lucky to have an available room with a high ceiling. It's a bit too narrow for what I'd like it to be, but I guess we all have to manage:-) :wink

[Swartzy]

I will say I'm very envious of all your lighting equipment there Nik......wow...how cool.....pretty soon, you'll need scaffolding to place lights and modifiers for each muscle group of the model :D:D:D

Really looking forward to the final images.....great guns!

[Moogle Pepper]

Nik do you do this out of your home?

[Nikolai]

I will say I'm very envious of all your lighting equipment there Nik......wow...how cool.....pretty soon, you'll need scaffolding to place lights and modifiers for each muscle group of the model :D:D:D

Really looking forward to the final images.....great guns!
Thanks, David!
RE: scaffolding and muscle-group specific modifiers: that's how PB does it, and that's my goal, I'm working on it!l:-) :deal :wink
Stay tuned, jut gimme a couple of days: new season "24" started yesterday, I *must* watch it:-) :rofl

[Nikolai]

Nik do you do this out of your home?
Did I ever mention any other place? :wink I'm not that rich to rent a place for studio...

[Moogle Pepper]

How much do you charge tenants? :deal

[Nikolai]

How much do you charge tenants? :dealYou mean my wife and kinds? :wink It's a barter, but you *really* don't want to get into that... :rofl

[dogwood]

Yet even two strobes can get you some nice images if used creatively.

Or one strobe. Or even just a reflector. :D

Love seeing your set-up shots Nik. Just curious though-- that hair light on the boom, is it a pain to adjust the output or do you pretty much get it set and leave it there?

[KED]

new season "24" started yesterday, I *must* watch it:-) :roflAgain not to derail, but I was hoping that I could kick 24 cold turkey this year, but NOOOO. Great 2-hour premier last night (at least after the first 15 minutes). Guess we won't be looking for much from you on Monday nights LOL!!!

[Nikolai]

Or one strobe. Or even just a reflector. :D
+1 :agree :thumb
I had one one sunpack for a year, then two for two more years, and only last year I went ballistic :-)

Love seeing your set-up shots Nik. Just curious though-- that hair light on the boom, is it a pain to adjust the output or do you pretty much get it set and leave it there?
Thanks, Pete!
Good concern. I was worried about that initially:-) IRL it's no biggie, though. As I mentioned several times, 95% of my in-studio shooting is done at f/4 as the fill level and f/5.6 as rim/hair level. So I always keep it at the same power setting and all I need to do is to keep the same distance.

[Nikolai]

Again not to derail, but I was hoping that I could kick 24 cold turkey this year, but NOOOO. Great 2-hour premier last night (at least after the first 15 minutes). Guess we won't be looking for much from you on Monday nights LOL!!!
true, true..:-)