Big Bucks, BIG BUCKS

Angelo · August 10, 2006

I just hired Robert Trachtenberg to do a photo shoot for my company. Yikes!!!!

Do I dare bring my own gear along and play on the sidelines? :scratch

http://www.roberttrachtenberg.com

Nikolai · August 11, 2006

Angelo wrote:

I just hired Robert Trachtenberg to do a photo shoot for my company. Yikes!!!!

Do I dare bring my own gear along and play on the sidelines?

http://www.roberttrachtenberg.com

Congrats!

It's always nice to be on the paying side, since it's YOU who's calling the shots

And, speaking of bringing the gear - I always carry mine with me, so this would not even be a question

:
Come on, Angelito, what do you have to lose!

Cheers!

ChrisJ · August 11, 2006

It's easier to learn if you you've got your equipment handy...

Cool stuff. That must be some photo shoot you're doing...

flyinglphoto · August 11, 2006

Oh wow! I love his work. what I wouldnt give to be a fly on that wall! You will have to post what you learned from watching him work.

Do I dare be nosy and ask what his subject matter will be??

gus · August 11, 2006

wow ! He is good !

Angelo · August 11, 2006

this is exciting. Everything is still in the planning stages but the 22nd looks like the shooting date.

I'll post more info as it develops and afterward I'll share notes from his contract for everyone who always asks about licenscing fees.

Angelo · August 11, 2006

I can't help but laugh when I consider if RT posted some of his work here, he might be ripped to shreds for "blown highlights" or "rule of thirds"

saurora · August 11, 2006

Angelo wrote:

I can't help but laugh when I consider if RT posted some of his work here, he might be ripped to shreds for "blown highlights" or "rule of thirds"

We show no favoritism here.

Angelo · August 11, 2006

Nikolai wrote:

Congrats! It's always nice to be on the paying side, since it's YOU who's calling the shots

And, speaking of bringing the gear - I always carry mine with me, so this would not even be a question :
Come on, Angelito, what do you have to lose!
Cheers!

Calling the shots? Yeah Right!!!! I've fielded no less than a dozen calls already to deal with details; location, schedule, models, wardrobe, props, blah blah blah...

But I will definitely have my camera with me to "document" the shoot.

Angelo · August 11, 2006

flyinglphoto wrote:

Oh wow! I love his work. what I wouldnt give to be a fly on that wall! You will have to post what you learned from watching him work.

Do I dare be nosy and ask what his subject matter will be??

I'm pretty jazzed about it. I've hired many a photog in my day but none with quite this much cache.

He's shooting day-spa experiences for an ad campaign.

Nikolai · August 11, 2006

And he might as well deserve it

Angelo wrote:

I can't help but laugh when I consider if RT posted some of his work here, he might be ripped to shreds for "blown highlights" or "rule of thirds"

What does he think he is? Ansel? Andy? Yuri? Angelo?

B:// · August 11, 2006

What the hells is that??? :wow

Brendan4web.jpg

wxwax · August 11, 2006

A really big light source.

USAIR · August 11, 2006

Congrats Angelo

I would definitly bring mine
Go for it an let us see the results

Fred

ziggy53 · August 11, 2006

B:// wrote:

What the hells is that??? :wow

Brendan4web.jpg

Why that's "Brendan Fraser"! (He's going to be so pi**ed that you couldn't recognize him too.)

Oh, you mean that big light diffusor thingy. It's a big light diffusor thingy!:D

Never seen anything that big myself either. Probably more space alien technology rescued from Area 51.

ziggy53

ziggy53 · August 11, 2006

B:// wrote:

What the hells is that??? :wow

Brendan4web.jpg

It kinda looks like a really big version of this:

with a diffusor attached. (This one is around $7500USD when you add the diffusor. I can't imagine what the one you posted could cost? Yikes!)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=337656&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

ziggy53

B:// · August 12, 2006

OMG! Thanks for clearing my doubt Ziggy53, give me three please

7500 USD? I think I'm going to by one with the diffusor, hahahaha, I want to become a PRO photographer, by the way, what's the best place to study photography?

Byron M.

ziggy53 · August 14, 2006

B:// wrote:

... I want to become a PRO photographer, by the way, what's the best place to study photography?

Byron M.

There are so many fields of photography, you need to narrow your interests.

I think excellent sources of educational information are:

A local Junior College. (You can get an Associates degree, which makes a difference to many employers.) Then decide if this is the path for you and, if so, go on to a 4 year institution.

A BFA from an Art College is the best education and accreditation you can get. (Well OK, a Masters degree would be better, and a PhD looks better.:):)

As an apprentice working for a local photographer.

Online and mail correspondence courses like "New York Institute of Photography" are popular. It can give you a good structured background on photography, depending on how serious "you" are to complete each assignment.

Online resources and the "School of Hard Knocks" experience. (No guarantees and no help finding a job, but stuff you will need to learn anyway, so start now.)

That's my list in pretty much this order, as I would recommend. Others' lists may vary.

ziggy53

Angelo · August 26, 2006

OK, the big day came and went!
It was Wednesday, the 23rd and it was a great deal of fun.

I hope you don't find this to be too long a post and I hope you enjoy it.

.
Equipment delivery at rear door.

.
Everyone busy unloading equipment

.
While in another location Cayleen is attended to by make-up artist.

.
That's a 60 foot corridor FILLED with gear.

.
Robert's assistants setting up

.

.
Detailing make-up

.
Checking the cameras

.
Staging the first shot.

.
Cayleen jokes with crew. She was FABULOUS.

.
Staging additional shots.

.
Setting up for second location.

.
Rehearsal for massage therapist Jessica.

.
Cayleen tolerates me.

.
A clothed shot!

.
Robert and Dailey Advertising creative director Sergio B. check the shots.

.
Robert pleased and relieved, nearing a 10 hour day.

Hope you enjoyed. Sorry my shots aren't so great but I couldn't use my 600 as it was firing all of Robert's slaves. He didn't like that too much but he was very sweet. After ruining two set-ups, I ditched my speedlight and used only available light.

I'll get to see mock-ups Wednesday morning for a campaign that will run through December in several west coast lifestyle magazines. The ad designs call for b/w photos and I can't wait to see what Robert pulls together from the shoot. I'm guessing he triggered 250-300 times.

I'll try to share his final shots with you when I get them. Thanks for looking.

ziggy53 · August 26, 2006

Angelo,

Very, VERY cool. Please keep us posted.

Thanks,

ziggy53

Nikolai · August 26, 2006

Angelo, thanks a bunch!
I was anxiously waiting for your results and I'm very glad that everything went fine and you found an opportunity to do this, too!
That amount of gear I surely impressive.
I also found it interesting that, at least looking at your shots, some of his big lights, like these:

look totally DYI and, as such, may not cost me an arm and a leg to make :-)

Anyways - thanks again for the post!

ChrisJ · August 26, 2006

Wow, what a production! That was really interesting to see/read. Too bad about not being able to use your flash... definitely better to not annoy the Pro.

Thanks for the look-in!

I think the biggest thing you should take away from this is to use Canon equipment.

saurora · August 26, 2006

Thanks for posting these Angelo! Really interesting to see all the "gear" (and those "red" rings around their lenses...). I bet you about died when you set off his slaves ..

Can't wait for your next post! I agree with Nik about his use of do-it-yourself lighting...that's cool!

AntoineD · August 26, 2006

Nikolai wrote:

I was anxiously waiting for your results and I'm very glad that everything went fine and you found an opportunity to do this, too!
That amount of gear I surely impressive.
I also found it interesting that, at least looking at your shots, some of his big lights, like these:

look totally DYI and, as such, may not cost me an arm and a leg to make :-)

Anyways - thanks again for the post!

Unfortunately for you (and me

), this ain't no "DIY"... "tubes-set" costs at least $1500-2000 each! They're usually "tuned" to deliver a daylight. If only I could use one sometime.

Anyway, thanks, Angelo: I d'really like to work the way this guy do, and found very instructive that you shared with us the way he sets his lights.

gus · August 26, 2006

AntoineD wrote:

Unfortunately for you (and me ), this ain't no "DIY"... "tubes-set" costs at least $1500-2000 each! They're usually "tuned" to deliver a daylight. If only I could use one sometime.

Anyway, thanks, Angelo: I d'really like to work the way this guy do, and found very instructive that you shared with us the way he sets his lights.

Interesting though. I have been repairing & replacing all sorts of lighting for 25 years. There are some tubes that have been on the market for a while now that are 'triphosphorous' & some called 'daylight' i ended up with the word Neodymium when i started googling. They are mainly used in industrial laundrys etc where people need to see dirt/stains etc. The tube is not overly expensive at all actually & they fit straight into any existing flouro fitting.

I am just thinking aloud that it would be interesting to see what is different about those expensive lamps & one that could be made & put together...flouro lighting isnt exactly rocket medicine. I may be totally off track also as i know nothing about studio lights.

Nikolai · August 26, 2006

Antoine,

AntoineD wrote:

Unfortunately for you (and me ), this ain't no "DIY"... "tubes-set" costs at least $1500-2000 each! They're usually "tuned" to deliver a daylight. If only I could use one sometime.

Thanks for the info..

I wonder (just as Gus already did): what are those "daylight" tubes that sold in the nearest hardware store 2 min away from my house?

And, even more importantly, with the RAWflow and such, who would be able to tell the difference on the final image if the whatever tint there was (if any) could be fixed in post within mere seconds?

gus · August 26, 2006

Nikolai wrote:

Thanks for the info..

I wonder (just as Gus already did): what are those "daylight" tubes that sold in the nearest hardware store 2 min away from my house?

Nik they are sold almost everywhere here...lighting shops/suppliers etc. Maaayybe a tad specialised for a hardware though. The tri/quad light fitting itself could be bought from 2nd hand building demolition outlets. I would strongly advise anyone to get it checked over by a lic'd electrician prior to using them though.

AntoineD · August 26, 2006

Nikolai wrote:

Thanks for the info..

I wonder (just as Gus already did): what are those "daylight" tubes that sold in the nearest hardware store 2 min away from my house?
And, even more importantly, with the RAWflow and such, who would be able to tell the difference on the final image if the whatever tint there was (if any) could be fixed in post within mere seconds?

About the daylight fluos : take a hint.

Hard, isn't it ? what you've seen in this thread should be about $ 4000 (just for the fluo kits), maybe more.

The main issue is keeping the same color temperature from one fluo to another: it has to be the same! If your fluos are different, it will change the whole balance of the picture, so the raw processing won't help much...
Moreover, there is something about the sheer quality of the produced light. I'm not skilled enough to explain, but it has something to do with what I'd call the "taste" of the light (ok, ok, it doesn't mean much but I'm sure you got me...

).

Meanwhile, it's quite true you can build an amateur studio with what your can find at a store near you (some friend did with good results). But you won't have any certainty about the lighting continuity, which is quite a big deal, here, as you may imagine.

By the way: don't try to build a fluo kit. Use Halogen lamp if you want to build you own cheap studio

Fluo won't be ok for a good color.

gus · August 26, 2006

AntoineD wrote:

About the daylight fluos : take a hint. Hard, isn't it ? what you've seen in this thread should be about $ 4000 (just for the fluo kits), maybe more.

The main issue is keeping the same color temperature from one fluo to another: it has to be the same! If your fluos are different, it will change the whole balance of the picture, so the raw processing won't help much...
Moreover, there is something about the sheer quality of the produced light. I'm not skilled enough to explain, but it has something to do with what I'd call the "taste" of the light (ok, ok, it doesn't mean much but I'm sure you got me... ).

Meanwhile, it's quite true you can build an amateur studio with what your can find at a store near you (some friend did with good results). But you won't have any certainty about the lighting continuity, which is quite a big deal, here, as you may imagine.

By the way: don't try to build a fluo kit. Use Halogen lamp if you want to build you own cheap studio Fluo won't be ok for a good color.

You appear to know a lot about them...how are they different consistancy wise ? What makes those tubes several thousand dollars better ?

ian408 · August 26, 2006

I would think the main difference between DIY and Off The Shelf is the
quality of the tubes. Otherwise, I would imagine you could build most of
the rest of the stuff yourself. Yeah?

AntoineD · August 26, 2006

gus wrote:

You appear to know a lot about them...how are they different consistancy wise ? What makes those tubes several thousand dollars better ?

Oh, I don't know a lot, but I'm into portraits (professionnaly speaking) so I did a few researches these past months to know what I should use to achieve a certain result.

I cannot tell you much about the price, but there is one thing for sure: the brand cost many bucks

If you buy some profoto stuffs, it will cost a little bite more than you should pay.

I cannot say much more about this consistancy issue. I ain't no scientist

ian408 wrote:

I would think the main difference between DIY and Off The Shelf is the quality of the tubes. Otherwise, I would imagine you could build most of the rest of the stuff yourself. Yeah?

Well, at least you can try

The quality of the tube really does everything.

I often use a nikon SB800 flash, which is known to be a good flash. Well I assure you: even if it costs a $400, this has nothing to do with studio pro stuffs, in terms of light shaping.

Big Bucks, BIG BUCKS

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