body builder 1
Originally uploaded by bongopix
What do you do when a model shows up and you realize that you don't have your umbrellas or your best lighting stand?
That's what happened to me when this body builder showed up. We had scheduled the shoot three months in advance, and I was treating it as the most important shoot of the year. How often do you get someone like this offer their time to model for you? It was a very special arrangement.
And I just couldn't find my favourite strobist gear. My shoot-through umbrella is my favourite lighting source. I'm very confident when I use it. In fact, when I have it, I know I can produce a great image. I felt like Spiderman running out of spiderweb.
So the model shows up, I calmly show him to the parking garage, and then I head back to my apartment to frantically search for my umbrellas and lighting stand. No luck. I stalled for as long as I could. Luckily the model needed time to physically warm up, but it was useless. I would find my gear after the shoot, under my bed. I totally forgot it was there.
Fortunately, I had assembled a do-it-yourself reflector the day before. I had two. Using a tall lamp and a rock band mic stand, I hung white bristol board with the intention of using it to bounce the flash. These reflectors replaced my umbrellas. It was something new and risky. And it was the strategy that made the most sense.
I couldn't produce the kind of soft light that I normally relied on. In the end, I was pretty happy with the results. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise? I suppose the trick is to keep stepping out of the comfort zone.
