Black Swan starring Raphaella McNamara

February 22nd, 2013

01.

This Black Swan workshop was day two of my Passion Photography Experience event at Pipwell Hall. After a very successful Film Noir shoot a home cooked dinner together and a night of rest it was time for my delegates to become immersed in a styled art nude workshop. I used continuous lighting from Lupolux and Arri to light Raphaella. I shot all these frames on my Fujifilm X-Pro1 with the 18-55mm zoom lens and I fitted a Tiffen 1/4 Black Pro Mist filter to calm down the digital edge of the files. NSFW after the jump.

02.

Shoot Essentials:

Makeup and hair: Claudia Lucia Spoto
Styling: Raphaella McNamara, Lisa Keating and Damien Lovegrove
Location: Pipwell Hall, Northamptonshire
Camera kit: Fujifilm X-Pro1 with 18-55mm OIS f/2.8-4 zoom lens.
Filters: Tiffen Black Pro Mist ¼ on all pictures.
Lights: Arri 150 and Arri 300 junior spotlights. A Lowel iD battery light with lithium power supply. Lupolux DayLED 650 and 1000 spotlights. Lupolux HMI 800 and 1200 Spotlights.

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This event was intended as a one off. However if you would like to join me on a Black Swan workshop in another location please email Laura. If we have enough interest I’ll add another date. Please feel free to comment below

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24 Comments Add your own

1. Cheryl | February 22nd, 2013 at 10:36 am

These are breathtaking.

Please, please add the Black Swan workshop to the Chicago tour!
2. Maarten Quaadvliwt | February 22nd, 2013 at 12:11 pm

Hi Damien,

What a beautiful series! I really love the light, the pure and elegant expression of the model. Really wonderful work from the team!

Maarten
3. Thorsten | February 24th, 2013 at 8:35 am

Such beautiful images.
4. Paul Jones | February 24th, 2013 at 8:03 pm

Hi Damien

Just a short note to say that I’m enjoying following your blog.

Best regards
Paul
5. Kevin Cull | February 25th, 2013 at 10:47 am

These are fabulous images, what I love is that they are so classy, and flatter the model as well as the eye! I have fallen for my Fuji X100, would you recommend a Tiffen 1/4 pro mist for those files or does it favour the X-pro more?
6. Liz Simpson | February 26th, 2013 at 4:28 pm

Love, love, love them!
7. Rob Brook | February 28th, 2013 at 9:45 am

Great work as always Damien. Especially love image 4 in the doorway .
8. Gary | March 2nd, 2013 at 9:50 pm

Beautiful, Raph’s amazing, never seen a bad image she’s been in.
9. Nic Skerten | March 7th, 2013 at 2:51 am

Beautiful work Damien. Your B&Ws are always inspirational in their quality and use of light.
10. Alison Edwards | March 10th, 2013 at 10:50 pm

Such beautiful photos!
11. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:29 am

Thank you Alison. It’s tough to get a balance but with Raphaella it all comes together nicely.

Kindest regards,

Damien.
12. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:34 am

Thanks Nic
13. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:37 am

Thanks Gary
14. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:39 am

Thanks Rob.
This was a very special one off shoot.

Thanks for your kind comments and continued support. Damien
15. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:44 am

Thanks Liz
16. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:47 am

Hi Kevin,

I think the Tiffen in a 49mm filter thread would give a fabulous look to interiors and ‘soft light’ exteriors shot on the X100 and X100s. We do them in 49mm too:) It’s an optical thing so the camera and sensor combination is largely irrelevant.

Thanks for your continued support.

Kind regards, Damien.
17. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:51 am

Thanks Cheryl – Noted
18. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:51 am

Thanks Maarten
19. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:53 am

Thanks Thorsten
20. damien | March 16th, 2013 at 12:57 am

Thanks Paul
21. Steinar Knai | March 26th, 2013 at 5:17 pm

I love the general atmosphere and the quality of the images, but I believe the posing could sometimes be a little softer; I don’t think you should see the ribs of the model. Also, on a couple of the pictures I would have been closer to the model. This being said, I love the style and would like to try the filter. Hope to participate on a shoot soon!! When are you doing a wedding shoot in France?
22. Philip Lord | April 1st, 2013 at 3:58 pm

These images are amazing ! Really love them. Phil
23. damien | June 8th, 2013 at 1:29 pm

Hi Steinar,

Thanks for your comments. I’ve taught in France before but my experience has been that the French audience don’t want to listen to an English speaking photographer without translation. So I work in the other European countries that welcome me as I am. Translation halves the pace of the day and leaves everyone a little frustrated.

Kind regards,

Damien.
24. damien | June 8th, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Thank you Phillip