Winter boudoir with Claire Rammelkamp ~ X-pro1 & primes

Jan 20, 2014 | Continuous Lighting, Location | 13 comments

01.

01. Simple window light set up with fine control of contrast delivering silky smooth tones straight from Adobe Lightroom.

This is a set of pictures from one of my 1:1 training sessions of last week. My brief was to teach how I create my high key boudoir shots with minimalist lighting kit. My client had the foresight to invest in a Lupo Quadlight and a Lupo 800 HMI spotlight so that is what we used. These pictures were taken in a very dark basement flat in Clifton Bristol. It is typically the hardest environment to shoot in so the maximum learning experience was gained. It is easy to shoot boudoir in a bright apartment with big windows but here we lit almost every shot from scratch.

02. These frames were shot from the garden looking back into the house through the windows.

02. These frames were shot from the garden looking back into the house through the windows.

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03. Increasing the contrast adds more intrigue and oomph to the pictures.

04. It was time for the Lupolux 800. I rigged it in the garden and shone it through the window.

04. I used the Lupolux 800. I rigged it in the garden and shone it through the window. We started subtly then gave it a boot using the flood/ spot control.

05. Still shooting with the 800 light either outside or inside.

05. These were shot with the 800 light either outside (right hand shot) or inside (left hand shot).

06. I used a Scattergel to give the light some interest.

06. I used a Scattergel to give the light pattern some interest.

07. The Fuji 23mm f/1.4 is the perfect lens for creating scene setting shots like the one on the left. I then swap to the 35 or 60mm lenses for the close ups.

07. The Fuji 23mm f/1.4 is the perfect lens for creating scene setting shots like the one on the left. I then swap to the 35 or 60mm lenses for the close ups.

08. I then showed how to use a plain wall and a Lupolux Quadlight with grid. (we had to unhook a picture frame)

08. I  showed my delegate how to use a plain wall and his Lupolux Quadlight with grid. We had to unhook a picture frame and move a sofa to create enough shooting space. One light used well can make the most stunning portraits. These look even better in black and white. I’m putting in the odd colour set here and there to show you how these lights work with skin tones.

09. The same lighting set up was used for these high key shots that were given the Lovegrove treatment.

09. The same lighting set up was used for these high key shots that were given a Lovegrove look in camera.

10. The bedroom was both dark and small. So we cut out all the daylight, switched off the room lights and made our own sunlight using just the Lupolux 800 and a reflector.

10. The bedroom was both dark and small. So we cut out all the daylight, switched off the room lights and made our own sunlight using just the Lupolux 800 and a reflector.

11. Into the light is my favourite shooting / lighting strategy for boudoir.

11. Into the light is my favourite shooting / lighting strategy for boudoir.

12. The Lupolux 800 is out in the garden again here and the contrast is controlled optically with the use of Tiffen Pro Mist filters and lens hoods etc.

12. The Lupolux 800 is out in the garden again here and the contrast is controlled optically with the use of Tiffen Pro Mist filters and lens hoods etc.

13. Low key was on the agenda too so I set about creating some darker scenes to shoot.

13. Low key shooting was on the agenda too so I set about creating some darker scenes for us to shoot.

14. By 4:00 in the afternoon it was dark so we used the 800 with an orange filter gel together with the room lights.

14. By 4:00 in the afternoon it was dark so we used the Quadlight together with the room lights.

15. Classic scattergel lighting with hard light is my kit of choice for beauty shots.

15. Classic lighting with intimacy and engagement is my system of choice for beauty shots.

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17. There you have it. Enough shots to make an album than can be taken in one small flat in winter. The shoot time would be about 2 hours plus hair and make up. For my 1:1 training we spent 7 hours shooting and Claire did her own minimalistic make up.

I shot all these using my Fuji X-Pro1 and three prime lenses. The 23mm f/1.4, the 35mm f/1.4 and the 60mm f/2.4. A lot of photographers will replace the 60mm lens with the new 56mm f/1.2 in the coming months so watch out for a bargain. The 60mm lens is the best performing Fuji X lens wide open. It has a fabulous bokeh and is a delight to use. I can get right in there for beauty detail shots of eyes etc without any close focus issues too. I for one will be keeping my beloved 60mm XF lens. A gallery of the shots I’ve taken with the 60mm lens is here. Take a look at the first frame in the gallery to see the fantastic characteristics of the 60mm bokeh. Click on the picture to see it big.

My interior portrait camera kit is detailed here.

The Lupo 800 HMI is still available and is a favourite for colour discerning photographers despite most buyers opting for the Lupolux LED models. I still love the 800 HMI and it remains my favourite spotlight of choice. It has a wonderful colour rendition for skin tones and a super point source characteristic in full flood mode.

Model: Claire from Gingersnap Model Agency

1:1 or small group boudoir training by Damien Lovegrove information is here.

Please feel free to discuss or comment on the lighting or equipment used. What style of lighting do you prefer? If you were Clair, what picture here would you like the most?

13 Comments

  1. Steve

    Hi Damien,
    Your work is always lovely. Which Tiffen Promist value do you use? 1/8, 1/4 ect….

    Reply
    • Damien

      Hi Steve, Thank you. I use the 1/4 black pro mist most of the time for my interior shoots and I like the 1./2 strength for my Hollywood work. 1/8th is barely noticeable. I hope this helps. Damien.

      Reply
  2. Thorsten

    Another awesome set of images and tremendous use of simple light – I love it!

    Reply
    • Damien

      Thank you Thorsten :)

      Reply
  3. Anna Saverimuttu

    Gorgeous pictures as usual Damien. Great to see you at the Convention and thanks for taking the time to stop and chat. I’ve just been re-watching your 2013 showreel on YouTube – beautiful. See you in Winchester!

    Reply
  4. David Shore

    Hi Damien, another class set of pictures, methinks will have to be on another couple of your training days. I have just started to use the x pro 1 and love it, don’t know what it is I just love it. Will try it as a second camera to my 5D mark 3 at weddings and see how it goes. I was just wondering if you have tried using your PW TT5 and Mini TT1 to fire your canon flashes, I have tried and better tried using them with all the recommended dos and fonts e.g. silent mode off, no auto iso but they will not fire..wondering if you have had this problem, tis very frustrating!!

    Will you be exhibiting/speaking at photography show in march, oh and btw Happy New Year.

    David

    Reply
    • Damien

      Hi David,

      I have used my PW tt1 and PW tt5 with the X-Pro1. You have to set the TT5 to receive standard (non ttl) signal. It’s a checkbox in PW software. I set up my configuration 1 to TTL for Canon use and C2 to standard PW signals for Fuji use. I hope this helps.

      Kind regards,

      Damien.

      Reply
  5. John Cooper

    Beautiful pictures Damien.
    Would you have been happy using the X100 instead of the 23mm f1.4 for these?

    Reply
    • Damien

      Hi John,

      Thank you. Absolutely. I’ve been using my X100 for so long that it is a go to camera for the scene setters. I shot the 23mm frames in this post at f/2 and I am happy with them. The X100 lens is so good it’s hard to tell the difference. That extra stop has added a lot of weight to my kit bag but I can now retire the X100 to personal use only.

      Kind regards,

      Damien.

      Reply
  6. Phill Adams

    Simply beautiful work Damien. Your high contrast photography is simply stunning and the creamy skin tones to die for! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

    Reply
    • Damien

      Thank you Phill,

      I like to keep things simple and using continuous light does just that. It makes the whole process of image making simple. With the Fuji X system You can see what you’ve got before you press the button. The LCD is a perfect way to compose and asses a picture. Not having a big SLR allows me to keep the intimacy and lightness of the moment.

      Stay inspired!

      Kind regards, Damien.

      Reply

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