01. It’s that time of year where all my interior portraits are lit. Even shots by a window are given the sunlight treatment. For this pair of pictures my light was out in the garden. It was dark in this basement flat and this set of French doors faces North. Once I take control of light anything is possible. I used a Tiffen 1/4 Black Pro Mist filter on my 60mm Fuji lens to capture this dreamy look.
These shots were taken on a 1:2 training day for delegates who wanted to learn how to take control of light. They were all shot using continuous lighting from Lupolux. My delegates wanted to shoot high key and low key boudoir in the morning and a few nudes in the afternoon. They chose to work with two of our models Holly R (from Gingersnap agency) in the morning and Vicki Blatchley after lunch. Some of these shots show a departure from my usual style. I find 1:1 and small group sessions are great opportunities to share the new ideas that I’ve been working on.
Models: Holly R and Vicki Blatchley
Camera: Fuji X-Pro1 and X-E2 with 23mm, 35mm and 60mm lenses
Styling by Damien Lovegrove and the models
Corsets: Lisa Keating bespoke.
02. The Lupolux spotlight was set to simulate sunlight and you can clearly see the shadows from the window spars and Holly.
03. I’ve been playing with different set ups in Lightroom to try and recreate the film looks I get in camera hence the different colour renditions for these first sets of pictures. Adobe is currently working on the next generation of processing options for the X-Trans sensor cameras including full profiles for Fuji’s legendary film looks.
04. I brought the light inside when it started to rain and I used a Scattergel with a single Lupolux 1000 spotlight to set the scene.
05. Holly has a fabulous tattoo. The head shot on the right is lit with the Lupolux 1000 spotlight. The hard shadows emphasise the beautiful waves in Holly’s hair.
06. I treated the desk area of the flat with hard funky light created using one of the new Scattergel designs.
07. After the first high key session we shot low key. All the time we were using just one Lupolux light. Here we used a Lupo 1000 spotlight tightly doored in.
08. Holly in the kitchen wearing a fabulous corset by Lisa Keating.
09. Our last set before lunch was lit with a Lupolux Quad light (soft continuous light) in the garden.
10. I lit Vicki on the sofa from outside once again. It’s a very different look from picture set 04.
11. Again I used a Lupolux outside to simulate sunlight but I showed how to create high key and low key set ups in the same place with minimal tweaks of exposure and lighting. I used the Tiffen 1/4 black pro mist on my 60mm lens for the shot on the left.
12. The Lupolux light was still outside for this set of shots too.
13. I love venturing into the outer reaches of surreal or erotic and away from lifestyle.
Are you ready for a 1:1 or small group learning experience? I’m really easy going and my models are too. We have lots of fun, there is no pressure and it’s a great way to learn how to direct as well as how to light and shoot. I can teach the fundamentals, my delegates are rarely experts. All the pictures here are easy to shoot with the right know how. The lighting kit used costs the same as the new 56mm lens from Fuji or a 24-70mm zoom from Canon. Light really does have an impact on my style of picture making. It means I’m happy to shoot in a dark location in January or a bright location in June. We all think a new lens or camera will change our pictures but in reality the changes are often minimal. Training makes the biggest change. Training is the key that unlocks your potential. Knowing how to use or create wonderful light is a skill shared by the worlds greatest photographers. I shall be going to Belgium again this year to learn how to reflect light like a pro with Tom Museeuw and to Sweden to learn about beauty photography with Benny Ottosson. Keep learning and make it happen. Speak to Blaise or Laura on 01275 853204 about 1:1 and small group training. Ask for a special rate, you never know ;)
Please feel free to comment below :)
Consistently beautiful. And a nice contrast of different looks from a single shoot.
Thanks Anthony :)
So creative with your lighting and poses as always Damian!
Thanks David :)
you are one of a kind Damian… great images but equally great words and write-ups on all your blog posts, a skill i don’t think i will ever master.. the power of the pen…
Thanks Karl,
I can’t master the pen either but I can type with three fingers now. I had to learn to write a few years back when I wrote my first book. It was quite a process. Thanks again,
Damien.
Deserves more comments (especially your comments themselves on education vs lenses and bodies)
Thanks Sean :)
Fantastic photos (once again) and beautiful lighting. I love this series of photos!
Thank you Nathan :)