Black Swan starring Raphaella McNamara

Feb 22, 2013 | Continuous Lighting, Location

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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.

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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 :)

32 Comments

  1. Philip Lord
    Philip Lord on April 1, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    These images are amazing ! Really love them. Phil

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on June 8, 2013 at 1:32 pm

      Thank you Phillip :)

      Reply
  2. Steinar Knai
    Steinar Knai on March 26, 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?

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on June 8, 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.

      Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 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.

      Reply
  4. Nic Skerten
    Nic Skerten on March 7, 2013 at 2:51 am

    Beautiful work Damien. Your B&Ws are always inspirational in their quality and use of light.

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:34 am

      Thanks Nic :)

      Reply
  5. Gary
    Gary on March 2, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Beautiful, Raph’s amazing, never seen a bad image she’s been in.

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:37 am

      Thanks Gary :)

      Reply
  6. Rob Brook
    Rob Brook on February 28, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Great work as always Damien. Especially love image 4 in the doorway .

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:39 am

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

      Thanks for your kind comments and continued support. Damien :)

      Reply
  7. Liz Simpson
    Liz Simpson on February 26, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    Love, love, love them!

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:44 am

      Thanks Liz :)

      Reply
  8. Kevin Cull
    Kevin Cull on February 25, 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?

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 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.

      Reply
  10. Paul Jones
    Paul Jones on February 24, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Hi Damien

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

    Best regards
    Paul

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:57 am

      Thanks Paul :)

      Reply
  11. Thorsten
    Thorsten on February 24, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Such beautiful images.

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:53 am

      Thanks Thorsten :)

      Reply
  12. Emma Jane Woodward
    Emma Jane Woodward on February 23, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    Damien this is wonderful, I am just learning photography and discovering the wonders that light and shade/darkness can do for a portrait or landscape. My wedding photographer Kerry Jordan is amazing at this and I hope to learn from Kerry and other great photographers such as yourself. Do keep posting. An inspiration!

    Reply
  13. Lovegrove
    Lovegrove on February 23, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    Thank you Emma. It’s not where the light falls that matters it is where it doesn’t fall. The shadows reveal shape form and texture. Thank you x

    Reply
  15. Neil Bowler
    Neil Bowler on February 23, 2013 at 8:04 pm

    I’ve had the pleasure of working with Raphaella Withlove. A truly stunning and brilliant model.

    Reply
  17. Alister Pollock
    Alister Pollock on February 23, 2013 at 7:52 pm

    Raphaella is a truly wonderful model to work with. Lovely set of images, loving your work with the Fuji. I’ve made the same switch too and having a lot of fun with it.

    Reply
  19. Maarten Quaadvliwt
    Maarten Quaadvliwt on February 22, 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

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:51 am

      Thanks Maarten :)

      Reply
  20. Cheryl
    Cheryl on February 22, 2013 at 10:36 am

    These are breathtaking.

    Please, please add the Black Swan workshop to the Chicago tour!

    Reply
    • damien
      damien on March 16, 2013 at 12:51 am

      Thanks Cheryl – Noted :)

      Reply

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