This is the second and last part from my the series I shot with Rebecca Løckra earlier this year. Rebecca got represented as a model for Trend Models last year and has done some covers for Norwegian fashion magazines after winning a competition by Define Hair.
After working the whole weekend with event and portrait photography I am packing my camera equipment, setting my nose towards Copenhagen, Denmark to cover Copenhagen Fashion Week with the designer Lina-Therese Schiager Brækkan for Runway Passport, and to do some model tests of a few Danish models. Since I am traveling light I am still wondering what equipment I should bring and what to leave at home. Here is my temporary packing list, any feedback on what I should and should not bring?
Nikon D800
Nikon D700
Battery grips for both cameras
Universal Charger and batteries
24mm f/2.8
35mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.4
70-200mm f/2.8
SB-900, bracket and cord
Monopod
Zacuto View Finder 3,2″
GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition
Cleaning kit for lenses
32Gb CF-cards x4
Laptop
Memory card reader
500Gb external harddrives
Wacom Intuos4, drawing board
Mice
Business cards
At CFW I will mainly do shows (catwalk / runway) and backstage documentary, that is why I am bringing my prime lenses. The D800 has a slow FPS so this will remain the backup camera on when I shoot the shows, and be the main camera doing the documentary part. I really don’t need 36,6mpx on catwalk shots. The D700 has the advantage of having 11fps when boosting the camera with a BL4 battery and 12,1mpx photos is easing the computing power when going through a huge quantum of shots. I was thinking about bringing my followfocus kit (baseplate, 15mm rods, handle grip and follow focus) and Glidecam HD4000, but since I am just doing stills I can manage with just the Zacuto View Finder if I was to shoot a little video during the model testings. I’m a little bit of a fry head, I have managed to misplace my Eye-Fi card, but I will try to keep you posted on Instagram (bj0rn_net) with some cellphone shots.
Lately I’ve been working on some projects, this one is for the designer Lina-Therese Schiager Brækkan (LT Design) who is currently studying at Fashion Design Akademiet in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is one of her trousers. Model on this shot was Charite Viken from DP Models and helping me out with hair and make-up was Ann Karin Williams Aastø (OurStyle).
Having little time to finish this shoot some quick plans were made to do it in Trikkestallen Skatepark. I brought my camera, a SB-900 and an silver umbrella and tried to make the best out of this shoot.
A year ago I bought a light modifier for my off-camera flash, Nikon SB-900. I’ve been doing a great deal of off-camera flash photography lighting whole scenes with these tiny flash units. The modifier I bought was an Orbis Ring Flash. A plastic unit which popped on your flash forming an circular light making soft shadows and neath highlights on the subjects you are photographing.
The story behind this shot gives you some ideas on how you can get various shots without moving across town for new locations. Last autumn I didn’t have any permanent studio to work in when I planned this shoot with Charite Viken and the stylists from Ourstyle. I was determined to do a shoot with Charite even though the autumn so far had been quite cold and an outdoor shoot wasn’t something we sought. Having spotted this parking garage earlier the same year that might work as a location, we had to accept a compromising. The shoot itself didn’t have any theme or plan other than that we just wanted do a model test producing various looks. We had quite a few outfits the stylists wanted Chariteto pose in, some casual t-shirts and shorts, a long dress, a body and finally this body and shorts. A parking garage has quite a few great spots for shooting various photos. Even being at the same location from noon until evening gives you variations in the light. The fluorescent lighting might be for some film makers a pain in the ass because of the 50 or 60hz flickering, but shooting stills with a shutter at least twice as fast and with the correct white balance, it is really not a problem. The light acts quite large, but without any reflectors you might get some dark eyes.
First we shot some casual photos right in front of a white wall and some car ramps using just the fluorescent light. I was cold, the make-up artist was cold and the model was freezing having to wear shorts, tees and bodies. Good sports! The second part of the shoot we went a bit rougher, shooting direct flash light with the ring flash modifier. We found a stair case working as an exit on the backside of the garage with a steel staircase giving the photos a worn style. The as Charite changed into the last outfit of the day, I found this funky looking elevator with steel doors and blue walls. It was a tight fit, but with an wide angle lens we managed to shoot a series in the elevator.
Scouting locations is quite easy. Most cellphones comes with a camera and a GPS. Make sure you have your GPS turned on, and just photograph some shots of interesting places you come across. Using different on-line photo services you can keep track of where your locations are and when they are shot. Filming the locations in addition to the photos you might get a broader idea of how the location is set-up helping you to plan the shots. Keep in mind when you are shooting on location, it’s probably best to ask before you go there photographing if it is okay. It might be private property and you’ll end up needing to delete all your shots. Working on location you should always establish two bases. One for your camera equipment and tools for your shoot, and one for ‘relaxing’, where you can sit down for a moment. These two spots you need to be sure you can’t use for your photo shoot what so ever. If you are outside, remember to tell the model to wear warm clothes that is easily interchangeable and can be worn between shots. A sleeping bag is also a good idea to wrap around your model. Keeping the mood and spirit up on long days you might consider bringing food, candy, water and such. Take some breaks, both saving your back and arms from fatigue and giving your model a break.
Earlier this summer I had a photo shoot with Fredrikke Rennemo Johansen. With me on the set www.ourstyle.org did hair, make-up and styling for me. We did some shots outside, but these shots are from the studio. I believe it I just used a single light source with a P70 refelctor hood giving a roughness in the mood.
Last Thursday I had a fashion inspired test photo shoot with Fredrikke Rennemo Johansen from News On Request on a rooftop. Helping me out with hair, make-up and clothes was Ann Karin Williams Aastø and Lina-Therese Schiager Brækkan from OurStyle.
I worked with a late afternoon sun, experimenting shooting the model facing and having it behind her. I should have brought reflectors to dampen the contrast a bit, but it was quite windy that evening and the model was getting goosebumps so I figured we should be quick. The whole scene is therefore natural lit. Both photos are shot with a 35mm f/2.0 at an aperture of f/4.5 and f/3.5. Enjoy your Sunday!
A few weeks ago I had a photo shoot with Maren Elise Aasen from Trend Models. With us on location were Lina-Therese Schiager Brækkan and Ann Karin Williams Aastø, the stylist team from OurStyle, helping me out with hair, make-up and clothing. This is the first photo shoot I had in a while on location. I also made a motion photography clip-something something. Enjoy!
Soundtrack:
Nine Inch Nails – Hurt.
The video is shot with a Canon 5D MkII and mainly a 90mm tilt-shift lens. The still photos are shot with a Nikon D700, 70-200 f/2.8 VRII, 35mm f/2.0D, natural light with a bit of reflector.
Hi and welcome to my blog / portfolio. My name is Bjørn Christiansen I am a 29 year old and live in Trondheim where I currently I work as a freelance photographer shooting fashion, commercial, documentary and portraits. Enjoy my site!
