[Leica] Was red dot blues..lighting scene

[ted grant <75501.3002@compuserve.com>]

Carl wrote:

<<<<<Do you light jobs or is it totally available? Even for executive
portraiture?>>>>>

Hi Carl: 

I try to use the existing available light providing it's possible to make
complimentary photographs with. Generally I use the daylight coming in the
window and control the subject by asking them to find a particular item I
have already selected out the window to control their eye line and head
positioning without telling them to turn their head.

These means their eyes have life and illustrate concentration without
posing them. You are giving them something to look for, therefore they are
mentally alert and this isn't just another one of those damn picture
things.

Usually they are quite surprise I'm giving them targets to look for without
me even turning around to look myself. I already have looked out the window
and picked a half dozen points for him to look for once I set him where I
want him in relation to the light and back ground.

Of course I'll use a light if all else fails, but even then I "KISS" it..
"Keep it simple stupid"  The more you use the bigger the headache to keep
the subject looking natural and at ease. Besides I'm not a glamour lighter
like some guys have the talent to do. 

<<< Sometimes I'm in situations that are just butt ugly when it comes to
the existing lighting, especially fluorescent. I tend to light at this
point just to make it interesting or to avoid color shifts.>>>>>>

Well some locations are just "butt ugly" as you say and I'm prepared for
that, but I still use as little "extra lighting" as possible as I said
before.

The colour shift thing is a pain and that's why I try to have a good time
of the day to shoot allowing for the window light and an assistant to hold
a reflector.

The other thing I try to do is convince them that the B&W will illustrate
the "inner self of the executive" rather than selling the colour of his
clothes. :)

I use this line on them. "When you photograph people in colour you
photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in B&W, you
photograph their souls!"  Kind throws them off and has changed a few shoots
to B&W! :)  The other one is, "Colour is sensual. B&W is intellectual!" And
that kind leaves them thinking a bit about what kind of picture they want.

So that's how I do it, just plain simple like! :)

An M6 and a 90 f2 usually hand held very carefully.  Just to give you an
idea of how my so called technique works sometimes. I was fortunate enough
to win the Yousf Karsh award for B&W portraiture a number of years ago. Hey
you never know when your going to get lucky! :)

And the portrait studio guys were livid! :) This upstart 35mm photographer
knocking off this prestigious award.  I thought it was cool! :)

ted