Just a random behind the scenes video of Kate Moss in London, shooting for her friend and uber-hair stylist James Brown. Check out James Brown’s new website, featuring, of course, Kate Moss. It’s pretty hip! In fact, I love it, especially because it’s playing the Clash to huge images of Kate’s face. Superb!

It just gives you another opportunity to let you take a peak inside a fashion shoot. There’s no great tech talk or how to tips. Just a pretty model being shot in a professional studio situation. Oh and if you want to check out what Kate is doing for Top Shop, you have to see the new website with her featured for the store! Enjoy!

Subtracting light

© 2008 Melissa Rodwell Photography LLC.

One of my lighting “secrets” is subtracting light from a set. Of course, you have to know how to light if you’re going to figure out how to not light. There are a number of ways to achieve this. When I was still learning lighting, I would set up my lights in an organized fashion; key light, back light, hair light, etc. if you have a basic lighting set up, you can start there. Then it’s time to play! Start by removing the key light. How does it look? Too dark? Either turn it back on but turn it down to a lower setting. Or if you placed your key in front of your model, put it to her side. Put a soft box on a light head, then take a V flat and cover half of the box. Subtracting light, see? It’s all about taking away the light, but leaving enough there to get a good exposure. You can also leave your key in place but remove the back light or hair light. Or eye light or background light. One of the things I love to do is to over-expose my back lighting and letting that light “fill” my model. I let it wrap around her so it is actually used as a broad key light source. It’s tricky, especially in digital where you can’t blow out your whites. But it can be done.

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I have to say it. Kate Moss is probably one of my favorite models. I love her looks. Period. I don’t care about her personal life or who’s she is dating. She is a fashion Icon and I never tire of seeing her in print. Recently she was hired to be in the Longchamp’s new Fall 2008 ad campaign along with French actor Gaspard Ulliel. I have been enamored with Gaspard since I saw him in “A Very Long Engagement” opposite Audrey Tatou. Gaspard has a sensual quality in his face. He is one fine man I would love to have the opportunity to shoot!!

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“A photographer who isn’t afraid
to show his eye”

images provided by: Photography-Now.net

The thing I love about Jock Sturges is that he has been ostracized and criticized for his nude photography, he’s been indicted for his nudes of children, arrested for child pornography. He has been picketed against by extreme Christian sects. And yet, he stays firm in his belief in his art. Jock Sturges was born in 1947 in NYC and went to school for psychology and photography at Marlboro College. ( I majored in both as well! ) He received an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1985. He worked and lived in San Francisco for years before moving to Seattle, Washington where he now lives.

The other thing I love about Jock Sturges, is, well, his photography.  His use of natural light is superb, but what I think I love best about his work is the obvious collaboration he has with his models. I’ve read that Jock will spend weeks with his subjects, becoming like family, where the openness  is there and he captures it. There is a trust and admiration that can be clearly seen from his subjects. This is because he has taken the time to know his subjects and lets each shoot with them organically grow and take form, letting the art work take on it’s own evolution.

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