rolleirpx100

Schefflera Imp

*Schefflera Imp*
Fuji TX2 + Rollei RPX100
Model: Victoire

So this is another attempt at side lighting. I had two issues with the side lighting. The first was that it required two lateral lights plus blowing the background, and the studio only had three lights. Bad prep on my part on this one. That’s why the left side of the shot shows texture in the background. I could photoshop this out, but I don’t find it unpleasant. The second issue is that my side lighting was really on the side. So the front of the subjects (ie. where I’m shooting from) is quasi backlit. Is it an issue though ? I don’t know. I think if I could subtly light just the face a little more, it would work so well. But then that would mean 5 lights !!!

Coleus Nymph

*Coleus Nymph*
Fuji TX2 + Rollei RPX100
Model: Pauline

Some textures speak to me more than others. The common, garden variety Coleus, aka Plectranthus amboinicus, works really well and has those jagged edges that make it stand out. The lighting scheme here was lateral lights, which is why the darkest area (with the most texture in in the middle of the frame.

Schefflera Man

*Schefflera Man*
Fuji TX2 + Rollei RPX 100
Model: Fox

I wanted to try new lighting schemes for this third studio session, including this one: instead of having a front or front/side light, I went with two lateral lights. The idea was to have the sides well-lit and defined (outlining the silhouettes) and the center of the body in the dark, heavily textured. It’s a partial success as the lighting of the sides needs probably more precision than what I applied to the shot, but I like the overall look anyway, a lot gloomier and creepier than my previous lighting setups.

The Smirk

*The Smirk*
Canon A2 + Lensbaby + Rollei RPX100
Model: Lilly

The thing I really love about film shot with a Lensbaby is the way the grain breaks down the more blurry the picture gets. This one is a really good example of that, with the edges of the shoulders not only blurred, but fuzzy. Also, Lilly’s smirk is priceless.

Is it rain?

*Is it rain?*
Canon A2 + Lensbaby + Rollei RPX100
Model: Lia

Lia’s hat made me think of rain, so we had the idea for this composition. I love the way her eyes look at the « sky » or rather the ceiling of the studio.

 

Mrs. P.I.

*Mrs P.I.*
Canon A2 + Lensbaby + Rollei RPX100
Model: Patricia

This series of shot was largely unplanned, I just told the models to bring whatever accessories they liked. Patricia’s hat gave her a very « noir » look, hence the title. I like how one eye is in shadow and one in light on this one although to be fair I had a ton of spill light from the background lights, so luck rather than design.

Out of Cinecitta

*Out of Cinecittà*
Canon A2 + Lensbaby + Rollei RPX100
Model: Lia

Lia is Italian, but when I took this shot I was not particularly aiming for something Italian looking. And yet when I saw the results, it struck me how this evokes Italy in the 60s to me. Maybe Lia’s inherent Italianness just shines through!

Wistful

*Wistful*
Canon A2 + Lensbaby + Rollei RPX 100
Model : Lilly

I did a studio session last week. The primary goal was to experiment with more silly double exposure ideas, but while I had these beautiful models along I thought I might as well do something fun as well, so I got out the old Lensbaby and shot a roll of portraits on Rollei RPX 100, a film I hadn’t tried before. It was rather less contrasty than expected, but that’s easily fixed in post. I love the delicate side of this particular shot, so that’s what we’re opening the week with.