Motion to Urban Earth CASE STUDY #32
CAMERA:
Hasselblad 503cw
LENS:
120mm macro FILM:
EXPOSURE:
f/11 at
Fuji RDP
1/ 8
second
LIGHTING:
two Profoto 800ws power packs; large Plume softbox for main light; 30-degree grid covered by spun glass on background; 20-degree grid with blue gel highlighting drummer and sax player; tungsten light for motion
Assignment
of the image. It is important to discuss the music and
Jazz bassist Harvie Swartz hired me to photograph his
concept, but it is just as important that you make the
band Urban Earth for their upcoming CD.
final decision on the direction of the shot. The other potential setback is financial. If you are
Visual Objective
working with the band directly, there isn’t usually a
Harvie wanted a group shot for the back cover of the
sufficient budget to produce the “big” shot the band
album—back when it was really a vinyl record. I al-
wants. It is up to you how you want to negotiate, but
ways think of Picasso’s painting Three Musicians when
try not to lose money on the shoot. Also be sure to to
I photograph a band, so I initially had in mind a re-
have a contract between you and the group specifying
creation of the painting with a fourth musician . . . but
how the images are to be used. If they have a small
it wasn’t working. Instead, I went for a spontaneous
budget, limit the usage of the image. Be sure to note
moment and tried to capture the joy of hearing Harvie
in the contract that if the image is used for any addi-
play his bass.
tional promotional venues, an additional fee needs to be paid to the photographer.
The Story
I asked the band to come to the studio and play. Unfortunately, they were still recording and were on a tight schedule so I had to have a solid plan for what I
20-degree grid with blue gel highlighting drummer and sax player
wanted. Happily, I had just done a test shoot emphasizing motion (see the previous case study), so I de-
spun glass over 30-degree grid on background
cided to apply this technique. Harvie wasn’t sure what I was up to, but when I showed him the Polaroid he loved the idea and we just kept playing. tungsten light for motion
Tip
It is great to work with musicians and fellow artists,
large softbox for main light
but it can also have drawbacks. One possible setback is getting too much subject involvement in the creation LIGHTING CASE STUDIES
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