July 2020 - Richard Spurdens Photography

Photographing in the Rain

I was recently talking to a fellow photographer about working in bad condition ie outside in the rain.

It reminded me of a shoot I had a while back. Where we had booked a location shoot in South Wales. Now South Wales is a beautiful place to work in but unfortunately it does rain a lot. We were on location for two days and it rained for the two days we were there. Which kind of curtailed working the outside location we had planned to use.

However, the model I had taken Ella Rose Muse. Was keen to try and get some outdoor shots in a couple of locations even though it was raining.

There was a great summer house as a starting point. As well as a wall that was a possibility and it had some slight shelter from a big tree. So Ella went out and posed in the pouring rain.

Summer house and wall

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photography - artistic nude model standing in a summer house doorway — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

I decided to look back in my Lightroom catalogue. To find the images we had created during that visit and thought it was worth posting them. It really shows how you can create a few different images in far from ideal conditions i.e. the pouring rain.

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photography - artistic nude model ella rose muse making an arching shape against a stone wall — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

I even manage to find a behind the scenes image of Ella sheltering under an umbrella between shots. This must have been a very quick pause in the shooting. As she normally wore a warm coat between location and takes.

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photography - nude figure standing under a umberlla — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

Also, how a great and brave model will go that extra mile to get you an image. Thanks again Ella.

It was not just Elle who spent sometime outside in the rain. For the shoots to the summer house I was outside in the wet shooting from under a large umbrella. These Images were shot using a 200mm lens.

The other shoots of Ella in the windows and doorway I was again outside getting rained on. While Ella was in the relative dry of the doorway. Our inside looking out.

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photography - nude figure study standing in a doorway entrance — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

I now remember that the main issue with these shots was the communications between shots. Ella was behind the window glass and could not hear the shutter going off. So, we had to develop a method of signalling. So she knew when I had taken a shot so she could then change to a different pose.

Shooting from the outside to the in

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photography - model posing in a window frame covered with rain — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photographer - figure shape through the rainy windows of a door — Richard Spurdens Photography – Artistic Nude series

Fine Art Nude Photography - Fine Art Nude Photographer -

The other very useful item for working in these conditions was a large umbrella. Both for the model to use between shots. As well as for me to shelter under while taking images from the outside looking in.

Looking back at these image I think it was worth giving it a go and shooting in the rain.

See what you think.

Model: Ella Rose Muse
Photographer: Richard Spurdens
Lighting: Natural light
Camera: Canon 5D MkII fitted with EF 70-200 f2.8 lens IS Lens

Fashion, Photography

Remote shoot with Riona Neve

Following on from my remote shoot with Zoi M via her remote shooting set up. An opportunity arose to work with Riona Neve again using Zoi’s remote set up. Riona is a Belgium based freelance model, so to get the chance to work with her remotely in these times was a real plus.

Portait Photography - Portrait Photographer - a head shot of model Riona Neve using natural light — Richard Spurdens Photography – fashion shoot series

Zoi’s set-up uses a Fujifilm XT3 with a couple of fujifilm lens, For this shoot we mainly used a Fuji XF35mmF1.4 R lens. The camera is is linked to Lightroom Classic via the Fuji Plugin for Tethered shooting. The desktop is linked via Remote Desktop. So you can see what the camera is seeing and work the focus and controls. The session was again all shot with the natural light coming into the room from a large window. It gave some really soft light for the first setup.

This was a short session of around an hour so not much chance to do many outfit changes. Three in total however the sets we did managed to shoot produced some good and different images.

The first set was just some simple head shots with Riona wearing a linen dress againt a coloured textured background. Following on with an edgy fashion look of a black body and black boots.

Below are three images from that set again the lighting was the large window. I titled the set – In my black boots. Really liked them in monochrome

In my Black boots

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer - model seated on a chair wearing a black body and black unlaced walking boots — Richard Spurdens Photography – fashion shoot series

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer - model laying back on a chair wearing a black body and black unlaced walking boots — Richard Spurdens Photography – fashion shoot series

For the final set I move Riona to the window to get some great side light below is one from that lighting set up.

Portait Photography - Portrait Photographer - Riona Neve wearing a white button tunic lit from the left handside window light — Richard Spurdens Photography – fashion shoot series

It was great to get the opportunite to work with Riona, and again thanks to Zoi for assisting durin the shoot. I hope I can get to work with Riona again soon.

Photography, Prints

July Print of the Month

My pick for the July 2020 Print of the Month is entitled: Free form dance shapes

Read More

Photography

Natural light remote shoot with Zoi

Following on from my last blog post on a remote shoot. I set up another remote shoot. This time with Zoi a full time professional model and actress, who lives in the Netherlands.

I have worked with Zoi a number of times in the past. You can see some of the images featuring her, in the my Fashion portfolios. Shooting the Sirens in Crete, and further on in Pure Silk Luxury set.

It was great to know that I could work with her remotely with Zoi being in the Haigh and myself being in England.

She has a great remote shooting page on her website. Together with a good PDF document that explains all the in and outs of shooting remotely with her. Its seems that the Haigh has 5G network connnectivity so the possibility of shooting outside is an option. As is the option of an assistant.

Zoi’s set-up uses a Fujifilm XT3 and is linked to Lightroom Classic with Fuji Plugin for Tethered shooting. The desktop is linked via Remote Desktop. So you can see what the camera is seeing and work the focus and controls.

Prior to the shoot I sent Zoi some moodboard images. So she could get an idea of styling for the shoot.

On the day we connected over Skype for sound and vision . Using windows Remote desktop to connect to the Fuji camera via the tethering software. All of which was diffferent to the previous set up with Amie.

However once you got use to controlling the camera via the software it worked well. We covered a number of outfits changes and below are a selection of monochrome images from the remote shoot.

Monochrome Images

Portait Photography - Portrait Photographer - image of model zoi seated on the floor against the wall wearing textured top and pattern tights

Portait Photography - Portrait Photographer - head shot from the remote shoot with Zoi

Following on with some colour image of Zoi

Colour images

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer -model zoi wearing pale blue and black trimed lingerie

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer - model zoi wearing pale blue and black trimed lingerie seated on the floor with lace blouse

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer - model zoi wearing pale blue and black trimmed bra anf fake fur coat looking direct intot the camera

Fashion Photography - Fashion Photographer - model zoi wearing pale blue and black trimed lingerie looking back to the window light

Zoi’s location had some great natural light and offered a varity of shooting directions. It was great to work with Zoi again and her setup works well. Thank again Zoi.

I will hope to do another remote shoot soon.