Zoja Dravai is a circus artist from Hungary. One of her specialties is aerial chains. For our second collaboration (the first is described here), she was interested in getting some promotional pics for her chain act and I was looking to experiment with some new lighting set ups.
On the first day we showed up at Room to Move for the chains shoot, it turns out the place was busy with a breakdance class. Portraiture doesn’t require a big space to shoot and I could take pictures without disturbing the ongoing class. We decided to try some experimental portraits. Luckily, I had brought some fabrics with me. Zoja had some too.
I always wanted to try the “light through fabric idea” to create a pattern on the face of the model. With Zoja’s gold fabric as a background, I’m quite pleased with the result.
For the next set up, we went dark and moody.
When I saw the picture above on the LCD screen of my camera, I thought of doing some in camera double exposures.
Next, we moved to a white fabric. Next time around, I would like to try a white outfit for the model and a white background, for a more high key feel.
This next in camera double exposure series was inspired by a Joe McNally photograph of Steve Martin. Zoja can really act too.
We then met about a week later, when Room to Move was free, for the chains shoot. I wanted to try having the two back lights in the frame.
After the aerial shoot, I just couldn’t resist trying another set of in camera double exposures with the chains this time.
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