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Archive 2016 · Dancers powder shoot

  
 
friscoron
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Dancers powder shoot



Been wanting to do this type of a shoot for years. A dance company finally said they want to do it, and the key was that they'd do it at their studio. I had no idea what the mess would be like, but I wanted no part of it in my studio. The owner's husband covered the entire room with plastic, which I thought was overkill -- but by the end of the shoot, I realized what a brilliant move that was.

Since the setup question will be inevitable, I'll say I shot with two Einsteins largely coming from the side with grids. I had another Einstein with a softbox in the front that was largely for fill light. We had 10 dancers, and they had 12 containers of baby powder purchased at a Dollar store.

Lotta pics, I know, what can I say?

Comments welcome.

1.
http://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8688/28513667476_7b98affeb8_b.jpg

2.
http://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8778/27928901514_a0794fe628_b.jpg

3.
http://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7474/28513659766_fc0d633306_b.jpg

4.
http://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8803/27928895414_b15d62fcb0_b.jpg

5.
http://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8569/28468041681_40f46d875f_b.jpg

6.
http://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8617/28262001250_7362066b9f_b.jpg

7.
http://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8460/28468029911_68713961c4_b.jpg

8. While one of their friends was doing their, the girls would roll around in the baby powder, slap each other, and rub the powder in each other's face, hair, tights, whatever. They were crazy, and had a blast.
http://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8639/28513637096_ae20ffe1bb_b.jpg

9.
http://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8857/28261989820_a458c0d27e_b.jpg

10.
http://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8393/28513625256_cfe41132af_b.jpg

11.
http://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8877/27928854254_8f46e02741_b.jpg

12.
http://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8505/28513615846_9a99808c36_b.jpg

13.
http://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7788/28468004571_f70363be74_b.jpg

14.
http://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8131/27930346743_7d13af917b_b.jpg

15.
http://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8736/28467995321_1e31fd0a6c_b.jpg

16. The final shot of the day showing setup and the mess.
http://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8072/28513602696_d5c0415b0b_b.jpg



Jul 25, 2016 at 02:27 PM
Adam_A
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Dancers powder shoot


These are great. Personally I think the lights are a little harsh but that's subjective. Also, I don't know how much baby powder costs. But you can get huge bags of flour at Costco for around $10. I think they're 50lbs and they last a long time.

Adam



Jul 25, 2016 at 03:46 PM
Max_Pain
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Dancers powder shoot


Love the execution. Very interesting.

May I ask, what's going on in #15? I'm not sure if that hair is going through her arm, or what is going on. Looks like a bad photoshop job but i'm sure that's not it



Jul 25, 2016 at 04:13 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Dancers powder shoot


Max_Pain wrote:
Love the execution. Very interesting.

May I ask, what's going on in #15? I'm not sure if that hair is going through her arm, or what is going on. Looks like a bad photoshop job but i'm sure that's not it


Very little PS at all. That's her hair flipping back up into her armpit. Granted, it does look messed up. Hadn't really looked at it before, so thanks for mentioning.



Jul 25, 2016 at 04:59 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Dancers powder shoot


Adam_A wrote:
These are great. Personally I think the lights are a little harsh but that's subjective. Also, I don't know how much baby powder costs. But you can get huge bags of flour at Costco for around $10. I think they're 50lbs and they last a long time.

Adam


Thanks Adam. It was a bit hard to predict the lighting on each shot. Some, I felt like the lighting was pretty good, and others, as you mentioned, it may have been a bit strong. They probably spent a little more than that ($10) for the 12 containers. Does Costco have them in color? Not sure why I'm asking. No way am I ever hosting something like this at my studio. :-)



Jul 25, 2016 at 05:29 PM
Mar73
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Dancers powder shoot


All are great but #7 with the powder tutu is amazing!


Jul 25, 2016 at 09:48 PM
ucphotog
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Dancers powder shoot


My first thought: That looks like it must have been a blast both for you and the girls.

I had a question: Did you use high speed sync? I can only go to about 1/200th of a second with my alien bee B400 strobes and simple triggers (radiopopper nanos). I did shoot a few jumping shots, which worked.

In any case, lots of marvelous shots. I have to agree that #7 (tutu) is great. #10 is also a favorite.

Thanks.

Dave



Jul 25, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Dancers powder shoot


I really like these. You did an excellent job and I'm sure the girls are going to love their shots. Great fun !

I do agree with the slight nit that the lighting is a little strong in the odd shot.

Must have been a nightmare to shoot with all the powder in the air, plus having to clean it up after

Edited on Jul 25, 2016 at 11:57 PM · View previous versions



Jul 25, 2016 at 11:51 PM
Steve Wylie
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Dancers powder shoot


Thanks for the BTS shot at the end. Just confirms my conclusion that I'll never, ever do this.

They did turn out great, though. Congrats.



Jul 25, 2016 at 11:55 PM
bbourizk
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Dancers powder shoot


Man that's a huge mess...I've thought to myself I'd like to do one of these shoots...now not so sure.

Regarding the shots I wonder what they would have looked like without the main light in the middle.



Jul 26, 2016 at 06:46 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Dancers powder shoot


ucphotog wrote:
My first thought: That looks like it must have been a blast both for you and the girls.

I had a question: Did you use high speed sync? I can only go to about 1/200th of a second with my alien bee B400 strobes and simple triggers (radiopopper nanos). I did shoot a few jumping shots, which worked.

In any case, lots of marvelous shots. I have to agree that #7 (tutu) is great. #10 is also a favorite.

Thanks.

Dave


Hi Dave,

When you shoot in a studio setting with settings so there is no ambient light coming into your shot, it's not your shutter speed that matters but rather the flash duration of whatever light source you're using. So while your shutter speed may be 1/200, your AB400 at a lower power might have a flash duration of 1/1000 or whatever, and that's what allows you to freeze your jumping shots. With the Einstein, it can be 1/4000 of a second.

High speed sync comes into play when you're shooting typically in bright daylight and you want to add some flash to the shots. For that, I use my Yongnuo speedlights.



Jul 26, 2016 at 07:24 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Dancers powder shoot



Thanks, guys! I'm actually reworking the tutu shot since I've had so many comments about it.

As for the mess, having all that plastic really helped, but it was everywhere. No way would I do it in my studio. Maybe do it outdoors at an abandoned lot at night.



Jul 26, 2016 at 07:27 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Dancers powder shoot


By the way, I've had a couple comments about my lighting possibly being too hot on some of the shots. That may be the case. But it may also be in part to my post-processing. I actually did very little processing on these, but what I did do, I focused on getting the white powder as close to blown out as possible, and then also getting the blacks as black as they could be, but still keeping an eye on the contrast between the black and white.


Jul 26, 2016 at 07:36 AM
Herb
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Dancers powder shoot


Awesome......not sure which would be more messy....powder or milk shoot!


Jul 26, 2016 at 07:25 PM
ucphotog
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Dancers powder shoot


Friscoron,

Thanks for explaining. Once I read your comments, I remember having read that before. Well explained. Again.

Dave



Jul 27, 2016 at 11:43 AM
friscoron
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Dancers powder shoot


Herb wrote:
Awesome......not sure which would be more messy....powder or milk shoot!


Powder. It floats in the air and goes everywhere.



Jul 27, 2016 at 07:30 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Dancers powder shoot


ucphotog wrote:
Friscoron,

Thanks for explaining. Once I read your comments, I remember having read that before. Well explained. Again.

Dave


Glad to help!



Jul 27, 2016 at 07:30 PM
friscoron
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Dancers powder shoot


bbourizk wrote:
Man that's a huge mess...I've thought to myself I'd like to do one of these shoots...now not so sure.

Regarding the shots I wonder what they would have looked like without the main light in the middle.


The main light was barely a fill. It really didn't affect the shot that much. I just didn't want the harsh shadows that cross-lighting sometimes creates. It just softened the shadows a bit.



Jul 27, 2016 at 07:32 PM
JPetty
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Dancers powder shoot


How much fun was this? You are so much braver than I am. I think I'd go outside . No matter what others say, I like the lighting a lot. Next time try holi powder.


Aug 12, 2016 at 06:23 PM
Naptime
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Dancers powder shoot


Another vote for #7. Might consider using a different powder next time. Unfortunately late night TV lawyer ads are soliciting for women with ovarian cancer and prior exposure to talc powder. Not commenting on whether it's an actual risk or not, just mentioning it as one more thing to consider. Other powder dusts may trigger breathing distress etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-nwazor/the-talcum-powder-lawsuit_1_b_10609474.html




Aug 13, 2016 at 07:25 AM
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