When I used to shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II, I had a whole system based on the Kata 3n1-20. That thing was superbly designed. It was a backpack that could be used as a sling for lefties and righties. It had a trolley system so you can use it as a roll-on bag. It even had a tripod/monopod holder that I regularly used. It was great. It was always ready. I could pick up and travel with me anywhere in a moment’s notice. It could carry the pro body, 5 lenses, all the chargers, miscellaneous gadgets, and even an iPad. But, fully laden, it weighed up to 40lbs.
The switch to the FF mirrorless Sony A7 has been a joy. Superior image quality at half the size and weight. With the smaller camera, I was also able to significantly lighten my gear. To quote Lotus cars founder Collin Chapman:
What do you think of when you hear the word “doctor” or “surgeon?” Somebody in a lab coat or scrubs with a stethoscope around their neck? Try a 5’11” beautiful women with endless legs. I had the pleasure of working with Elle a few weeks ago. She is a surgical resident from Ottawa, Canada, spending her summer at Harvard for her Masters degree. Below is our brief interview. For projects and shoot, you can contact her via her ModelMayhem page.
iLHP: Hi Elle, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself first?
Elle: I’m an African-Canadian and I am currently completing my medical training in Canada. I’m a foodie, music lover and I love to travel whenever I can!
iLHP: Model, MD! What a rare breed! You mentioned you were originally from Ottawa, what drew you to Boston?
Elle: Boston has a lot of great options for graduate school programs which is helpful since I’m pursuing a masters degree. It’s also a fantastic city for its food, music and history which is an added bonus.
Last time in Part 1, we started to explore Terry Richardson’s iconic snapshot style that’s influenced a generation of photographers and created the modern look for fashion photography. Controversies aside, Uncle Terry breaks the traditional “rules” with his use of harsh direct lighting and a shadow that hugs the model. In this part, we will discuss his setup and the gear you can buy to achieve that look.
Terry’s Methodology
Behind the scenes video of his Harper Bazaar shoot with Candice Swanepoel (click for the video)
A good way of understanding the magic behind his camera is to check out his behind-the-scene videos and interviews. With music rocking and a team of assistants behind him, his shoots are laid back yet up tempo. It’s fast, dynamic, and interactive. From these stills, you can see he shoots with a Nikon (D3X I think) and a single speed-light.
ilovehatephotography 