Ellen (Preview)
I'm calling this a preview page because I only have one print from the session so
far. It's one that I made right after the negs had dried. I don't even have
contact sheets yet, so I almost certainly didn't select the best of the bunch, but I
wanted to print something because the negs look really good. Look for more of Ellen
in the next few days weeks months...
Ellen is one half of Jacqueline and Ellen, identical twin models managed by The Image Factory. They're both gorgeous. I planned this shoot nearly two months in advance because I wanted a long time to think about what I'd do with them.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at my studio after having eaten lunch, Jacqueline suffered a case of food poisoning and was wiped out for hours. I went ahead and shot a few rolls of Ellen by herself. She was a pleasure to work with, perhaps the best model that I've photographed so far.
Belle Mok and Simona Stutz returned, bringing with them four sets of hair curlers, since I wanted to put some curls in the twins' straight hair, along with their usual 20 pounds of gear. They did a wonderful job with Ellen (and started on what would have been a wonderful job on Jac).
Mark Selley, the proprietor of The Image Factory, came along with the girls and provided assistance with hanging the mirror and the backgrounds (there were two, since the image in the mirror needed its own background).
I've rescheduled Jacqueline, Ellen, Belle, and Simona for next week, and I'll set up a separate gallery for that shoot.
Mirror
I could put something deep and meaningful concerning the mirror here, but it really wasn't on my mind. I was just trying to make an interesting photo.
The first photo, a straight grade 3 print. The exposure looks pretty much perfect to
me although some burning will be necessary in the middle of the dress.
Outtakes
Ellen and Jacqueline on the set. (Jacqueline had recovered by the time this was
taken.) The mirror is suspended from a rod hanging between two Manfrotto Mini-Poles.
Mini-Poles are dirt cheap as far as lighting gear goes, about $35 each, and are
useful for hanging all sorts of stuff. The mirror background is hanging from two
more Mini-Poles to the left of the frame; one is visible. The rod supporting
the mirror is actually two Autopole extension tubes, which are cheaper, stronger, lighter,
and more useful than most dedicated background rods, and in a pinch can be used as, well,
Autopole extension tubes! They come in 1.5m and 2m lengths. There's only one
background attached to the Autopoles because I decided that my ceiling was too low to have
all three spaces occupied. Eliminating the bottom two gives me about a foot more
room.
Ellen and Jac again.
Wouldn't you know it, it's Ellen and Jacqueline again!
Where are Belle and Simona? Er, I forgot to take pictures of them.
All contents copyright 1999 by Willis BoyceLast updated November 19, 2001