An old assignment. I had fun -_- photographing hand bags and shoes (dont laugh) but it goes to show you can have fun photographing whatever… yknow as long as you find a way to actively engage your mind or challenge your self. I wasn’t informed of the assignment so i didn’t really have any plans to do any off camera lighting but luckily i always have my triggers and i happened to have a softlighter in the car. There were 2 reporters with me 1 male 1 female. the male automatically became the Voice Activated Lightstand and he did an excellent job.
The Shot
We have a pair of Jessica Simpson um… footwear (i’m not sure what to call em they aint rly heels, not pumps not sandals) but ye footwear along with matching Jessica Simpson Handbag. Dont ask me the price female reader… i seriously didn’t check (bout 15k gets you both i think. I kid i kid or do I*glare*).
The Setup
I’m using a two light setup and essentially turned it into a 3 light setup. found a very interesting little spot in the store (totally commandeered the check out counter lol) the counter top was a reflective surface kinda looked like marble but i’m not sure. and then the backdrop was a leather like wall with button holes.. I’m like that will look rly cool with some specular highlights. so i setup a sb 900 to light the background and provide separation light.now the cool thing is the wall was in an L shape so to speak and as a result.. when the light traveled across some would kick back to the right side of the show providing a little edge light (effectively being a third light source). and then when that was all set i brought in the main light, an sb 28dx modified with a softlighter positioned over head. feathered so as to not light the marble surface just the shoe and bag. And there you have it.
You may have noticed I didn’t qoute any shutter speeds and any aperature or anything like that because the truth is it wasn’t what was important. what was important is being unprepared and still being able to make something work. The image was used in the Flair Magazine in a center spread along with other shots from the same assignment.
P.s you know whats really cool about ignite. Its right beside a awesome coffee shop that I’ll spend my last dollar on called Rituals Cafe.. the coffee is really good. Try it some time. (I don’t get paid to say this, I don’t get free coffee I’m just sharing an awesome brew source).