Another great day shooting some creatives at the studio with Jenna, a model from Toronto. I met Jenna about a year ago during a shoot for a local designer and it was great to reconnect. I continued with the same theme and look as yesterday (see previous post) and kept the lighting pretty much the same.

Thanks to Cassandra Forrester for the fantastic job with hair and make up.

Thanks again to Colette for her assistance, the BTS shots and for controlling the wind machine.

Today’s music for the shoot included Soundgarden’s album Superunknown and The Black Keys’ album El Camino.

I was feeling a little Rock’n Roll this festive season and wanted to shoot some creatives incorporating high fashion with a rock’n roll edge. Tabitha, a model from Hamilton was up for the shoot and she rocked it! On a technical note, I had two different light set ups for this shoot. One set up had an Elinchrom deep octa soft box as key and a Elinchrom 7″ reflector with a 10 degree grid for added fill. The other set up was with an Opus soft box as the only light source.

Thanks to Jeffrey Ng for the awesome job with hair and make up.

Thanks also to Colette for her assistance, the BTS shots and for wrestling with the wind machine.

Soundtrack for the shoot included Florence + the Machine’s album Lungs, Silversun Pickup’s album Swoon and PJ Harvey’s album Let England Shake.

WHAT  TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON AND WHY?

I enjoy all types of photography, but I tend to be most active on the fashion runway. Like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side, and compared to my day-job, the fashion scene offers a unique and exciting experience.

TELL ME ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO INSPIRES YOU

I am no academic when it comes to photography. If something is pleasing to the eye, then that is good enough for me. My early inspirations came from viewing online photoblogs, and one blog I periodically revisit is that of Kathleen Connally. Her site A Walk Through Durham Township is a mix of beautifully captured landscapes and portraits that give this city slicker a glimpse into a different pace of life.

FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best part of photography is at the end of the whole process when I have made my image selections and posted them on the web for people to see. The worst part of photography is having to heavily post-process a huge batch of photos because of poor event lighting.

WHAT IS THE LATEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND HOW IS IT USED FOR THE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO?

The last piece of gear I purchased was the 1560 Pelican Case. It is an absolute advantage to own one of these things. In addition to protecting my equipment, it can be used as something to stand on if I need the extra height. In a pinch, I can stand on the case vertically and gain an additional two feet to see over the photographers in front of me!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?

My first camera was a Kodak T550 which used the APS film system. In retrospect, I am not happy with the film format, but I just wanted something to take pictures of my friends and family. My first SLR was the Canon EOS 20D and it opened up a new world of possibilities to me. Armed with this new camera, I started a photoblog and was constantly looking for new subject matter to capture. I searched online for events to photograph, and eventually, through this process, I made my way onto the fashion scene.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS IN YOUR BAG?

I am always bragging about my Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 lens. The focal length can be tricky to work with, but its fast-focusing and sharpness at f/2.0 make it a joy to use.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WAS YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

This fall I joined the crowds at the Toronto International Film Festival in the hopes of photographing some celebrities. I knew Brad Pitt would be there, but the moment Angelina Jolie emerged from the car, I directed all my energy to photographing her since this was my first time seeing her. These events always involve hours of waiting, and when the moment comes it is sheer panic as you fight off the crowds for a clear shot. To get one or two shots that I like form the thirty seconds of chaos was very rewarding for me.

WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?

Some day, SOME HOW, I hope I can acquire enough credentials to photograph the Victoria Secret runway show. That would just be pure awesome.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

Right at THIS moment? U2.

THANK YOU AND KEEP SHOOTING!

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