Photo
Mar, 2016Views
648
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Awards
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
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Top 30 rank week 1
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Boston studio of a fellow photographer, Michael Rose. The model, Bryanna Alexis, did her own hair and makeup. The models and I brought lots of pinup outfits, accessories, and shoes, and we put together outfits from that collection.Time
It was taken in the afternoon toward the end of a 2–3 hour pinup session.Lighting
I used an octagon softbox light to camera right, a softbox strip light to camera left, and a reflector on the background. I wanted the look to be clean, simple, and vibrant, with good contrast.Equipment
I used a Nikon D700 body with an 18–70mm, f/3.5–4.5 Nikkor lens at 22mm, f8. 1/60 sec. handheld. ISO 200. No flash.Inspiration
I grew up listening to my older parents' favorite 1940s music: "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree With Anyone Else but Me," "I'll Be Seeing You," Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, and so on. I loved it and also grew interested in 1940s fashion and pinup illustrations. I really wanted to authentically recreate this look. I studied style, hair, makeup, and posing in pinup illustration books and used Pinterest to develop reference boards: https://www.pinterest.com/audreyanders/pinup-inspiration/ and https://www.pinterest.com/audreyanders/pinup-hairstyles-and-makeup/. I also purchased a DVD on pinup photography. I shared these references with the models, so they could study pinup style and posing. After shooting several standing poses, I wanted to shoot floor poses in a classic pinup style, keeping thngs alluring yet still modest.Editing
In Lightroom, I lightened the exposure and increased the contrast a bit. I also cropped the photo slightly.In my camera bag
Nikon D700, Youngnuo Speedlight and Transceiver, Nikon Speedlight 800, 5-in-1 reflector, Photoflex constant lights with silver umbrellas, a medium softbox with a Manfrotto boom stand, a video light, lots of rechargeable Powerex batteries, Gatorade, protein bar, business cards, posing stool, blanket, paper and cloth backdrops, backdrop stand, light stands.Feedback
I would recommend studying original pinup illustrations by George Petty IV, Art Frahm, Zoë Mozert, and Gil Elvgren. I'd also look at pinup photos on Pinterest and photographers' web sites to see modern pinup variations. Pinterest also has lots of tutorials on pinup hair and makeup. Look at the backgrounds and tone of several of your favorite illustrations and photos. Posing is key. Learn the classic pinup poses and try some modern twists of your own!
