stevenvanmaele

Glass Mask

Collaboration with Diego Cruz and Vince Glass

Collaboration with Diego Cruz and Vince Glass
Read less

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

settings

Aperture f/2.8 ISO 1600 Shutter 1/250 Focal Length 85/1

upload_date

Mar, 2018

Views

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award

Moderator Award

Community Choice Award

Absolute Masterpiece

+14

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

Superb Composition

Peer Award

Superior Skill

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in studio in Detroit during a music video directed by Diego Cruz (@directedbydiego). I was gaffing the music video and did BTS photography. Vince Glass (@vince-glass) was called in to make the mask.

Time

In studio, we make our own time of day!

Lighting

I lit the car with crew of 4 and a 12x20 ultra bounce rag hung above the car using combo stands and a truss. Two 2k Tungsten lights shot from the ground up onto the rag, creating fine reflections on the car windows and a beautiful top light on the model. Strips of duvatyne rags were clipped to the edges of the rag frame to block the light from hitting the infinity wall, creating contrast between the foreground and background. If you look carefully, I totally forgot to crop out the bounce card at her knee (just now seeing this haha), which bounces the top light back to provide a nice, even fill light from below without blasting another light. If you don't have a crew, 4x8 pieces of white insulation from the local hardware store will do wonders for you.

Equipment

Handheld my Nikon Z7 with a 35mm Z mount lens. 3-4x 2k tungsten fresnel lights, 1x 12x20 ultra bounce + frame, combo stands, speed rail, etc, 4x4 bounce card, c-stands.

Inspiration

I didn't get into film production to sit back while the cinematographers have all the fun. I always bring my camera to set and (when appropriate) will ask producers if its okay to grab some BTS for them. Low budget music videos are the perfect way to get a little bit of cash and some new, unique shots that you can't get on your own. Collaboration is key!

Editing

Threw this in photoshop to do some curve adjustments and sharpen the jewel mask and fish nets. Curve adjustment layers are my favorite way to provide color contrast, set your blending mode to color and adjust each color pair to see which of the three gets the best contrast. I try to let the camera do most of the work... but I can't help it, I have way too much fun in photoshop.

In my camera bag

Before you get the expensive lenses, you need the essentials. Lens wipes, extra batteries, charger, extra memory. I pack light so I can find everything quickly. I intentionally limit the lenses I take on set which allows me to focus on a particular lens and work it to fully utilize it's attributes. Switching lenses takes time, and when you're dodging the video camera you don't have much time to get your shot.

Feedback

When you're on a video set, be aware of the video crew and make sure a producer is aware of you and your camera. Find an opening while they are not filming, get your shot quickly and retreat back to the shadows. Best case scenario, get to know the AD (Assistant Director). With the blessing of the producers before the day of the shoot, production can schedule time for you to get your shots. Recently, because of the Nikon's new silent mode, I can get shots quietly during the shot from a far, but know that a noisy shutter can ruin a good take for production. If you don't get your shots, make friends! After they wrap, offer your services and get some phone numbers to organize your own shoot later.

See more amazing photos, follow stevenvanmaele

stevenvanmaele

stevenvanmaele

Glass Mask

Collaboration with Diego Cruz and Vince Glass

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow stevenvanmaele

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.