Formal at the airport
A parachute dress within a airport hanger
A parachute dress within a airport hanger
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Jul, 2018Views
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Top Shot Award 22
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I made this photo in an private airport near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This model and wanted place large enough where we could display the dress both within an indoor setting as well as outdoors with plenty of natural light. The airport hanger floor was polished which was surprising since actual private planes were stored in this building. The open air environment was perfect and added a little glamour to the setting.Time
We made this image in the late morning early afternoon to avoid harsh sunlight. There was just enough light coming in from the open hanger doors as well as the windows to provide nice natural light. Since we were working in July, the earlier time of day also made the dress and corset easier to wear.Lighting
The lighting in this image was totally natural light. The hanger door was open as well as windows lining both sides of the hanger walls. A reflector was close to the model in order to give relatively even light to her face. The day was somewhat overcast, so this also avoided strong shadows.Equipment
My camera was the Canon EOS 60D for this image with the EF 24 -105 f4 lens. Settings were ISO 400, f7.1, and Shutter speed at 1/125 sec. I was able to easily handhold the camera with these settings. I did have an assistant to help with the dress styling and model makeup.Inspiration
I had recently been to a photography conference and participated in dress concepts as well as a limited parachute concept. I was inspired by a giant ball gown concept in a simple setting. I liked the general concept but the parachute dress in the conference was mismatched with the models top, and I wanted to create something a little more elegant. Although parachute dresses are commercially available, they can be expensive. I bought an actual parachute (Ebay) and had a friend sew an adjustable waistline into the center. I purchased corsets and dyed them a similar color to that of parachute. I also wanted a space large enough so that I had plenty of options for dress styling and model poses.Editing
I had originally purchased an olive green military parachute. To keep in line with my vision of a ball gown, I explored different color options with photoshop. By carefully selecting around the model's dress, I was able to create a hue and saturation adjustment layer. Of course, the color possibilities are many once the adjustment layer was in place. I eventually chose a burgundy red color for the dress, and it contrasted nicely with the surroundings.In my camera bag
Normally I carry my primary camera (at this time it was the Canon EOS 60D), the 24-105 lens (90% of what I use), a 17 mm wide angle, a 70-200 mm telephoto, and a 50 mm prime lens. I also carry an few filters such as a ND and polarizer as well as various lens hoods. Lens cleaning supplies are a must. I include one speedlight with extra batteries, as well as a notepad for anything special I need to jot down during or after the shoot.Feedback
Actual parachutes can be quite large (25-35 feet in diameter) for individuals and even larger for cargo. Be sure to give yourself enough open space to style the dress for your shoot. A corset top or other dressy top that matches the color of the parachute will make the image more cohesive. You will almost always need once extra person to help style, fluff, or otherwise manage the dress apart from the model. If shooting indoors several people can be helpful. When shooting outdoors, the material is VERY lightweight, and it is easy for the wind to get underneath the dress and 'swallow' the model. When the model is moving from one place to the next, have her gather the dress as much as possible to avoid falling. Most of all, have fun with the shoot!
