On Assignment – Motion
This weeks assignment for studio lighting class was to photograph motion. So long as we used a human as our main subject and shot it in the studio, the rest was up to us.
Once again, as soon as I got the assignment sheet I started writing things down. I wrote down the the following immediately after getting the assignment: track runner, cars, gymnasts, breakdancer, someone who can do backflips in the studio.
I though to myself for a few minutes as we were showed images of dancers on the projector as an example of motion. My first thought was something I immediately confirmed: I’m not going to shoot a dancer.
Soon after that, I remembered a portrait that I shot a year ago of football player Jake Gaebler. At the time he was preparing for his senior season, only 15 yards short of breaking the all time receiving record here at WKU. Despite the Hilltoppers disappointing season, Jake broke the record and I decided to photograph him for this assignment.
I’ll try and make the rest of the long story short. I wanted jake flying through the air with light trails brilliantly lit behind him. I wanted something high key and beautiful.
I knew I would need a landing pad for jake so I called the football office and asked to borrow a pole-vaulting landing pad to bring into the studio. I’ll spare you the details but they brought the equillivant of a yoga mat. My problems didn’t end there as I realized that I would need an on camera flash to use rear sync triggering in the studio. Jake was an awesome and paitent subject and I’m happy with what I came away with.
A special thanks goes out to Chris Wilson and Miranda Barzey for their AMAZING help in the studio. Chris tossed the football, Miranda independently fired the lights, I pushed the button and Jake took care of the rest. Never be afraid to ask for help in the studio. 4 minds are better than 1.
