50mm1.4 & D2X at the CATWALK pt1

[wendellt]

Attended a fahion show last thursday, but this time I was very fortunate to obtain a media pass, so I got best view in the house from within the press box, surprisingly there was only one other photographer who did not use a flash, which was great for me, since I wanted to get shots in the available light.

I originally went there with the premise of shooting varying range with the kit lens, but I took some test shots of a pre-performance and found out that the kit lens did not perform, so I quickly changed to my 50mm 1.4 from which I have vast experience with in available light. I figured most of my shots would be taken at the very end of the runway so that negated the need for zoom.

The show featured work by East Sydney Tech fashion students, whose works presented an eclectic melange of haphazard clashing styles, in an innovative theatrical format. I just loved the design, bursting colour, dynamism and sheer creativity

It was my first time fashion shoot so I set the D2x on dynamic focus tracking, set white balance to 56000K, spot metering, shutter to 250, f/1.4 and ISO100, at one stage I was shooting at f/2.8 to get the background in sharp focus.

The 1st segment was a ballet performance showcasing a petticoat and haute couture corset combination


2nd segment was a delightful nostalgic trip back to 18th century victorian fashion with a modern twist with a Parisian h'otel backdrop


Love the colour contrast a shutter speed of 250/100 produces under bright halogen lights


Dainty hey?


A Bit of Showbiz Razzle Dazzle messed up with Victorian sensibilities


Rowwrrrr, Ouch! careful now...


Yikes!...an original crop from the D2X image 288kb
http://www.zeduce.org/images/experimental/fashion1_7.jpg

more to come later...

[Onyx]

Looks more like a full on theatrical stage show than a mere fashion show! Great sets, and costumes (they are hardly what I'd call fashionable)...

Wendell - did you feel that getting the best seat in the house was conducive to producing better photos? I've shot fashion shows before (from the cheap seats) and have always sucked at them.

[wendellt]

Looks more like a full on theatrical stage show than a mere fashion show! Great sets, and costumes (they are hardly what I'd call fashionable)...

Wendell - did you feel that getting the best seat in the house was conducive to producing better photos? I've shot fashion shows before (from the cheap seats) and have always sucked at them.

Onyx

I wouldn't call the 'press box' best location to shoot from, in many of my shots the models were flirting with the actual film camera guy next to me, i only have a select few where the models are actually posing right at me.
I have sat in on a number of fashion week events and the quarter view you get from the aisle seets gives you a nice spectator perspective, i was just a bit excited about getting into the press box that i just blurted out 'best seat in the house' Also during fashion week I was not alowed to take a camera in, this being a student show they were less strict.

The show was one of the most innovative I have experienced, they merged ballet, modern dance, performace, art, theatrics and fashion all in one show, it was a creative soiree, i guess student shows are more experimental and less concerned with commercial appeal.

[Matt. K]

wendellt
A great selection and good choice of lens. Flash could have worked but would have to be kept very soft and subtle. Now....how do we get the forum members an exclusive show....all pics to be given freely to the designers for their portfolio's? Should not be impossible to arrange?

[wendellt]

wendellt
A great selection and good choice of lens. Flash could have worked but would have to be kept very soft and subtle. Now....how do we get the forum members an exclusive show....all pics to be given freely to the designers for their portfolio's? Should not be impossible to arrange?

I will talk to my contacts Matt, I agree a show with such creative flair should be open to everyone, it's a great opportunity to really appreicate colour and tone as well as composition while shooting.

[kipper]

Matt K I agree with the use of flash aswell.
Wendel you'll notice there are parts coming up quite hot for example the whitish dresses and I think in that final shot of the three girls the girl on the left has quite a bright cheek

[Geoff]

Wendell - some excellent shots there with your 50mm and D2X...fantastic even! I too agree about the soft use of flash. Just wondering what the heavy shadows are in shots 3 and 4? Are they the back of heads in front of you? You know who's turn it is to choose for POTW this week? U know how much we all love backs of heads!?

[kipper]

Geoff, I'm pretty sure it's back of heads.

[Alex]

Wendell,

Great pics. Really nice lighting.

Alex

[mudder]

Wendall, all these show a great flair for capturing a moment in that type of event but that first one is simply stunning, love it!

That would have been a great show to have such good position...

[Heath Bennett]

Very impressive Wendell. Noise reduction software or low ISO?

[wendellt]

Hi Guys

on second evaluation it would have been nice to set the metering to centre weighted, since the lighting was dynamic, i don't think spot metering accurately catered for the blown highlights on the garments. The use of a flash is a good idea if i had one, it would have been nice to pick up some of the models eyes, but I am not a flash person, i put the faith of my shot in the lighting director's hands

Heath I shot at ISO100 no noise, also at f1.4 I was about 1 and a half metres away from the end of the catwalk so the shots have a nice soft blur to them at the far end of the catwalk i changed to 2.8 but i still got a soft image.

The noise reduction function on the D2X is not a good idea for action shots, when you take a shot, the d2X processes the image then it takes about 10 seconds till you can take the next one.

[Heath Bennett]

It would be cool having your cam backstage - heaps of hot naked birds

See if you can manage THAT next time with your contacts

[sirhc55]

I’ve got a hot naked bird in the oven at this moment - and it’s stuffed

Great pics Wendell

[Matt. K]

Heath
There is a difference in perception between beautiful women modelling creatively fashioned garmets and "hot naked birds". Your comments may well be all it takes to convince one of the wisdom of arranging a fashion shoot for forum members. That would be a pity.

[Heath Bennett]

I said that light-heartedly Matt K. Still there is much truth said in jest.