Black and White Portrait of the Ballroom Dance

I am posting one more image from last Sundays Ballroom Dance shoot. I have chosen to render this portrait image in black and white. I feel black and white photography emphasizes the fundamental elements of an image. Devoid of color, we are presented with composition light, shadow and movement. Black and white images allow the viewer to be carried away into a more ethereal place where one begins to feel the image at a deeper level. I am enchanted by the grace and movement of dance. It can be ballet. Jazz, modern, ballroom room or primitive, the expression of emotion translated into movement is exhilarating. Igor Colac and Roxane Milotti are the embodiment of grace and movement. I am excited by this series of portraits and I am planning more images incorporating movement as an art form. 

Ballroom Dancers Roxane Milotti and Igor Colac

I want to share a great Sunday shoot. As many of you know I usually take Sunday to work on projects that I am inspired by and this Sunday was no exception. I met Roxane Milotti and Igor Colac a few weeks age and found out that they were world class #Ballroom #Dancers. I love the movement and beauty of dance and have photographed many dancers in the past. After meeting with #Roxane and #Igor, I was struck by their elegance and knew I had to #photograph them. I designed this shot and last night after the dance studio closed we were able create this series. It was very cool to have a good friend and fellow photographer Ana Gibert lend a hand in styling and makeup touch up. It is always a little unnerving to have a photographer of Ana’s stature on the set but she is such a trooper that things ran extremely smooth. I am posting the first one the series with more to follow.

Sunday Model Portfolio Shoot

 This last Sunday afternoon at the studio  we worked on a test model portfolio shoot for a new model.  Sandra Davis has a unique look and was fun to work with. Once again Shawn Jermaine handled the makeup 

Actress Femi Emiola and her two Resued companions Hershey and Zooey

It was a great afternoon hanging out at the studio with fellow photographer and actress Femi Emiola and her two #doggie companions Hershey and Zooey that are both rescue dogs. Hershey and Zooey, living in the home of a excellent #photographer knew exactly how to strike a pose for the camera. What a fun afternoon.

The Guitarist: “Its all about the music”

Joshua is a deeply emotional guitarist that creates folksy soulful rifts and moving lyrics. I wanted to create a portrait that could say in visuals what I was feeling from his music. Music and photography have been paired from the beginning of photography. It is the photograph that helps to entice us to want to listen to the music. When the creating a portrait for musicians I first want to take time to listen to their music and then create an image that is born from that experience. Joshua was an excellent subject and totally at ease in the process.

Rembrandt Portrait Lighting

I’d like to share one more image from last Sunday’s mentoring session and workshop at the studio. As I mentioned earlier we worked with students from a local college photography program to help them get a hands on feel for fine art portraiture. I was demonstrating a lighting technique, referred to as the Rembrandt Style—name for the style most commonly displayed by Rembrandt the 17^th century Dutch painter—and asked Ann my stylist to stand in, as she does on most of our shoots, to help check the lighting. I believe the portrait of her was exceptionally successful so I want to share it with all of you that know Ann. I don’t even like to take on a complicated shoot without Ann’s refined eye as a stylist on the set. Since this was only intended to be a test image there was no makeup or styling only Ann’s natural beauty and confident peaceful spirit. Ann is always steady and reliable on the set and a joy to work with. I hope you enjoy the image.

The Bisera Family Flying High

I love creating portraits. The subject is not as important as it is to work with really cool people, that are fun and engaged in creating super images. I recently photographed the Bisera family and we had a blast. The black and white portrait is of their three daughters and the other portrait is what I call the L. A. jump. When I get a chance and have a athletic family I like to get them all jumping together. It’s a fun thing and gets everyone involved in the process. The youngest sister had just broken her arm at soccer practice so we thought of having her stand in place while the rest of the family jumped. This portrait is now going out as there Christmas card. 

Sunday's Results

Brittini is a beautiful #redhead with amazing #freckles, here is I how worked out her photographic #portrait. 

Sunday Workshop and Mentoring At L. A. Metro Studios

We just wrapped a Sunday afternoon workshop and shoot at my studio with an up and coming new talent Brittini Barlow doing the #modeling—her images to follow shortly. My regular #makeup artist was not available so I brought in a new person I have never worked with before. As you can guess this is a gamble because a bad makeup artist can ruin a good shoot. I have to admit I was blown away by Shawn’s ability.

During a break in the shooting while, the model was changing I need someone to set in while I adjusted the lighting. Well I grabbed Shawn and threw him in front of the camera. If there was ever any doubt as to his ability as a makeup artist the way he did his own makeup proved he has major talent. As I began editing the images from the shoot Shawn’s photos just popped so I did a fast retouch and though I would posting an image here. If you need a great makeup artist, give him a try at Facebook at Shawn Jermaine.

Champion Boxer and Dancing With The Stars contestant Victor Ortiz releases VO Men’s Fragrance

What a cool shoot this was! I hit the buzzer of my security gate and in pulled a tricked out sport Bentley Continental GT. Even sitting still, this car looked like it was moving at the speed of light. The door opened and out step #Victor #Ortiz champion boxer and resent Dancing with the Stars contestant. I must admit I was expecting the usual celebrity shoot, accompanied by entourage and attitude. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Victor was a very cool down to earth guy. No, “I’m so special” attitude, Just the same workman like approach that has propelled him to the upper ranks of the pro #boxing community. Accompanied by the art director and a video crew we all settled down to create a #Portrait ad campaign for Victor’s new line of men’s toiletries. It takes a while for things to transition from image creation to final product but Victor Ortiz’s VO #cologne is now available through most men’s cosmetic suppliers.