July business was slow. Really, really slow. Too slow.
August has taken off like a rocketship. Faster than a Ferrari from 0-60.
A recent gig was for the folks at Monmouth College. Portraits of student athletes. Two types of them. Head and shoulders, and what I’ve come to call “action feature,” where the athletes strike various poses against a backdrop.
Accomplishing the task requires nearly all of the gear I own. “Everything but the kitchen sink.” Seriously. Other than a couple of light modifiers, everything is used. Two backdrops, posing stool, stands, lights… Once it’s all on site, it takes 2-3 trips from the car to the fieldhouse to move it all in. My smart wife suggested I buy one of those foldable wagons. Best $80 I’ve ever spent. Setting everything up took 2 hours and 15 minutes this year. There are two “sets,” each specific to the type of portrait. I used Thursday to set up. The portraits took place the next day.
We began photographing at 8 a.m. I was out of the fieldhouse at 5:15 p.m. In between, I photographed six fall sports teams. Football, cross country, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, and women’s tennis. Also included was a fall sports poster shot where a representative from each of those sports to combine. Nathan Baliva and Luke Bradburn, both from Sports Information, estimate I photographed 350 athletes. 140 of them were football players. No counting sheep to fall asleep last Friday. I saw linebackers and receivers, and quarterbacks, oh my!
Am guessing this to be the fifth or sixth year I’ve worked this job for the college. It began in a small room in an academic building. It was nice and cool there, but way too crowded. We moved to the fieldhouse for more space. It’s nice and warm there! I’ve leaned what is involved, and the general set up. Every year I try and raise the bar a little, making slight changes for a different look.
The type of backdrop would be an example. Fabric or paper. The head and shoulders backdrop has always been gray fabric at the preference of the college. The “action feature” backdrop has been black fabric or white, seamless paper. Each has pros and cons. Fabric can be stuffed in a bag. It's more portable. But it will show wrinkles and lint. Paper is harder to transport but won’t show wrinkles. I used it a couple of years ago. By the time the sessions were over, cleats made the floor surface area look like Swiss cheese.
Fabric was used this year. With a “no cleats” policy. A great “accessory” for fabric backgrounds is Downy Wrinkle Releaser. It works miracles. The fabric is pulled taught to the side stands, spring clamps hold it that way, and three weights, placed at the bottom of the backdrop, also make for a smooth surface.
The process for head and shoulders portraits goes like this. The athlete holds up a card with their name printed on it for ID purposes. They then drop the card and three “keeper” frames are made. Why three? Subtle changes in expressions, and in case eyes are closed.
This set utilizes three speed lights. Main, fill, and a hair light, set behind and above the backdrop. Umbrellas for main and fill. A Rogue grid for hair. The hair light really helps with background separation.
The “big set,” for the “action feature” portraits, uses four, more powerful, Paul C. Buff, 800 watt second, Alien Bees. A main light (softbox), two accent/separation lights (with grids for a tighter light pattern), and a background light (also with a grid). A hair light was used last year, but I felt there wasn’t enough separation of the athlete from the background. This year, a background light was used to better illuminate the fabric. The separation was better, but it also lighted the wrinkles.
Each portrait station has lighting placement and power ratios specific to the photo. This really comes into play with the “big set,” as it’s not always one athlete. Small groups crowd the sweep and the lighting is not perfect. I’m a perfectionist, but it’s not possible to adjust everything for every group, every minute. This drives me crazy. But it’s somewhat “assembly line” work.
The “no cleat” clause… Nathan’s primary use for the “action feature” portraits is as “cut outs” to promote game day events. He needs the portraits to be head to toe. This is where the tradeoff comes in. It’s not perfect, or desirable, for an athlete to be decked out in full gear from head to….But wearing Crocs instead of cleats.
Miscellaneous gear… There’s always something, wanted or needed. The women’s soccer team stood in for me for a “scene setter.” (See photos). One umbrella is not firing on the small set. I need one more wireless receiver. Six are in my kit. Seven lights were being used. I swapped one out from set to set as needed. Light stands… Several years ago, I needed three light stands in a hurry. My only option was a brand, Promaster. Every time I have to use those stands I’m reminded of what a shit product they are! Thankfully, the other nine stands I own/use are of much better quality.
It’s interesting to watch four years of my life pass by, cycling through this job, based on what year of college the “kids” are in. They are good, young people. They are polite and follow direction. I believe they look forward to “Media Day,” and it looks like they have fun. I respect and appreciate Monmouth College for investing in what I hope it feels are professional quality portraits of the athletes.
