Photographer based in Austin, Texas
While William Bay shot the white dogs for his Caponigro homage photo, Kareena and I waited in a gazebo at Auditorium Shores with all the water-sensitive equipment and borrowed dresses. Kareena was excited to have the chance to wear a wedding gown. And I was more excited about a wedding dress than any guy ought to be. It was a pretty sweet dress. While we waited, we got a few shots.
Model: Kareena
Dress: Antonio from La Chatuise
Bouquet: Flora and Faunas
What’s music theory doing on a photography blog?
If you were at a wedding in 2009 and possibly late 2008, chances are the bouquet toss was set to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. This is also, according to some one of the best videos of all time. A fellow photographer posted this version as an alternative: Single Ladies – Pomplamoose.* As a cover, it shifts the medium of song and music video into a videosong. Every sound is shown on screen. Although not always simultaneously, there is generous use of split screen. The description reads, “we love this song. the chord progression in the chorus is genius. hooray for beyonce and her songwriters.”
What?
The other night I was bored (and procrastinating other things) and did some research. The default start for background research: Wikipedia’s article on chord progression and song structure and various linked off of there. Here are two articles about the chord progression and song structure of “Single Ladies”:
Try listening to the harmony and bass lines of a popular song. Listen for the changes. Still confused? Watch Rob Paravonian Rant about hating Pachelbel’s Canon. In addition to his comedic value, the rant brings out the common chord progression everywhere. Even in punk rock.
*Francophone readers might note that pomplamoose sounds like pamplemousse, French for grapefruit.
Back to photography, then. One of the best videos of all time is shot in black and white on a huge wraparound white seamless background. Super-awesome Atlanta Photographer Zack Arias wrote a multi-part tutorial on using white seamless.
The transitions in the video between the gray background with dancers’ shadows and white shadowless is done entirely by changing lighting ratios. All in camera. White seamless is particularly versatile in photography for this very reason. Multiple looks, all by changing the way the scene is lit. Very light against white, against black/dark gray, silhouette against white. And in theory, all available by just turning lights up and down.
Back in November I assisted William Bay on a few conceptual bridal shoots. As I said then, (Busy week), it was a busy week.
Here are his posts about the results:
Jessa – Austin Shoot
Untouchable. Aka: Paul Caponigro’s Bride
William explained the concept for the Paul Caponigro homage over beers at Spider House Cafe with fellow Austin photographers Ben Godkin, Sweet Caroline, and Francis Joseph. The concept sounded like it would be cool. Difficult to pull off. “How are you going to get that many white dogs?” someone asked? Later in the week, as the day of the shoot approached, the weather forecast for that Friday was less than promising. Forecast 100% chance of rain. Rain and photography mix better when you’re not shooting borrowed (and very expensive) bridal gowns.
Friday came and we were all pleasantly surprised that the rain broke, leaving it simply overcast and drizzling at shoot time. The grass at Auditorium Shores was wet and not muddy. Things came together. Someone showed up with a very large and beautiful white dog, which now appears in many blurs in the final image.
If you haven’t seen it, go see the final image at William’s blog: Untouchable. Aka: Paul Caponigro’s Bride.
Cummings Farm: Three couples get together on a farm in rural Louisiana to have an orgy. They have no business getting in an orgy. It’s awkward. But funny awkward. And despite the main plot point being an orgy, there is surprisingly little nudity.
The last four days have been quite full of photography. I second-shot for William Bay (formerly of Austin and now of San Diego) on Ben and Huong’s wedding in Houston. We had some model shoots. I did the lighting, Strobist style.
I also met Maria Bernal, who is super cool and awesome. We were talking about the dresses for the model shoots, and what size model would be needed. “So you need someone who is 36-24-26?” I said, with a bit of a staccato rhythm. Totally went over William’s head this time. Maria looked at me funny, and then I added, “Only if she’s 5’3″.” Yay Sir-Mix-a-Lot.
Photos to come, of course.