[LargeFormat] Those Sort of Pictures

[Karl Wolz]

To continue your seminar, it would be rather beneficial to see some examples
of what you've done along these lines.  While I have to admit some interest
in the more prurient aspects of the nude preggers, I would also claim a
legitimate professional interest in the more technical aspects of your
field.

Honest.

Thanks,

Karl Wolz
wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "rstein" <rstein@bigpond.net.au>
To: <largeformat@f32.net>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 6:55 PM
Subject: [LargeFormat] Those Sort of Pictures


> Dear Friends,
>
>      I noted the phrase from Pete Calouri's post and was delighted - it
> would make the perfect book or exhibition title. May I have it for future
> use, Pete?
>
>     On the subject of pregnancy pictures - or 101 uses for stretch marks -
I
> have compiled a series of short notes. You must decide for yourselves
which
> are applicable in your studios. Remember who wrote them....
>
> 1.    Pregnancy is a hot sweaty time. No, not just the first half hour -
the
> whole lot. Put the air conditioning on so you subject will not frizzle
under
> the lights. If you are using constant lighting or if your strobe pack is
the
> equivalent of an atomic pile, consider turning it down to reduce the temp.
>
> 2.     Many of your pregnant subjects will be female. Expect a little more
> emotion than your average businessman having an office shot. Be nice.
>
> 3.    Offer refeshments but avoid alcohol, whipped creams and soft cheeses
> in dips, pates, or shellfish. Fruit is good and melons extra good.
Pregnant
> women can eat inordinate amounts of melon.
>
>     Again, you can offer coffee, tea, Bonox, or whatever, but remember
that
> by the time the lady comes to see you her bladder capacity has been
> restricted by having to share space with a passenger. Thus if you fill her
> up with 2 cups of tea expect the session to be interrupted 3 times. 3 cups
> of tea equates to 7 interruptions and with 4 cups you might as well set
the
> tripod and lights in the toilet.
>
> 4.     What to wear? Well, your subject may want to do a Demi Moore and
sit
> on a velvet-covered posing stool and all you need there is lighting and
> makeup. A more discrete semi Demi can be done by wrapping the lower parts
in
> velvet, leaving the tum exposed, and getting the lady to wrap her arms
about
> her upper portions.
>
>     Gauzey fabrics are good, as are shiny satins and velvets as body
drapes.
> Underwear can be wrapped so that it becomes almost a costume. Bed jackets,
> kimonos, housecoats - provided they are satiny and elegant - are also a
good
> look. If there are any belly dance shops around your area check out the
> headdresses and chain belts.
>
>     Saris are also a very good garment - long lengths of decorated cloth
> that can be wrapped elegantly. In Oklahoma you can even get one with a
> fringe on the top.
>
> 5.     Poses? Well, most of the poses involve a stomach - a rather large
> stomach. If yours is larger than hers you wear the sari and let her take a
> picture of you....but otherwise try for profile shots, 3/4 shots, side
> recliners, and so on. A back shot is generally not rewarding. Remember
that
> bosoms swell as well, which is swell....
>
> 6.    Props and set? Elegant furniture, of the beddy or loungey variety. A
> chair with swooping curves to echo her swooping curves. Sweeping drapes.
> Rotund urns and vases. Flowers, ferns, feathers. Outdoor in a well
manicured
> garden.
>
>     Corny, yes, but this is a specialized image. You don't want to make
the
> set look like the Cabinet of Dr. Cagliari or the Bethlehem Steel Works in
> Pittsburg.
>
> 7.     Film? Colour neg for preference - wedding contrast is best if
you're
> going to diffuse the image. Standard speed monochrome for a little variety
> is good too.
>
> 8.    Camera? The one you have, silly. Large format to the fore, men. You
> aren't going to need dozens of images as your setting a posing can be done
> with such care - so you can afford to splash out on a few more sheets of
> film.
>
> 9.    Lens? Whatever. I use a Symmar S 150 and an Imagon 250 for the soft
> focus and I am a happy man.
>
> 10.  Other people on the set? Good, if it is one lady friend of the sitter
> or one makeup girl. Acceptable if it also includes the ladies' partner.
Bad,
> if it is 4 friends and their children and the bloke who is in to repair
the
> oven. This is a semiclad pregnant lady, folks, so be sensible.
>
> 11.  Labour pains? Next time schedule the shoot at the 7 1/2 month
schedule.
> Go boil some water and get a lot of clean towels. You are going to be busy
> for a while.
>
>      Well, I hope this helps the budding prenatal photographer. It has
> worked for me. I'm off in the afternoon to picture yet another - this time
> one with twins.
>
>     Uncle Dick
>
> PS: See, I can write sensible things when I want to. The secret is to find
a
> subject that you know and love. All the rest can be nonsense.
>
>
>
>
>
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