Studio Flat Light

Ashton & I move back into the living room / studio for work with the strobe lights. We start out trying some flat lighting -- two large soft boxes on either side of the camera pointing parallel to the camera axis.

I don't do close up figure studies, like this one, often enough. I really like this image -- it's a favorite from the sitting. Look at it -- I just love the curves & muscles & skin & textures. I love the muscle at the top, where her shoulder joins her upper arm. The proportions, being tall & narrow, remind me of a Japanese painting.

To be honest, I think I find this lighting setup to be uninspiring. Or, at least, this particular implementation of the lighting is not quite what I wanted. I like shadows -- they define depth. I didn't get many interesting shadows with this setup.

Still, Ashton is definitely easy on the eyes. She is so natural in front of the camera.

But, I've got to admit that this light is nice for the little faux-marble pedestal. (You were looking at the pedestal, weren't you?)

We did this in anticipation of our next setup. The folks at Spartacus Leathers have dropped off a small trunk full of their leather products, hoping that I'd use them in my fetish photography (and if/when I did, they would perhaps negotiate a usage license for their catalog). I had mentioned this to Ashton, and she indicated that she has had experience posing with mild bondage posing and that she was willing to do some with me.

I first started using these products from Spartacus during the Kira In Leather setup from Kira's second sitting.

So, Ashton & I start gradually, with handcuffs, ankle cuffs, and a padlock.

Fetish photography is like music -- there are lots of genres, and I don't particularly care for all of them. To me, the best fetish photograph is all about seductive submission, and this lighting just isn't romantic enough. We change the lighting & really dive into the fetish theme.

This sitting continues with "Surrender, Ashton!"