My favorites from Summer Rep 2010 (Continued)

Dangerous Liaisons with Vampires adapted by James Newman, provides some of the most sensual scenes I’ve shot. Here, the two leading vampires conspire. Whether intentional or not, the Count appears to be looking at the camera, heightening the intensity. (Perhaps he was compelled to look at the camera because I was shooting with a 200mm telephoto just a few feet away. Or it was just happenstance.) Either way, it’s one of my favorites.


Settings: 195mm, 1/200 sec, f/2.8, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1 2/3, ISO: 1600.

Here, the vampire is in mid-seduction in shadow while his victim is illuminated. Even though she is not facing the camera the lighting behind the camera provides a sparkle in her eye, a catch light, that brings energy and life to her expression.


Settings: 70mm, 1/25 sec, f/2.8, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1, ISO: 2500.

The overall darkness of the scene required a high ISO, but the relatively long shutter speed helped minimize the image noise.


Settings: 55mm, 1/80 sec, f/3.2, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -2, ISO: 2000.

OK, it’s not just the flesh that makes a sensual image, but the expressions and the setting. Light was low but the action was slow enough to get clear shots even with some noise at 2000 ISO. At the other side of the stage was a trio busy with their own seduction scene, but in much more clothing and lighting. How do you shoot such a set of scenes between high and low light? Make quick exposure compensation adjustments, and if there is time, ISO adjustments as well. When this scene became too risqué to shoot, I moved to the other part of the stage, then back here when the bloodletting began.

(To Be Continued)