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Lady of the Night

© Ken D. Brown

Lady of the Night

Uploaded: September 27, 2001 03:15:24

Description

It's a mystery...

Comments

Jim Miotke level-addict My Courses February 21, 2001

So... how did you create this image? #70

Ken D. Brown February 22, 2001

Ok, I knew I was going o get this question, so here is how I did it. First I shot the staircase using a Bronica 6x4.5 @ F11 with TMAX 100 then I rerolled the film and shot the girl. The trickie part was lighting the girl to make it look like the stair case without blowing out the windows. When I developed the film I used the waterbath development tech that I found in a really old development handbook published in the 1940's I did use a assitate on the ground glass to mark where the stairs where. I knew I could do this in Photoshop but I like to do things in the camera. It's a challenge but I did have fun. If you would like the diagram of the set up for the lighting on the girl, let me know and I'll email it to you.
Best Ken #106

Jim Miotke level-addict My Courses February 23, 2001

Yes - I would love to see that diagram.

If you don't mind, though, try replying to this message in the forum, and using the image upload feature there. This would allow all to see and learn from the diagram. #107

Ken D. Brown March 03, 2001

Hi Jim

Here is the set-up I used for the Lady of the Night photo.

Now here are the instructions.
First as you notice the background is a stair case. Using my Bronica I was able to draw where the staircase was using a piece of clear plastic. Metering the seen the windows were f32 @60 and the stairs were f11 @60 and the dark areas were f2.8 @60.

My exposure was f8.5 @30

I shot about 6 rolls of film of the same staircase because I wanted to make sure I had lots to choose from when I put the model in.

I did take one of the rolls and cut it into three pieces to find out what the best development was. My final development was D76 mixed 1:1 @ 68 degrees for 12 minutes. Using the water bath method how that works is you first give constancy agitation for the first minute. Then after 30 sec you place the film in water @68 degrees for two minutes. What this does is keep the highlights from developing and add more shadow detail. Then you put the film back into the developer for one minute with agitation for the first 20 seconds. Then back into the water bath. You keep doing this until you have finished you developing time. A lot of testing was done to find out the right time. You then finish the developing as normal.

Now I did the same thing with the model, only I used lighting equipment. I first shot a roll where I thought I should be then I cut it up into three pieces and did my developing test.

The final step was I brought the model into the studio and had the background of black velvet. Lighting as per diagram. Putting the diagram of the staircase back onto the camera I was able to see where she would be. I did use a 75mm lens on the staircase and a 150mm lens on the model.

After exposing the film I ran the film as per the staircase using the water bath system.

I hope you enjoyed this, let me know if you would like anymore information on this.

Best
Ken
#117

Jill Garl March 14, 2001

I just love this image! It has such a nice flow to it... beginning with the angle on the top of the window. It draws your eye to the girl and then the stairs. It's really an awesome shot, all your work (and there was a lot) paid off.
Jill #136

May 10, 2001

Beautiful. You made me stop and look. Cass #234

July 13, 2001

Oh, how beautiful. Where did you say we can find the diagram of your lighting? I know this is far to advanced for me, but I would love to try. If I were to try something like this, would my child need to be filmed in front of a black background like you shot your subject? thanks for sharing,
Donna magoo4@qwest.net #460

Lorraine Foster August 11, 2001

I love this picture!!! It is very mysterious and lends itself to artistic questions. Great job!
Lorena48@gbis.com #567

August 30, 2001

I also am intrigued by the shot, but for different reasons. My community theatre will be producing an upcoming thriller. Is the photo available for reproduction? Do you have a shot of just the stairway?

RDF
wos@midmaine.com #853

Larry Cook November 23, 2004

If it is a mystery, I hope you can solve it! Everything is great; exposure, lighting, placement of model. I hope you experiment more with these type photos.
Larry C. #933502

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