30th November 2008

Another month to go and it's "Hello 2009". Been busy with my day job and also clearing of the outstanding TFCDs that have been planned earlier on. Here are some of the shots taken at my previous shoot with Ivan. She is Allison, a finalist of America's Next Top Model Season 10. It isn't an idea month to shoot outdoors because it is raining frequently during this period of the year. That was what happened during the shoot. It was scorching hot in the beginning of the shoot but it started to pour halfway through. We had to move to a shelter and thus the lighting condition was not good. Ivan immediately set up a strobe from his mobile studio.

That's what prompted me to read up on the studio lighting after the shoot. (The book was on my shelf for quite sometime now. ) I got to know more about modeling light, softbox, the white balance used and different types of studio settings. Currently planning a studio shoot for a friend.

A few weeks back, I saw an interesting topic in one of our local paper - "Arty Nude or Lewd". (http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...84539,00.html?). A local model spoke about her experience in modelling lingerie and bikini. (http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...84538,00.html?). I personally have not reached the standard for taking artistic nude photography. I feel that if not done properly, the photos taken will give people the impression as lewd as there is only a thin line between soft-porn and arty feel. I realised that nowadays , there are more and more photoshoot organisers popping up at one of our photography forums. Most of the "models" they hired are students wanting to earn their tuition fee or pocket money. I'm not saying that they don't have the potential of becoming a model. In fact, there are a few with great potential. What I do not understand is why some student models have to jump straight into bikini and lingerie shoots for their first few assignments, when they still have a lot to learn about posing and bringing out the correct mood for every shoot. It's not so easy to become a model. You will understand what I mean if you have watched "A Model Life with Petra Nemcova" or "America's Next Top Model".

I can accept bikini shoots involving experienced models (although a lot of post editing to do). Till date, I've only done one and a half bikini shoot. What happened to the other half? I didn't carry on for the 2nd shoot as it was a group shoot and a few photographers really disgusted me with their lewd attitudes. The feeling was simply not right. It was like a pack of wolfs surrounding a little sheep. I walked off and shot another girl clad in T-shirt and jeans instead. Lingerie shoot? What is the objective for shooting a model in lingerie? Is it to bring out the design of the sexy lingerie or is it about something else? I really doubt the objectives of some of the photographers as some of the models involved in the lingerie shoots are barely out of their teens.

Enough of my ramblings. Whatever it is, ask yourself if you are taking part in lingerie and bikini shoots - "What is your real objective when you sign up for the shoots?" and "Why did you pick up photography in the first place?"