Light painting at PGH Filmmakers

I just heard from a friend, Ellen, who I met through Pittsburgh Filmmakers.  She was writing to let me know she noticed a photo of mine is on the front page of Filmmakers’ Web site and on the cover of their 2010 summer catalog which is also available on the site.  It’s the small photo of Ellen swimming in waves of light on the right of the site above the summer classes info.  This was one of those experimental projects that we just had a lot of fun with.  Here’s a larger version of the photo:

You can also check out our classmates photos on Flickr. This class had lots of great ideas.

As a wedding photographer, this project forced me to let go of my obsessions over making sure everything is just so.  For those who have hired me or are considering hiring me in the future, don’t worry I’m still meticulous about the details, it’s in my nature.

We were painting with light and there were lots of people involved in making this photo: strobe operator, light painters, and of course, the talent.  I was behind the camera and directing the scene during the 30 or so seconds the shutter was open.  So given the chaos of the process and the fact that it’s a Polaroid, I have come to accept that it’s not perfectly focused and that the multiple flashes cause ghosting of Ellen’s face as she made breast strokes while balanced on a coffee table.  It was so much fun and helped us all to remember some of the reasons we fell in love with photography in the first place.  Thanks to Sally Bozzuto who scanned in the Polaroids and submitted them for the summer catalog!