anyone here do content production?

[xenigo]

I'm interested in people's equipment setup, particularly what producers of content are using for their strobe setups. Post what you're shooting with...

-Noah

[models]

old and reliable speedotron brownline lightheads, nikon d1x mostly, mostly bounced out of 1 or 2 umbrellas. one of my speedo powerpacks i had modified so it will run on 110-220 so i can use it overseas. wireless infrared flash slaves. in a gonzo pinch i will shoot one-handed and hold a sb28DX small strobe in an apollo light box at arms length to give the subject some modeling---on-camera flash is usually a no-no.

lighting is just physics, and any system can work OK, but skin looks best with bounce light, and strobes are better than hot lights for a "glamour" look because you can shoot in subdued light and the models pupils will open for a more sexy look. spend a day looking at victoria secret catalogs to get the idea.

most porn is shot with light that is way too hot in my opinion---sex lighting should be low-key and moody---the light people fuck in. in my view strobe lighting should simulate the look of natural light.

[xenigo]

Yeah I totally agree with your lighting philosophy... but I also think really abstract creative photography is kinda cool in porn, like high key lighting and such. Just something kinda different than what everyone else is doing. I just ordered a set of Alien Bee 800 strobes, what do you think of these? I've seen some great results with what other people have done, and people rave about them and say they're pretty good shit. Have you heard anything about them? Anyway, I'll have a studio soon - within the next couple weeks, where I can crank out some really nice looking stuff...

-Noah

[models]

yes, any strobes are good, lights with a seperate powerpack, or monolights, doesn't matter.

i think the best idea is to make good lighting portable, so you have a setup for the road that is easy and fast to setup on location.

too many guys shoot everything in the studio, so their stuff looks artificial and sterile, pretty yes. but in today's market pretty ain't where the $ is---HOT realism is where the $ is.

i prefer gonzo type stuff, but with good lighting, and high quality equipment.

studio stuff doesn't move surfers that much, and that's the bottom line for me. the images have to be interesting enough to sell memberships.

which means you must develop a unique style, and forget about how everyone else does it.

photograph a hot girl like you are a 12 year old boy and have never seen a woman naked.

find the interesting parts of her body, photograph her in the throes of passion, get a plant sprayer and mist her labia so it glistens, and spray her face so it looks like she's sweating a little bit, get in tight on interesting ways her panties cover her mons, if she has pretty nipples get in tight on them, if she has a pretty mouth or eyes get in tight and show excitement, etc.

photograph hardcore with some fuckin' style---like a vanity fair perfume ad, or helmut newton.

write down images you fantasize in your mind and then try to recreate them in real life. quality is always better than quantity. edit ruthlessly. don't let your mediocre shit see the light of day.

to sell memberships your images must look different, otherwise in todays market they will not sell.

hate to say it, but 98% of content available today is total shit.

adam glasser is about the only guy how can really shoot video in my opinion, or the blacks on blonde guys; most still work is just trash (not that marketable)

i'll tell you where the next big market will be---for real photo artists to shoot hardcore---high fashion gonzo. and that's something you either have the eye for or not.

good luck to you.

[xenigo]

Hey, I'd like to talk with you in more detail. Hit me up on ICQ# 8231804

-Noah

[Paul Markham]

Use Multiblitz mostly, got some old Bowens but they're on their last legs.

Use Multiblitz 600 in the studio, with umbrellas reflecting or shoot through, also use a "Softlight" which is an awesome attachment but you have to be careful it is a very harsh light.

Occasionally use a soft boxes but only for film, except on the "pussy light"

When we travel to locations we use the MultiBlitz 300s as few locations need the power of the 600s. Again with umbrellas.

Normally shooting with 4/5 lights for our normal teen style, but go to one when we do the "amateur" style.

Lighting is not an exact science it's about rules and guidelines. Best thing about digital is you can see the results before you shoot.

For cameras we have the Nikon D1X & D100, for film Canon Eos 1, 3, 5, and a 600. Plus two Canon A1s. Two polaroid cameras, both by Polaroid and not the type that most people use. They have lenses that can be focused and adjustable apertures/speed.