Need suggestions on shots of a chef...

[ANGUS]

A local well known Sydney chef is entering a best chef style competition cook off and for it he wants me to shoot him a portrait. Just wondering advice on angles, lighting etc, i have 2 580EX IIs and Pocketwizards to use. There is a brick wall and a overgrown but controled lush green hedge next to the restaurant that are possibilities, otherwise i can do in the kitchen.

Ideas are appreciated.

Thanks

[FlyingPhotog]

At first blush, I'd want to take a crack at getting a good environmental portrait of him.

Something with fairly shallow DOF with him in the foreground and his kitchen behind him in soft (but not totally unrecognizeable) focus...

[ANGUS]

At first blush, I'd want to take a crack at getting a good environmental portrait of him.

Something with fairly shallow DOF with him in the foreground and his kitchen behind him in soft (but not totally unrecognizeable) focus...

the kitchen is rather tight so all shots in the kitchen would likely have to be between 17mm and 24mm, but i can always pose him as the shoot is before the kitchen opens.

[FlyingPhotog]

Is the kitchen a "galley style" (long and narrow) or more square-ish? If there's a doorway at one end, you might be able to pull him more toward you (with you at or maybe even just outside the doorway) to get more space behind him.

[ANGUS]

Is the kitchen a "galley style" (long and narrow) or more square-ish? If there's a doorway at one end, you might be able to pull him more toward you (with you at or maybe even just outside the doorway) to get more space behind him.

Ill throw up a quick paint sketch of it.

[Michael]

Sounds like fun Angus. I wouldn't get to creative with the lighting, just to be on the safe side.

I would go for a shoot through brolly upper camera right to light the chef, and the other light somewhere in the kitchen pointing at something you want to emphasise.

I might even go for a back light, to get a rim affect around him. I would probably put a CTO gel on it to give it a warm feel. All depends on what the lighting is like in the kitchen, and what you want the mood to be.

[ANGUS]

Ok here it is. Kitchen is around 18ft by 6ft. On the back wall they have fryers and hot pans for cooking other side is preparation area, down the end i have labeled glass sushi area behind that is the sushi chef who i am NOT shooting. There is a large sized fridge on the back wall behind him which may become an obstacle to your idea but if i stand next to it im fine.

Hope that makes sence if not ill answer any questions you have. There is seating outside with the restaurant name but thats kinda small on the wall although i could have him stand next to it?

[FlyingPhotog]

Sounds like fun Angus. I wouldn't get to creative with the lighting, just to be on the safe side.

I would go for a shoot through brolly upper camera right to light the chef, and the other light somewhere in the kitchen pointing at something you want to emphasise.

I might even go for a back light, to get a rim affect around him. I would probably put a CTO gel on it to give it a warm feel. All depends on what the lighting is like in the kitchen, and what you want the mood to be.

Good call on the rim lighting idea...

[ANGUS]

Sounds like fun Angus. I wouldn't get to creative with the lighting, just to be on the safe side.

I would go for a shoot through brolly upper camera right to light the chef, and the other light somewhere in the kitchen pointing at something you want to emphasise.

I might even go for a back light, to get a rim affect around him. I would probably put a CTO gel on it to give it a warm feel. All depends on what the lighting is like in the kitchen, and what you want the mood to be.

I dont have a shoot through brolly but i have a white bounce, would that cut it or should i find a shoot through? I was thinging similar idea of having a light above camera left or right (Depending on condition) and a CTO or Red gel on a gell for backlighting. Any idea of a good local ebayer for brollies?

[Michael]

Good call on the rim lighting idea...
Thanks :). I really think it would look cool if you could get a few stacks of stainless steel bowls around him, that would reflect the light, and look cool. The light would then be half lighting the bowls too. Would look awesome.

[ANGUS]

Good call on the rim lighting idea...

Rim light? as in Back Light facing Camera?

[Michael]

I dont have a shoot through brolly but i have a white bounce, would that cut it or should i find a shoot through? I was thinging similar idea of having a light above camera left or right (Depending on condition) and a CTO or Red gel on a gell for backlighting. Any idea of a good local ebayer for brollies?
Yeah, the shoot through would be your best bet. The light is way softer than a bounce because you can get it close, as the shaft points away. No idea on who sells shoot throughs locally though.

[Michael]

Rim light? as in Back Light facing Camera?
Similar to hair light, but makes a rim(halo type) affect around the body and head.

[FlyingPhotog]

Rim light? as in Back Light facing Camera?

Yes. Hide the flash head behind your subject and fire it facing toward the camera. Keep it's pattern kind of tight so it doesn't spill to the sides too much.

[Michael]

Angus, so its a galley like kitchen then?

You can use the length to your advantage I reckon. I might draw a diagram for you. Give me 10 mins.

[ANGUS]

Angus, so its a galley like kitchen then?

You can use the length to your advantage I reckon. I might draw a diagram for you. Give me 10 mins.

Bassicly yes.
Just ordering a 84cm Shoot through for $29 shipped with Toll next day from Ronnie in SA. also considering a 5 in 1 reflector, are they worthwhile, not necisarily for this shoot but in general?

[Michael]

Bassicly yes.
Just ordering a 84cm Shoot through for $29 shipped with Toll next day from Ronnie in SA. also considering a 5 in 1 reflector, are they worthwhile, not necisarily for this shoot but in general?
Cool. Reflectors are useful, especially outside at sunset, or just before/after when you want to shoot in the the sunset, but get hell good warm light on the subject.

[Michael]

My awesome lighting diagram is coming too :p.

[Michael]

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/Sinkrate/angus_setup.jpg

[Michael]

Haha, I signed it too. LOL. The smiley face is the chef. :p

[ANGUS]

Thanks, looks good. Would you suggest bowls or prepared food? that area there you have the bowls is where they place food to go out to the resaurant, it has downlights onto the food. or do you mean on the food preparation area? In which case they have pans and SS Pots on the other side on shelves and hooks.

[Michael]

Food would look even better. But I didn't know it would be available. If you get the reflector I would somehow suspend it above the food to fill in the shadows.

I would try and go for f4 or 5.6, just to get rid of the clutter that will undoubtedly be in the BG.

[Michael]

Also, I would do some with the chef holding a plate of food he has prepared. I tried to pre visualise the photo in a drawing, but as you can see, my skills are quite lacking in that area.

I would have plates of for ready to go out on the right, diminishing in the the photo towards top right. The chef in the centre, filling just over 1/2- 3/4 of the frame. The rim light would be CTO'd I guess, or maybe even red if you are trying to create an edgy mood. Main light would be bare in a shoot though, high left or right, but I'd go with left. Fill card/' reflector(foam core will work, available at craft stores, or a picture framing place) for fill on the prepared food, just out of frame.

Aim for f4-5.6 depending on the look you are after.

[ANGUS]

Food would look even better. But I didn't know it would be available. If you get the reflector I would somehow suspend it above the food to fill in the shadows.

I would try and go for f4 or 5.6, just to get rid of the clutter that will undoubtedly be in the BG.

I wont have the reflector by then, it added a bit too much to shipping so i will probably get it later with free normal shipping. However the downlights already installed should work fine. Might take some white cotton to soften it a bit but since its a feature of the restaurant i may include the lights in the shot.

Shoot is Friday afternoon and he simply said "Do the shoot then send us an invoice" he is incredibly trust worthy so i trust him with that so i dont know what to charge roughly? I will likely provide 20ish edited shots (Then the rest unedited low res and he can email me for those edited if he wishes) and i will take some in the kitchen and some outside with the brick back alley.

[ANGUS]

Also, I would do some with the chef holding a plate of food he has prepared. I tried to pre visualise the photo in a drawing, but as you can see, my skills are quite lacking in that area.

I would have plates of for ready to go out on the right, diminishing in the the photo towards top right. The chef in the centre, filling just over 1/2- 3/4 of the frame. The rim light would be CTO'd I guess, or maybe even red if you are trying to create an edgy mood. Main light would be bare in a shoot though, high left or right, but I'd go with left. Fill card/' reflector(foam core will work, available at craft stores, or a picture framing place) for fill on the prepared food, just out of frame.

Aim for f4-5.6 depending on the look you are after.

As ive said there are down lights on the area where food goes out, they are designed to keep food slightly warm but they will be good to light the dishes there., Would you have another chef in the BG doing something justt on the verge of OOF?

[ANGUS]

Also for the umbrella would you light the full face/body or just one side sorta thing?

[Michael]

I would try to light one side slightly more than the other. That's the advantage of the shoot through. The light will wrap around his face nicely. It should look good with him mostly full lit.

As for the other chef, you will have to decide at the time. I think you should do some with, some without. I wouldn't get him to flambé or anything, cause that would probably distract from the chef in front.

[Michael]

By the way, if those down lights cause you trouble you can gaffer gels on to them, if they will let you.

[ANGUS]

By the way, if those down lights cause you trouble you can gaffer gels on to them, if they will let you.

They arent that high power so should be fine, Ill try a bit of with chef and withough for BG, What about what to charge??? Go on MSN.

[Michael]

OK.