Nervous about first time photographing nudes (film)

[grapejohnson]

I probably won't post any of the results here out of respect, sorry to disappoint anyone. It's good to know about the release info, though.

As far as technique goes though, I shot a few last night, and decided to use my Canon A-1, which I'm less comfortable with. I can get closer, and I have a 50mm 1.4 for it, I also thought the faster lens/softness might be good. I'm having trouble with lighting though. Even with most of the lights on in my bedroom, i was still only getting 1/20th or 1/30th. Her bedroom is even darker. I have a Vivitar 2800d bounce flash but don't want to have that un-natural washed out look. Any suggestions for cheap DIY lighting? I only need a stop or two more play.

 

[david.elliott]

You could get a construction tripod light / work light. Those things are wicked bright. I use them for my softboxes. Just be careful about mixed lighting issues....

 

[grapejohnson]

this was at night, so i'm going to try again using some sunlight and see what happens.

 

[david.elliott]

Could always just use a tripod...

 

[grapejohnson]

mine was just stolen a few weeks ago

 

[david.elliott]

mine was just stolen a few weeks ago

Sorry to hear that. 🙁

 

[grapejohnson]

Sorry to hear that. 🙁

yeah... although, i do have one intended for use with a telescope i got as a kid. it works well enough, and the camera has a 2 second self timer to make sure I don't bump anything. I forgot I had it.

 

[astro8]

I probably won't post any of the results here out of respect, sorry to disappoint anyone. It's good to know about the release info, though.

As far as technique goes though, I shot a few last night, and decided to use my Canon A-1, which I'm less comfortable with. I can get closer, and I have a 50mm 1.4 for it, I also thought the faster lens/softness might be good. I'm having trouble with lighting though. Even with most of the lights on in my bedroom, i was still only getting 1/20th or 1/30th. Her bedroom is even darker. I have a Vivitar 2800d bounce flash but don't want to have that un-natural washed out look. Any suggestions for cheap DIY lighting? I only need a stop or two more play.

I've taken a few good shots in my amateurish impromptu attempts.

It's tough shooting in a bedroom at night without extra light. I'm always at 1/8-1/15@1600 using a 21/3.4 SA on my R-D1. I can get 1/60@1600 with my 35 summilux but I usually want wider.

A bright fluoro bedlamp can throw some stark but interesting shadows.

I've never use a tripod.

I'd like to do some more of it and want to start using film, so have stockpiled some 3200iso and some 400iso film for pushing. I have just started developing my own film and feel that's the way to go.

Good luck with it and don't overlook what is most important...your girlfriend's mood! Make it fun for her. It all boils down to her. If she feels good, you'll get some good photos, if she feels great, you could get some great shots.

 

[grapejohnson]

Good luck with it and don't overlook what is most important...your girlfriend's mood! Make it fun for her. It all boils down to her. If she feels good, you'll get some good photos, if she feels great, you could get some great shots.

great advice. access to my work minilab will be helpful because after i process the film and burn a cd, i can also delete the orders on the computer's history so my co-workers won't see. then i can print the good ones on the self serve auto printing machine there. (i work at rite aid)
i plan to start developing at home in the next few months.

 

[JChrome]

great advice. access to my work minilab will be helpful because after i process the film and burn a cd, i can also delete the orders on the computer's history so my co-workers won't see. then i can print the good ones on the self serve auto printing machine there. (i work at rite aid)
i plan to start developing at home in the next few months.

Develop all of it at home! Have your girlfriend in the entire process. You are very lucky to have a woman who will let you do this! Take photos for years and years and you will get amazing results!

 

[ianstamatic]

after scrolling all the way to the end of this thread for a tasteful nude pic lol

develop it at home. diafine or xtol give great speed.

 

[robbeiflex]

Consider daytime window light, it can be much more flattering than flash.

 

[grapejohnson]

To all curious:

I tried this out on XP2. it was OK, but we both felt a bit uncomfortable taking it to work to get it done. Since then, I've set up a darkroom in my basement and developed two rolls. We discussed trying it again soon because she liked the results but would feel more comfortable now knowing I could be in control of the whole process. Our bedrooms both have really lousy natural lighting, and since we've both been busy we did it at night. Some of them, I used all of the lights in my bedroom and shot at 1/20th and 1/30th of a second at 1.4. They came out fine. My bedroom wall is at a 45 degree angle (i'm in an attic) and for some I used a Vivitar bounce flash on the A-1 with a yellow filter, going completely against what I had planned originally. Surprisingly, the flash is a great one and at such a high angle you can't even really tell I used it. She wants to sketch me soon, and after I let her do that I'll probably photograph her. I'll probably use Delta 400 pushed to 800 or 1600 with natural light next time.

 

[swoop]

I've taken a bunch of nude stuff to Duggal. They've never given me any hassle about it.

 

[gsgary]

I have been told that with XP2 you can shoot different iso exposures on the same roll and develope as normal and they come out ok
A few weeks ago Ilford gave me some out of date XP2 so i tried this out but i developed it in Rodinal

iso200

iso400

iso800 potter through window

If she keeps very still and you use a tripod you could shoot XP" at its box speed iso400 but i'm shure it can be pushed to iso1600

 

[hendriphile]

Recently someone on another forum wrote to never shoot portraits of women with high iso (800+) film in low light. Forgot the exact reason for it.

Too much unflattering detail perhaps?

Anyway, I wish you luck in your venture.

Your OP mentioned wanting flattering, nice skin tone. Hurrell got that perfect creamy skin tone by using slow speed B&W film, good lighting, filter where needed, and large format. You may not have the LF, but use of a steady camera mount and slow film may give a smoother look than you would get with ISO 3200 speed. Plus opening up the lens might further soften the image...

 

[grapejohnson]

Your OP mentioned wanting flattering, nice skin tone. Hurrell got that perfect creamy skin tone by using slow speed B&W film, good lighting, and large format. You may not have the LF, but use of a steady camera mount and slow film may give a smoother look than you would get with ISO 3200 speed. Plus opening up the lens might further soften the image...

I recently bought a roll of FP4 to try out, on a tripod may be the ticket.

 

[lynnb]

After arranging a pose you could use digital at the same ISO as your film to check that the lighting is flattering (Polaroids used to be used for that), and once you're happy, expose the film. I'm never scared to use slow speeds - even hand held - as picture quality has less to do with sharpness or lack of motion blur and more to do with light and mood. Have a look at Willy Ronis's work to see what I mean (NSFW).

 

[leicapixie]

i applaud your use of film. i think as you are in a learning curve, what with 1st nudes and learning to process film, maybe a few ideas. Do some portraits using a lamp, some bounced flash, light from a window. Don't do a whole nude. A back, some of a hip, a curve or two. Partial nude portraits. USE a soft filter. Use diffusion. Don't aim for max. sharpness.
i would NOT use film. Use a small digital, a base ISO of 100 and see camera can either be held or tripod mounted. Little digitals can easily be held at long speeds because of anti shake. You have almost no problem with balancing the light. Getting B/W a cinch. Desaturate or shoot B/W or sepia immediately.
You have added benefit of chimping.
My 1st pro nude shoot and 1st nude shoot was pure terror! The A/D who set it up gave me 3 films to start. No digital then..1960's. He came after the session, picked up my 3 rolls and pulled the film out into the light!
He said it would all be terrible! The model is coming back next week. You will have a coffee together, you will have nice music, you will use candles for light! The results were spectacular..the model certainly a major factor.
my 2cents worth! Good luck! Make it a joint enjoyable session.

 

[denizg7]

try some maple syrup