uncommons

As reliable are the midwestern Daffodils that bloom in spring, so is the annual tradition of the spring fashion shoot for the Post-Dispatch. From pinks and yellows to muted green tops and Capri pants, this year’s late-teen model Madison handily switched between outfits and looks despite a shooting day filled with rain, cold, and wind at different locations in the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Since the shoot was primarily outside with inclement weather locations inside, assistant Max Gersh and I kept shooting gear to a minimum. The Canon 1D Mark IIn was our primary camera, and we anchored the lighting with an Alien Bee B800 connected to a socked Beauty Dish running power from a Vagabond power supply and fired with a CyberSync transmitter. A pair of Dynalites, several light modifiers, and a collection of reflectors followed in tow.

Normally, inclement weather is enough to scratch a shoot, but the deadline and model restraints were too narrow for rescheduling. We had to shoot regardless – six outfits, four hours – quite a feat on a newspaper budget. Karen Hagenow of the Missouri Botanical Garden set us up with transportation, which turned critically important once the rain came. Certainly the hope for a bright spring day never materialized, and we were forced to use the inside locations, mainly to my dismay.  I believe it is hard to show spring when it is wintry outside, no?

In conclusion, did we accomplish our goal? Well, of course. I enjoy most the photograph with the yellow and red tulips (above) and the full-length with the white magnolia flowers (top, left). Curiously, it was raining during both sittings, and it was an interesting sight watching Max cover the lighting gear with a small umbrella.  Although, as I mentioned before, some (more) sun certainly would have entertained our shoot much more than the rain. Alas, as a photojournalist, adaptability is key,  especially when time and conditions are working against you.