On Wednesday my friend Tristan Versluis was shooting some pick-ups for a promo he’s directed for Linda Harrison. The video was pretty much complete but they needed a few extra shots and I went along just to tag along and take some photographs for myself and anyone who wanted any; keeps me off the streets, or more accurately off the XBOX.
The shoot was in the upstairs room at The Old Queen’s Head, near Angel tube, which has these fantastic ceiling light fixtures made from what looks like old gramophone horns. There’s an old, lived-in atmosphere to the place, leather covered booths, golden-framed mirrors, peeling paint and a wooden floor, although very little of that was going to be seen as it happens.
Tristan just needed a few shots of a man approaching a woman in a dark, crowded bar while a band plays on the stage (which, obviously, was Linda herself – I don’t think I can tell you the name of the track yet though). It only took a couple of hours and didn’t give away any of the story but I’ve seen shots from the rest of the shoot and it’s a typical Versluis production; strikingly lit and shot by Stuart White and a deliciously twisted story focussed on a seductive woman (played by Annette Kellow) and how she selects partners to take home, set to a terrific track by Linda Harrison that I still can’t tell you about, sorry. It’s going to be great.
So, here’s my pick of the hundred-odd shots I kept from the afternoon, with captions here and there so you know what’s going on. Enjoy, and thanks for visiting.
Make-up, actors, Tristan chatting, Stuart setting up lights...Tristan shows actor Peter Caxado frames from the rest of the promoThis makes me laugh every time. Timing is everything 😉Justyna Dobrowolska doing Annette Kellow's makeup as Tristan talks through the shots he needsThe daylight on Annette's face was so strong the rest of the room is plunged into darkness I really love this shot of Annette in makeup - that's the D700's own B&W; it's pretty good, and I'm lazy.Last minute hair touch-ups. One of the cameras in the background there.There were lots of moments like this, Tristan and Stuart deep in discussion of lighting and framing.I liked making silhouette shots of these two working, as you can see.Annette looked simply stunning; reminded me of Mad Men a lot in these shots.While the camera's weren't rolling.The boys at work again. You can see the framing on Stuart's LCD.Perhaps a touch too much headroom but I love the feel of this shot with the light behind her.
Linda Harrison in make-up before shooting her performanceI don't know what was in that cocktail.
They were shooting fast and light, with two Canon DSLRs running at once.Stuart finding focusThe moment Annette's character picks out her man for the evening
Linda and the band setting up for their performance
This was a lucky, I mean nice catch, with the two red beams picking Linda out.Linda really threw herself into her performance, every time, many times.
I love the balance to this image, as well as the moment it caught. Perhaps bizarrely, this is definitely my favourite photo of the performance, really captures her energyFinal shot of the day, Tristan checking the last take before calling a wrap.
I'm a Glasgow-born stills photographer and camera operator living and working in London, UK. As well as cameras I'm into writing, gaming, general geekery and beers by Brew Dog.
The shoot was in the upstairs room at The Old Queen’s Head, near Angel tube, which has these fantastic ceiling light fixtures made from what looks like old gramophone horns. There’s an old, lived-in atmosphere to the place, leather covered booths, golden-framed mirrors, peeling paint and a wooden floor, although very little of that was going to be seen as it happens.
