Thursday 22 November 2012

Greased Lightning

by Dale Neill

Thirty minutes to pack up! That's all! Bugger!
Almost forgot my shoes.
Toothbrush, money, medication.One change of underdaks.
Five days away in sunny Jurien Bay - no telephones, no computers, no stress and almost no undies.
This is what I want.
A few books, mags, couple of bottles of red, that's it. In the car!!
Whoops - camera. Yep, one Nikon D700, one 50mm lens. That's it.
Bugger anything else - no tripod, no other lenses, not even a battery charger.
This was kick-back time.

Soooo, what happens...


Mother nature decides to put on this academy award performance of 'Greased Lightning'
The show was staged in good old Jurien Bay in Western Australia and had everything except Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. There was thunder, lightning, power cuts, the smell of ozone. I thought I felt the presence of extra terrestials (or maybe that extra terrestial was an old GF)..

At nine o'clock I'd had enough. I could still feel the energy. I grabbed my Nikon and headed to the jetty to brave the lightning, thunder, wind and rain. Hand held - 2 secs in manual f8 on 320 ISO. Ah! and Nikon has this neat muliple exposure setting!! Its brilliant! Its even more brilliant after two glasses of red. I felt crazy, out their alone shooting on the end of the jetty hand held, muliple exposure, two second exposures. It was a good night to be in a storm and feel a little crazy.

But .......... it was all done in the camera! No Photoshop!
note: Thanks Miss I am Nikon for overlaying these two pics on top of each other

Join Dale Neill's UWA Intermediate Course and learn how simple it is to get great shots of Lightning and Fireworks

or if you think you know about that ....

Try Dale's UWA Advanced Digital Course and be among the 1% of photographers who know how to optimise their cameras for speed shooting landscapes, portraits and mactos!


http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/course/CCNP023

Friday 2 November 2012

Gretchen (Alex Spargo)

by Dale Neill

Late in 2006 I faced a  a dilemma. 

I had organised what I thought was one of the best practical 'cons' on  a group of 150 photographers for Light Fantastic 2007. I had spread the word around that USSR photographer Professor Betcherovka would present his famous PTFBS* (Russian) technique. Local amateur actor Gary Lawrence had researched the background, written the script and had the costumes and make-up ready. 

We had even dummied up photographs of Betcherovka's Moscow university and Gary standing next to USSR president Nikita Krushev. Professor Betcherovka would be accompanied by an attractive but stern ex GDR (East German) assistant Gretchen to translate for him.

All seemed going well for the giant con. But two female applicants for the role of Gretchen read the script, got to the last two paragraphs, looked perplexed ...  and declined. The script called for Gretchen to dress formally but in the last 30 seconds she was to shed her elegant black dress to reveal a red bustier, stockings and stilettos to 150 photographers.





With a week to go I was desperate. Then one of the applicants who declined suggested Alex Spargo. I met Alex and liked her immediately. She read the script and loved the role. Alex was used to being on stage and in front of cameras. She was formerly a body builder and had modelled with Arnie Schwarzenegger.

Gretchen and Professor Betcherovka were a huge hit at Light Fantastic 2007. Almost every photographer there was convinced they were the real thing. The con was disclosed when Professor Betcherovka asked 150 photographers to stand in the tiered auditorium and hold their cameras up.  The Professor then proclaimed that his PTFBS technique was an acronym for press the fucking button stupid! There were gasps of 'Oh no!' as the penny dropped.

'Gretchen' wiggled out of her elegant black dress, loosened her hair from its formal French roll and posed coquetishly in her red bustier. The good 'professor' invited all 150 photographers to photograph his assistant 'Gretchen'.

In ensuing months I met Alex's faithful companion Bronson who travelled with her absolutely everywhere in her little British Racing Green MGB. I was lucky enough to do a shoot with Alex and Bronson in the studio. Alex has also modelled for several of my UWA classes and private workshops.

Join me for Photographing Faces at UWA Extension.