While preparing to photograph two 1930’s-era vintage aircraft at the
Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona, a young woman walked into
the museum wearing a flight attendants’ uniform of the same vintage
as the aircraft. Ms. Jeanne Sorenson graciously allowed me to
photograph her to complete the shot. She walked into that museum
like she owned the place. The addition of Ms. Sorenson wearing her
1930’s flight attendant’s uniform made the photograph complete.
Prior to making the photograph, I spent about 45 minutes walking
around both the inside and outside of the museum looking for a
subject. Many of the ISAP photographers started shooting as soon
as they walked through the front door. My experience working for
National Geographic and other photographic clients has taught me
to location scout the scene before pulling out a camera. At the Pima
Air Museum, there were so many airplanes and so many changing
light situations that I preferred to deal with overshoot problems as
well as checking out the ambient light in the building.Members of Nikon Professional Services helped me with five strobes
to light the shot. (Thanks Brian & J.C.!) With the help of the two
Nikon reps and their incredible flash units, we were able to drop out
the confusing background and paint light just on the two airplanes
and the terrific model. We used Rembrandt lighting on Jeanne’s face
and carefully placed her against the cowling of one of the engines
of the Twin Beech S18D to separate her from the background. After
dealing with the selection of the planes, the positioning of the model,
and the lighting with the Nikon strobes, the actual photography was
just second nature. For me, this workflow is typical of creating a
complex photograph.