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Virgin Islands, Glamour, Beauty & the Nude #35


Date: April 10-15, 2014 (Early Bird Pricing!)
Venue: U.S. Virgin Islands
Details: We’ve changed it up, this workshop is limited to eight photographers. We’re also adding St. John to the workshop. Eight photographers, five models for this workshop. First-come, first-serve!

Photo of Amy from our April 2013 photography workshop.

Photo of Amy from our April 2013 photography workshop.

This is our 35th Virgin Islands photography model workshop since 2004 and our first for 2014. The dates are April 10-15th, 2014. Fly in on April 10th (Thurs.) into St. Thomas (Airport code STT) then we ferry you over to a smaller island where it’s a private, camp-style workshop–open to all levels of photography, from beginners to advanced–your departure day is April 15th, (Tuesday) unless you choose to stay longer in St. Thomas on your own. April 14th is our private shoot day. While not mandatory, on our private shoot day, we encourage it to work with your favorite models on a “one on one” hourly basis. April 13th we shoot in St. John, a new excursion we’ve added to these workshops!

These workshops promise more than the best workshops ever done–this is not a foreign country, this is the U.S. Virgin Islands! No currency conversions, no foreign language, no crazy inflated value-added taxes or worries about the food and water or your camera equipment held in customs till you pay the “bribe.” Currently, for U.S. citizens, a U.S. passport it not required, provided you present a government issued identification card, such as a driver’s license. Non-U.S. citizens require a passport.

We’ve got a place that rocks! The location was featured on HGTV and Brad Pitt even filmed parts for one of his movies on this secluded island. It’s not your “typical tourist hotel” trap found in other workshops–this is a private paradise 10-minutes from St. Thomas giving us great sunsets, sunrises, private infinity-pool shots with the ocean blue/green waters and golden sunsets in the background. I’ve created two book covers and one magazine cover at this location.

Complete with outdoor activities and a dinner on the beach after sunset, this workshop is better than the best workshops ever held! We even had one photographer sign-up for ten Virgin Islands workshops and another for five plus two Moab photography workshops, so all photography slots sell fast! We have a high return rate of previous attendees and now we’ve expanded it by adding a day trip to St. John.

Limited to EIGHT photographers only! That’s right, we’ll shoot five beautiful models in groups of two photographers per one model, the whole time you’re there–you will photograph every model. There is no room for more than eight photographers, period. Prices will eventually go up if not booked early! We’ll be staying on a private island off St. Thomas in a “camp-like” style environment (concrete cottages) as we enjoy the use of three residences with full facilities including internet connection DSL, refrigerator, stove, satellite TV, and phone plus we’ll serve breakfast and provide lunch options. Use the button below to reserve your “Early Bird” price at $1999 today, regular price resumes to $2499 before you know it! Save $500 now! Rates will go up after first four attendees sign-up, so save now Guarantee your slot!



This package includes lodging during the workshop and most drinks and food–there is two optional evening dinners at your expense as we provide some of the dinners. Your responsibility, get there! Fly into St. Thomas. From there you’ll have the greatest time photographing models without hotel distractions, tourist distractions, etc…total focus on what we’re there for, the glamour, beauty and the nude photography of beautiful women. This is outdoor photography in an exotic tropical setting!

Photo of Jenni from our April 2013 workshop.

Photo of Jenni from our April 2013 workshop.

This is a first-come, first-serve, non-refundable workshop. The workshop attendees will not be staying in a hotel, we’ll be staying in fully equipped houses that are cottage style, complete with satellite TV, DSL, refrigerator, stove, etc.–your house on a private island. Early-bird price is $1999, save $500 today before prices go up to $2499. Please use the button above to pay securely with PayPal. You may also use the “Bill Me Now, Pay Later Option.”

Lighting is provided for sun-overpowering shots with Hensel portable lighting gear, though you may bring your own lighting too. We’ll have some California Sunbounce scrims and reflectors, again, you may bring your own too. Make-up and hair provided for the models too.

Rolando will cover many topics, from basics, fundamentals and concepts that you can use in glamour photography and other genres of photography. Emphasis on lighting, posing, and the ability to see and feel the light. You’ll get hands on instruction and demonstrations. Overpowering the sun with flash will be a big focus along with beach and pool shoots.

Rolando will walk you through, step by step showing you the in’s and out’s of the image, at the same time, every photographer will have his or her time to photograph lovely, photogenic models from sunrise to sunset. The emphasis is to take photographs not pictures. Plus much, much more!

Three full-days of shooting and one optional day to book private shoots! Private shoots are optional and will be scheduled reasonably for a small additional charge–this money goes straight to the model–first come, first serve. Shooting will be from sunrise to sunset–just like if you’re on assignment for publication. Time is allocated to enjoy the hot tub and swimming pool during non workshop hours–yes, have fun in the sun, work hard, and capture great images!

All proceeds are non-refundable, but we will allow you to transfer your seat should you have to change your plans with at least a 90-day notice. You must do the transfer on your own as we will not refund anyone due to the small size of this workshop. We will do our best to assist you in finding a replacement, but there is no guarantee.

Over 6,000 students have attended Rolando’s workshops and speaking engagements in the past fourteen years–Rolando is the only current glamour workshop instructor with national speaking credentials, photo blogs, photography book author, photo magazine staff writer with national and international tearsheets. Rolando also discovered the April 2006 Playboy Playmate for Playboy–she attended the April 2006 VI workshop as an actual model too! This workshop is open to all levels of photographers, from beginners to advanced–Rolando will take time to work with new photographers and will answer your questions before, during and after the workshop. No one is leaving the island until it’s over!

The workshop is intense, but designed for everyone. Breakfast and lunch are available every day upon arrival. Evening supper will be furnished two of the five days. Lunch is available, but you’re free to take the 5-minute ferry ride into St. Thomas for lunch too. Refreshments will be provided.

Photo of Katy from our April 2013 workshop.

Photo of Katy from our April 2013 workshop.

The price is for workshop and lodging costs and some meals, you are responsible for all travel. The price includes three solid days of shooting with models. We break the eight photographers in teams of two, so you always work with a partner but never have to wait in line. Models are rotated twice daily to allow for major shoots with two models at a time per day–you will photograph all five models. We reserve the fourth shooting day for private shooting for a small additional fee, this is an optional day after your three solid days of shooting, for your favorite models. This system works so good we’ve had many repeat customers to the VI workshops. We’ve also added a one-day, photography excursion into St. John on the third day.

Make-up will be provided and images may be used in off-line, personal and web portfolios, and mandatory releases are provided that allow commercial use for an additional $100 per model, $500 total (paid to the model by the photographer, only once and covers all three days). This is an unrestricted release (except for adult pay-sites or membership sites), full use, including nudity. First Come, First Serve Basis–limited seating–Reserve Your Slot Now!

A minimum of five people must attend otherwise the workshop will be canceled/rescheduled and refunds will be immediately provided. Rolando has never canceled a Virgin Islands or exotic photography workshop in the past 14 years. Feel Free to email Rolando Gomez should you have any questions at rolando(at)rolandogomez.com with a CC copy to gophotog(at)gmail(dot)com and include your contact information and best time to call. Cancellations are not allowed due to the size and impact associated with maintaining these exotic workshops–we will however consider a case-by-case basis based on facts, but these types of workshops are non-cancel events.

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Virgin Islands, Semi-Private Special Instruction Event


Date: Nov. 7-12th, 2013
Location: U.S. Virgin Islands (Fly into St. Thomas), private, secluded location
Price: Photo Workshop Price $3999 (Save $1000 right now! No other discounts! Price will go up soon, this is early-bird pricing!)
Limited to Four Photographers Only! Six Models Total!

We’ve secured a special, brand-new, never used before location in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This location offers a swimming pool designed for photography along with beauty beaches and a tropical setting. Photo possibilities are vast.



Behind the scenes Virgin Islands photographer, model, workshop footage.

While some will call this a photography workshop, because we’ve limited the photographers to no more than four, plus six gorgeous models, we’re calling this a semi-private instruction, special event. Rolando will be there by your side, providing not only the correct camera settings, but the correct lighting, posing instruction, technical support, etc. This will be more of an all day shooting event for three continuous days, three rotations per day. Photographers are broken into teams of two, models the same. Each team gets three models per day to work with. After the third day of shooting, on our fourth shooting day, we provide an optional, first-come-first-serve, private shooting day by the hour for additional compensation to the model and make-up artist.

You arrive at St. Thomas, airport code STT, on Thursday, Nov. 7th, 2013 and depart on Tuesday Nov. 12th. You will shoot practically non-stop from Friday through Sunday, and we’ll allow Monday as the “private shoot time” day, so you may work with the models you prefer at the time of day you prefer. Monday is not mandatory and is negotiated between you and the model(s) on a first-come, first-serve basis. Most meals are provided, but we’ll also allow you to eat nearby. Most drinks are provided, but we encourage you to stop by the airport liquor store and purchase a few bottles to chip in for the “model/photographer” bar we enjoy on this tropical paradise on our evening off time.

This special event is open to photographers of all levels, beginners to advanced, though you must be over 18-years of age. First-come, first serve! Limited to four photographers maximum. Once it sells out, it’s sold-out! Lighting equipment is provided, just bring your cameras. This is a very unique and special event catered to those that want to take amazing photos of beautiful models in a tropical environment, while still finding time to relax as a group, enjoying features such as a swimming pool and the great outdoors.

Here are the particulars:

1. You must pay for your own travel. Please arrive in St. Thomas no later than 5 p.m. On departure, plan on leaving no earlier than 9:00 a.m., though we recommend mid-afternoon or later departures as on the last evening/night, we have a cocktail social hour.

2. Bring your camera, preferably a DSLR. It must have a hotshoe (where you flash slides on top) or as a minimum, a pc connection for our studio flash–we provide all lighting equipment, though you may bring your own. We’ll be mixing natural daylight with tungsten and flash too.

3. You must have the passion to photograph six beautiful models in a tropical paradise. The type of photography is glamour, beauty and nude photography. You will have almost an entire day to photograph them in all their beauty, from glamour to glamour nude. We’ll even toss in a little “editorial nude” in there too.

4. While it’s intense, we’ll have fun in this educational experience. Be prepared to bring your shorts, hats, t-shirts, and enjoy the relaxing environment.

5. Camera requirements are any type of camera, preferably 35mm DSLR or SLR, medium or large format is optional. Lens focal range, from 24mm to 300mm, though a typical 70-200mm lens is all you need. I prefer my prime 85mm, but anything in the 50-200mm range is best. A back-up drive to download your images and/or laptop computer is recommended. If you have a Sony (Minolta) camera, please ensure you have a hot shoe adapter or PC connection.

6. Professionalism is required with a fun attitude, we’re there to capture beautiful images of beautiful models. If you have Pocket Wizard remotes, bring them too, though not required as we’ll have our own radio triggers. We’ll work with beauty dishes, softboxes, California Sunbounce reflectors and more, all provided by us!

If you can meet the requirements and you have the passion to create some beautiful, unique images, this is for you. We accept payments securely through PayPal and have other options if you prefer. This is a first-come, first-serve event as class size is limited. Model releases are optional. This is the early-bird price, prices will go up soon, so don’t delay, book now before it’s too late! Please use the PayPal button below. We’ve used PayPal securely for almost 14 years.

Model releases for the event is $100 per model at the end of the third shooting day–this covers all three days and is only done once. The total is $600 and all monies go to the model directly, we provide the releases. Private shooting time is negotiable between you and the model on the fourth shooting day, though it’s normally $100 per hour and $20 to the make-up artist. These are mandatory releases as this is a very small group of photographers and models are paid by you only. The releases are provided and allow you to use the images for commercial use and the only restriction is prohibited use for adult related material—nudes are artistic and glamour nude only at this workshop when it comes to nudity. You must be 18-years of age or older to attend.

This is a very small event, so it’s a non-refundable policy once booked. We can’t afford to give up shooting spots due to all the costs involved, once booked, you’re booked, though we’ll allow you to sell your spot, and will do our best to help you with no guarantee, should the need arise.

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Las Vegas Glamour Photo Workshop & Birthday

Date: Aug. 10, 2013 Saturday Only, Glamour, Beauty & the Nude Workshop
Time: 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m.
Location: Major Casino Penthouse (on the strip)
Price:$299

We’re doing it again! The Las Vegas Glamour, Beauty and The Nude photography workshop at a top, casino Penthouse, plus Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough’s and Rolando’s birthday party. This is their fifth year in a row birthday/workshop  in Las Vegas. Come spend the day photographing up to five gorgeous models, then join us for an after party at a local establishment.

Model Photo, Glamour

One of our lovely glamour, beauty and the nude models!

The photo workshop is open to photographers of all levels, beginners to advanced, though you must be over 18-years of age for the workshop. We’ll have a small lecture, hands-on photography instruction, then we shoot, shoot, shoot, up to five talented models. Then we’ll regroup after dinner and you can help Holley and Rolando plus other Leo model and photographer friends party late evening. First-come, first serve! Limited in size! Once it sells out, it’s sold-out!

Here are the particulars:

Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough Model Photo

Come help Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough celebrate her birthday at this event!

1. You must pay for your own lodging and travel. Model releases are optional for this workshop, but encouraged. Only paid attendees will be given the casino location of the event.

2. Bring your camera, preferably a DSLR. It must have a hot shoe (where you flash slides on top) or as a minimum, a PC connection for our studio flash–we provide all equipment.

3. You must have the passion to photograph up to five beautiful models. The type of photography is glamour, beauty and nude photography for most models on Saturday. You will have almost a whole day to photograph them in all their beauty, from glamour to editorial/glamour nude.

4. While it’s intense, we’ll have fun in this educational experience. We’ll break for lunch, you provide the coffee if you need it, but surely bring some Red Bull for energy because this is an energized workshop.

5. Camera requirements are any type of camera, preferably 35mm DSLR or SLR, medium or large format is optional. Lens focal range, from 24mm to 200mm, though a typical 70-200mm lens is all you need. A back-up drive to download your images every evening and/or laptop computer is highly recommended. If you have a Sony (Minolta) camera, please ensure you have a hot shoe adapter or PC connection.

6. Professionalism is required, we’re there to capture beautiful images of beautiful models. If you have Pocket Wizard remotes, bring them too, though not required as we’ll have our own radio triggers. We’ll work with beauty dishes, softboxes, reflectors and more, all provided by us!

If you can meet the requirements and you have the passion to create some beautiful, unique images, these workshop are for you. We accept payments securely through PayPal and have other options if you prefer. This is a first-come, first-serve event as class size is limited. Model releases are optional but encouraged. This is an early-bird price, prices will go up soon, so don’t delay, book now before it’s too late! Please use the PayPal button below. We’ve used PayPal securely for 14-years.

The price is $299 for the Glamour, Beauty and the Nude workshop.

Model releases for the event is $60 per model at the end of the day. These are voluntary releases, but highly encouraged as these models will be working for you and the entire amount goes to the model. The releases are provided by us and allow you to use the images for commercial use and the only restriction is prohibited use for adult related material—nudes are artistic and glamour nude only at this workshop when it comes to nudity. No other releases will be allowed.

You are required to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. local time on the workshop day. Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m. We end at 5:00 p.m. Party info will be given out to the attendees only.

Cancellation rules apply as this is a first-come, first-serve event limited in size. Don’t get left behind, don’t miss out on a wonderful opportunity. We can’t allow too many people on the property, it’s very limited in size, so don’t delay, act now an save before prices go up!

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Seattle, Editorial Nude, Plus Glamour, Beauty & The Nude

Date: May 25th – 26th, 2013 Saturday is the Glamour, Beauty & the Nude Workshop; Sunday is the Editorial Nudes Workshop!
Time: 10:00 a.m. till 5 p.m. each day
Location: Private Residence (Lake Washington Area)
Price:$299 for Editorial Nude Workshop, $249 for Glamour, Beauty & the Nude Workshop, $399 for both! (Early bird pricing now!)

Moab Photography Workshop Model Photo

This photo was taken at the recent Moab photography workshop and postproduced on my laptop.

By popular demand, we’re back in Seattle on the waterfront of Lake Washington! This is two separate, special photography workshops with four to five models and limited in size at a private residence in Seattle–details given only to registered attendees. Don’t hesitate, this is your chance for a one-day Glamour, Beauty and the Nude photography workshop and/or an Editorial Nude photography workshop at a great prices and a great location!

These workshops are open to photographers of all levels, beginners to advanced, though you must be over 18-years of age. We’ll have a small lecture, hands-on photography instruction, then we shoot, shoot, shoot, up to five talented models. First-come, first serve! Limited in size! Once it sells out, it’s sold-out!

Here are the particulars:

1. You must pay for your own lodging and travel. Each workshop is a separate workshop, though not combined, you may pay to attend both. Model releases are separate for each workshop.

2. Bring your camera, preferably a DSLR. It must have a hot shoe (where you flash slides on top) or as a minimum, a PC connection for our studio flash–we provide all equipment.

3. You must have the passion to photograph up to five beautiful models. The type of photography is glamour, beauty and nude photography for most models on Sunday and full nude on Saturday. You will have almost a whole day to photograph them in all their beauty, from glamour to editorial/glamour nude.

4. While it’s intense, we’ll have fun in this educational experience. We’ll provide lunch, you provide the coffee if you need it, but surely bring some Red Bull for energy because this is an energized workshop. Lunch is on your own, though we’ll have some snacks if you don’t want to leave during lunch.

5. Camera requirements are any type of camera, preferably 35mm DSLR or SLR, medium or large format is optional. Lens focal range, from 24mm to 200mm, though a typical 70-200mm lens is all you need. A back-up drive to download your images every evening and/or laptop computer is highly recommended. If you have a Sony (Minolta) camera, please ensure you have a hot shoe adapter or PC connection.

6. Professionalism is required, we’re there to capture beautiful images of beautiful models. If you have Pocket Wizard remotes, bring them too, though not required as we’ll have our own radio triggers. We’ll work with beauty dishes, softboxes, reflectors and more, all provided by us!

If you can meet the requirements and you have the passion to create some beautiful, unique images, these workshop are for you. We accept payments securely through PayPal and have other options if you prefer. This is a first-come, first-serve event as class size is limited. Model releases are optional but encouraged. Each workshop is a separate model release. These are early-bird prices, prices will go up soon, so don’t delay, book now before it’s too late! Please use the PayPal button below. We’ve used PayPal securely for 14-years.

Please select either one (pull down menu), or both workshops. The prices are $299 for the Editorial Nude Workshop, $249 for the Glamour, Beauty and the Nude workshop, or if you want to save, $399 for both workshops.

Choose Workshop(s)

Model releases for the event is $60 per model at the end of the day for the Glamour, Beauty & the Nude (Sunday) workshop. If you do “only” the Editorial Nude workshop on Saturday, the releases are $80 per model. If you elect to do both workshops the releases are $60 each, per model, per workshop (Saturday/Sunday) saving you $20 per model. These are voluntary releases, but highly encouraged as these models will be working for you. These releases are provided and allow you to use the images for commercial use and the only restriction is prohibited use for adult related material—nudes are artistic and glamour nude only at this workshop when it comes to nudity.

You are required to arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. local time on the workshop day. Please do not arrive before 9:30 a.m. We end at 5:00 p.m both days.

Cancellation rules apply as this is a first-come, first-serve event limited in size. Don’t get left behind, don’t miss out on a wonderful opportunity. We can’t allow too many people on the property, it’s very limited in size, so don’t delay, act now an save before prices go up!

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What Is An Editorial Nude?

As I transition more to authoring new books, blogging and participating more on GarageGlamour.com, many photographers have noticed that as part of my “Farewell Photo Workshop Tour,” that we’ve included our editorial nude photography workshops in some locations. This has brought a few emails asking for some clarification.

Simply put, there are various forms (genres) of nude photography, including fine-art nudes (which others fall into also), implied nudes, glamour nude, Playboy nudes, editorial nudes, and just about anything you can add the word “nude” to at the end of it.  You name it, someone is teaching it—the problem lies not in nude photography, but many so-called glamour and nude photography workshops are just gang-bang shooting of cheesecake nude photos—and you wonder why there are some photographers labeled GWC’s, guys with cameras?

Unfortunately nude photography is being diluted daily, so I decided that I’d add editorial nude photography years ago as a different workshop than my “Glamour, Beauty and the Nude” themed workshops—and after conducting almost 500 photography workshops, seminars and lectures around the world in the past 12-years, I think I’ve got a good hand on what is what when it comes to photography.

In the case of editorial nude photography, it’s basically nude images that help convey some meaning, not sex, not porn, but true meaning including sometimes the mood of the subject.  These types of images often tell a story, and sometimes have a great story behind them. It’s about mood, emotion, storytelling, lighting, shadows, and sometimes even controversial, though I tend to avoid the latter.

At my Editorial Nude photography workshops, we work with simple lighting modified normally with 7-inch metal reflectors and metal grids.  The concept is to use shadows in your favor, tell the story, and to get away from marking the treasure map “X” on the floor—in other words, we don’t want you just standing there, we want you moving around the subject so you can see how the “Angle of Incidence Equals the Angle of Reflection” physics law come to play in photography.  We also ask you to turn your camera, not just plain horizontal or vertical images.

These types of images you could sell in art galleries, these are not cheesecake glamour nudes, these photos help you create are artistic but more important, solid and worthy of hanging in art galleries.

Now when we do your “Glamour, Beauty and the Nude” themed workshops, we use larger light modifiers, like 7-foot Chimera Octaboxes, 4-foot by 6-foot softboxes, beauty dishes, ringflash, California Sunbounce Pro reflectors and the list goes on—normally lighting used for editorial nudes is not the type we’d use in glamour photography.  Still not sure, well please visit EditorialNudes.com, my editorial nude photoblog that I just launched—it’s expanding with more images, so please be patient.  For now, since we don’t want to upset Google advertising, we can’t post images here, but you can find them at EditorialNudes.com.  Thanks, Rolando

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The Angle of Incidence Equals the Angle of Reflection

Often the Law of Incidence Equals the Law of Reflection is used to fill the "micro pores" of the face using this over/under lighting technique.  In this case, the ringflash fills the pores of the face since the camera is mounted on it.  The main light is slightly higher in power output above the ring flash.

Often the Law of Incidence Equals the Law of Reflection is used to fill the “micro pores” of the face using this over/under lighting technique. In this case, the ringflash fills the pores of the face since the camera is mounted on it.

The main light is slightly higher in power output above the ring flash.  The beauty dish is directly underneath to provide a “kicker” light, or softening of the shadows.  The photographer is shooting through a ring flash between the beauty dish and the main light above.

In physics, the law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This tenet is fundamental to the understanding of light and can be summarized thusly: if light strikes an object at angle A, it will be reflected in the opposite direction, also at angle A, similar to the way a ball bounces off a brick wall. In photography, the law of reflection is rarely discussed; one typically hears more about the Inverse Square Law or that white reflects and black absorbs. While these are indeed important aspects of light, the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are two components of physics that, once understood, can help photographers improve their images they create in both artificial and natural light.

The easiest way to comprehend this concept is to go into a place that has hard, shiny floors and overhead lighting (grocery stores work great!). Look down while you walk and you’ll see hot spots of light on the floor move with you as you walk. These hot spots are the direct reflection of the overhead lighting, and they evidence the law of reflection. These equal angles of incidence and reflection can cause hot spots on your subject too. Understanding the law of reflection will help you avoid hot spots on your subjects, whether you are photographing models, cars, food, or landscapes. In fact, managing these equal angles of reflection in your photographs allows you to add or eliminate texture and color in your images.

The white spots or highlights in this image of candles is where the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, thus the hot spots.

The white spots or highlights in this image of candles is where the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, thus the hot spots.

The law of reflection is also responsible for the red-eye effect that plagues ring flash users when shooting through the ring. Because the camera’s lens is at the same angle to the subject as the flash, the reflection of light against blood vessels in the retina at the rear of the eye produces red-eye. An easy way to eliminate red-eye is to brighten the room; this causes the subject’s pupils to contract, thus greatly reducing any reflection. Another method is to take a monolight with a 7-inch 20 degree grid and point it at your subject’s face with only the modeling lamp powered on (not the flash unit itself). Many flash units, including the Broncolor, Hensel, and Profoto brands have separate switches for the modeling lamp and electronic flashtube, allowing them to be powered separately.

The law of reflection is especially troublesome when glass or mirrors are present in the image. The equal angles of incidence and reflection cause hot spots in glass and mirrors when using a flash. The simple solution is to move the flash away from the camera so that the angles are not identical.

In the studio, you can use the monolight red-eye reduction technique described above in a darkened room. This will allow you to show more of your subject’s iris and less of their dark pupils. The technique works well with light-colored eyes, especially green and blue. Don’t be alarmed by the appearance of harsh shadows on one side of the nose, as the power of the artificial flash will knock this out when it fires

The stars created in the crystal flower are because the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

The stars created in the crystal flower are because the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

By moving the camera and light source(s) independently, you can use the law of reflection in your favor, almost like an added layer of makeup to smooth your subject’s skin. As you walk around your subject, you will notice that hot and washed out spots will appear and disappear based on the angle of reflection. You may also notice that your model’s face appears smoother from one angle and rougher from another angle, as the valleys of the pores are filled in with shadows. Through positioning your camera and light sources independently, you can eliminate hot spots and create the appearance of a smoother skin texture.

Because the vast majority of what we see is reflected light (as opposed to incidental light), we as photographers live in an illuminated world. Without light, we would have no images to capture, and humans would see nothing but perpetual blackness. Understanding the law of reflection will allow you to outshine your competitors, as your photographs will take advantage of one of the fundamental laws of the universe and stand out from those created by your peers.  Well that’s it for now, please don’t forget our military troops, their families and friends, as they all sacrifice to keep our nation strong and free–God Bless! Rolando

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Photo Workshop and Party at the Palms!

Photo of Mari, art direction, Playboy photographer Arny Freytag.  Photo taken after the Phoenix Mansion photography workshop.

Photo of Mari, art direction, Playboy photographer Arny Freytag. Photo taken after the Phoenix Mansion photography workshop.

Note: Just announced, next Phoenix Mansion Shoot with Arny Freytag. (info here)

I just returned from a fabulous photography, semi-private instructional workshop featuring Playboy’s top photographer, Arny Freytag.  On occasion, Arny comes out and guest instructs at some of our photography workshops, most recently the Las Vegas and Los Angeles photography workshops.  Next month he’ll join us for a day as a guest instructor at the Los Angeles (workshop info here) photography workshop held at a 6,000 sq.ft. studio location with six gorgeous models including Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough and American Idol star, Amy Davis.

Arny also indicated he’ll make an appearance at our Las Vegas workshop and birthday bash celebration this August at the Palms Casino where we’re alway treated well from the owner and staff. This will be our third photography workshop at the Palms Casino and at our Dec. 2009 glamour photography workshop, Arny spent two days instructing our attendees as we photographed models in the luxurious, 6,200 sq.ft., Sky Villa Penthouse suite—in fact, some of those images are in my new photography lighting book, Rolando Gomez’s Lighting for Glamour Photography: Techniques for Digital Photographers.

The Palms Casino and Palms Place always provide for some great shooting and touring of the clubs for all the attendees, and this photography workshop will be the best as Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough and I will be celebrating our birthdays on Saturday evening throughout the casino along with a few other Leos who have their birthdays very close to ours.  The workshop is on Friday and Saturday, then more fun begins Saturday evening as we head out to tour the clubs at the Palms like the Rain, The Lounge, Moon, Ghost Bar, Satellite Bar, and even the Playboy Club.

Playboy photographer Arny Freytag, Palms Casino Owner Gavin Maloof, Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough and I at Gavin's house.

Playboy photographer Arny Freytag, Palms Casino Owner Gavin Maloof, Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough and I at Gavin's house.

We’ve got a few slots left, so we hope to see you there, so far the guest list is looking great and our models Holley, Amy, Mari, Candice, Eleya and Heather are looking forward to pose for all those digital cameras.  We might even add a few more models to make it fun and exciting for everyone! We’ll even have our top make-up artist, Stephanie Dawn. All attendees get special room rates, so there will be no need to leave the Palms Casino during this weekend workshop and celebration.

Hopefully you’ve signed up before we run out of spaces, but regardless, don’t forget our men and women in uniform who make all our freedoms possible along with the sacrifices of their families and friends, God Bless! Rolando

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Rolando’s Photography Quotes

Here are some of my favorite photography quotesmany have either heard at my photography workshops or read in my photography books.  Enjoy!

Photography quotes by Rolando Gomez

Light is the life blood of the image.

Trying to take the passion from a photographer is like trying to take a bone away from a hungry dog, you’re going to get bit, it’s going to hurt like hell and you’re going to wish you never tried.

When I take a “photograph,” it’s not just about the subject being captured in time, it’s about the intended audience with the interjection of my soul; when I take “pictures,” it’s just plain fun!

A perfect smile is when the corners of the eyes are in perfect harmony with the corners of the lips.

[Read more...]

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The Triangles of Photography

Often when you hear a photographer talk about a triangle in photography, they are referencing the correlation of exposure, or how the ISO, lens aperture and camera shutter-speed affect one another to create the correct exposure in a photograph. However, the word “triangle” in photography also applies to posing, specifically the great “three triangle” pose for a single subject, and the triangles formed in posing groups of people.

When posing a single model, three triangles are often seen when a model is standing tall, her body facing the camera, and the legs are close together forming a triangle from the base of the feet to where the knees meet, then from where the knees meet to mid-thigh, then mid-thigh to the bottom of the torso. This is often seen when a beauty pageant contestant stops and faces the judges on the runway too. However as in this photograph of Tess, you can use the arms and legs to form three triangles in the sitting position. (Note: If you look closely, the body itself forms one large triangle and the points of the triangle touch the points formed by the “rule of thirds” used for proper composition and framing.)

Tess uses her arms and legs to form three triangles in the sitting pose resulting in a visually pleasing image.

Tess uses her arms and legs to form three triangles in the sitting pose resulting in a visually pleasing image.

When photographing groups of people, great wedding photographers tend to space the front row so the people in the back row are directly behind each side of the person’s shoulder joint in front of them, thus ensuring that each person’s head forms, from each row, points in the triangle in groups of two or more rows of people. Portrait photographers also utilize this technique when photographing families of three or more.

When posing groups of people, form two rows and position your subjects so they form imaginary triangles with their head position.

When posing groups of people, form two rows and position your subjects so they form imaginary triangles with their head position.

Bill Hurter, editor of Rangefinder magazine states it best in his book, The Portrait Photographer’s Guide To Posing (Amherst 20004), “The triangle is one of the most pleasing and dynamic forms in all of photography. Because the triangle is a series of three lines, two of which are diagonal, it has the result of providing direction and visual movement in a portrait. Creating triangles and exploiting natural triangles in posing is one of the most basic skills of a good composition.”

Triangles in art composition was often practiced by some of the great painters, including Rembrandt, and as photographers, we all know Rembrandt lighting is one of the most popular forms of lighting in which a triangle of light forms below the eye. As a general rule in Rembrandt lighting, the triangle of light should be as long as the nose, but no wider than the eye.

While the triangle is easier to spot when replicating Rembrandt lighting, as it’s visually there surrounded by shadows on all three sides, in posing, it tends to be more perceptual and created by the arms and legs of the body when photographing one subject, or by the heads of bodies when photographing groups of two rows or more. Rembrandt lighting itself obviously is one of the elements in the triangle of exposure, and the triangle of exposure is evident in every correctly exposed photograph.

Finding and capturing triangles in posing is more difficult for photographers because we must direct our subjects in posing, however if we can focus on that direction through proper communication, it gives us the ability to move one step higher toward the top of the pyramid of photographers and our subjects will be pleased with the results.  Well that’s it for today, please don’t forget our men and women in uniform that defend our great nation, along with the sacrifices of their friends and family, God Bless! Rolando

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Bring Out the Detail, The Black & White About It

Black cards were used to bring out the detail in Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough's hair.  Black cards were used to bring out the detail in Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough’s hair.

Often photographers are challenged to bring out detail in the clothing their model is wearing, especially black or white fabrics. The solution is to understand the 90-percent physics rule of light and reflection when it comes to black and white tones in digital and conventional photography.

The 90-percent rule simply means, whatever is pure white will reflect 90-percent of the light that hits it, whatever is pure black will absorb the light that hits it—the key word here is “pure,” as blacks and whites come in many shades.  Keeping this concept in mind, we can judge how fabrics and even skin tones reflect light, and since we normally expose for our subject’s skin tone, the camera exposure settings will directly impact our subject’s garments if they lean toward black (underexposed) or white (overexposed) tones.

Basically, normal human skin-tone rests closer to an 18-percent gray tone reflectance and when we expose for the skin tone, darker fabrics will photograph darker and lighter fabrics will photograph lighter when it comes to the final image if the photographer doesn’t take corrective measures. A simple corrective measure is to use V-flats.  V-flats are easily made for studio use by taking two 4- by 8-foot foam core boards and taping them together on their longest side.  The best foam core boards are the ones that come black on one side and white on the other side, thus making them reversible for more efficient use.  These gaffer-taped boards are called “V-flats” because they can be placed and adjusted to form a “V” that allows them to stand up without additional light stands or supports.  The V-flat is placed as close as to the subject as possible, but outside the camera frame.

For example, if a photographer had to photograph a bride in her white-gown, the V-flats, with the black surface facing the subject, would be placed on each side of the bride, thus the photographer would have two sets (four foam core boards total) two on each side of V-flats for the subject.  The black adds black tone into the wedding dress by reflecting at least 10-percent black onto the dress.  Some photographers will call this subtractive lighting.  California Sunbounce makes black on one side and white on the other side fabrics for their Sunbounce Pro (4- by 6-foot) frame, which makes for greater portability than a sturdy foam core board and the Sunbounces can be mounted on C-stands easily.  This is a great solution for on-location photography, especially when working on the beach where sand and water act as an additional reflector and foam core boards will deteriorate with moisture.

If a photographer has to deal with a subject, such as the groom, wearing black, especially when the background is black, then either by using a California Sunbounce Pro, white-side out, or V-flats, white-side out, the white surface would reflect light back into the black garments, thus bringing out more detail in the darker fabric.  While this technique is great for bringing out detail in your subject’s clothes, you can also use this technique when photographing dark or light colored animals, such as dogs or cats, or perhaps even a white rabbit.

This technique, though using smaller foam-core boards, is very helpful when trying to bring out detail in a subject’s hair, like the blonde hair of Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough on my first book cover, “Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple.”  Basically, small black cards were placed around her hair to form a tent of black reflectors to put detail in her much lighter hair since we exposed for her darker skin.  Another concept for using black cards is in jewelry photography.  While most photographers will use a “white tent” to illuminate their diamonds, adding small black cards close to the jewelry will help bring out the diamond facets, thought this is tricky as the photographer must still bring light around the diamond while keeping the miniature black cards out of camera frame.

The key to all these types of photography, bridals, glamour, pet or jewelry is to place your black or white cards as close to your subject as possible, but out of camera frame.  It’s all about the 90-percent rule of reflectance reminding you about what you’re photographing and that the human mind uses brain and psychology perception to help us see differently than a digital camera, as digital cameras capture detail based on physic rules that pertain to light and reflectance, thus the mind compensates while the camera does not.  Well that’s it for now, but please don’t forget our troops, their families and friends as they make the ultimate sacrifices so we can enjoy our freedoms.  God Bless!  Rolando

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