Seascape fashion photography

In this photography class Karl and the team battled fierce winds and outgoing tides as they photographed a series of fashion shots on location.

For this image, Karl and the team headed to a nearby beach to photograph a dramatic fashion image of their model stood in stormy seas. To create the final photo, Karl used a long exposure to capture motion in the waves, combined with a fast flash duration to freeze the model.

This class covers how to use slow shutter speeds together with fast flash duration, as well as how to adjust exposure for changing light conditions using filters. You’ll also see how Karl worked closely with his team, ensuring clear communication throughout to ensure a successful shoot.

In this class you will learn:

  • How to shoot fashion photography on location
  • How to use fast flash duration with slow shutter speeds
  • Techniques for controlling exposure in changing light conditions
  • How to use filters to adjust exposure
  • Studio lighting for photographing on location
  • Working with a team in difficult conditions

More information about the concepts covered in this course can be found at the relevant links below.

If you have any questions about this class, please post in the comment section below.

For this shoot, we knew we would be facing tough weather conditions, which meant we had to carefully plan the shoot before going out and doing it. Clothing for the team was one consideration, as well as what lighting modifiers and packs would withstand the wind, sea spray and rocky footing.

fashion photography on location

It was necessary to make several changes to the lighting throughout the shoot due to the changing weather conditions.

Once on location, the shoot required clear communication with the team. With rapidly changing lighting conditions, it was necessary to make several changes throughout the shoot, including the position, placement and power of the lighting. Filters were also used to control the lighting and had to be regularly cleaned to remove sea spray.

Photography filters

Filters were used to control the light and had to be cleaned regularly to remove sea spray.

The final image was achieved using a long exposure time to capture motion in the waves, while a fast flash duration was used to freeze the model still. This combination of techniques can be difficult to master, and it’s necessary to first have an understanding of flash duration, exposure balance and shutter speeds.

Seascape fashion photo

The final seascape fashion image.

Comments

  1. For sale, a couple of slighty used salty Para 88s. Wow! What a challenging shoot. Great job to you and your entire team and model. Thomas

    1. Ha Ha thank you, yes but they wash well with the hose. These same Paras were also drenched in our Fashionscape shooting in Iceland and they’ve have stood the test of time with air miles, weather, water and dust and many collapses!

    1. Hi thank you so much yes this was a great personal project and idea that I’d been thinking of fro a long time. But as always with these type of shoots it required a great team effort.

  3. Man, I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a photography Legion of Merit but, if there is, the folks holding those two Paras earned it on this shoot!

    Kudos! And, as usual, great video series. No one does it better, Karl.

    1. Using first curtain gives the model visual queue, to hold for the 3 to 4 seconds necessary to make the shot.

    2. Hi Alex, I can’t see that it would make any difference in this situation as my main subject isn’t moving anywhere.

  7. Having just come across this I’m a bit late with the comment, but what a fantastic show.

    I’ve worked with a team in similar harsh conditions just filming as opposed to photographing, which I think is easier as it doesn’t involve that ‘stay still, stay still, don’t move’….

    Karl, even though on days like that everyone just wants to skiddaddle back home, I really hope your wallet took a big hit at the bar that evening. They deserved it !!! 🙂

  11. Great image!! Fantastic job!
    Karl, what color temperature did you use? Im asking because you had the flash, ND filter and cloudy weather. Thank you 🙂

  13. Hi Karl,

    Amazing work…as always. One question: what ISO setting were you shooting with? I am guessing 100. The second question: could you have dropped it to 50 to avoid using the ND filters?

    Cheers,

    Jorge.

  15. What focal length were you shooting at? Also, could elaborate more on how you chose the composition and relative distances between camera, subject, and landscape elements? I have a 24mm, 50mm, and 100mm prime for full frame. I was out out at a local bay scouting for a composition to bring a model out to try this technique. It was a big struggle finding a frame I could visualize bring a model into.

    1. Hi Phillip I was using a 35-90 zoom lens at 60mm on a medium format camera so this would be equivalent to about 40mm on 35mm format.

  16. Amazing image!
    Applause for the collective effort. Guys, you could work as sailors, as well, if you want 🙂

  22. Fabulous Karl. Take my hat off to you and the crew for working in those conditions. I would be nervous about even taking a GoPro near those waves haha. Thanks.

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