Fritz Nordengren

Documentary Storyteller and Photojournalist

Cafe Studio 2020

A model poses in front of a red backdrop

A single frame: Why and how I captured this shot

Shooting a portrait for a magazine cover, I had just set and tested the lights. The studio for the day was a closed-campus cafe. As a cafe, the high ceilings and a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows offered a great midday atmosphere.

But the direct sun was too harsh for a photo shoot.

I walked to lower the blinds to darken the room as clouds covered the sun. I looked back at the set. The softened light through the windows now was perfect. So I killed the studio strobe remote and shot natural light.

I streamed the session to an iPad where the art director and editor could see images as they happened.

See more of my editorial work in my portfolio.

Details: Canon 5d MK4, 85mm

Comments

2 responses to “Cafe Studio 2020”

  1. jerrymennenga Avatar

    Always find it interesting to photograph a portrait at some locale, but then the locale is never seen and the image could have been taken in amy studio anywhere, USA. Unless other interior placed shots were used. Just curious.

    1. Fritz Nordengren Avatar

      Great point. I think we shot there because of a combination of location, student availability and Covid restrictions. But I totally agree, dedicated studios make life easier for all.