I was very excited today to learn that I'd won the title "Model Mayhem Photographer of the Week"!  MM is a great site, showcasing some truly excellent work, and while I'm definitely *not* the best photographer on there, it's a thrill to be even up with an award.

You can see my MM page here:  Richard on Model Mayhem

Just after New Year, Emma and I decided to run away to a lovely spa hotel for the weekend.  We got a suite for a bargain price as the place was pretty empty, and it was an amazing location in which to shoot.  As a change from fetish, we decided to try more of a fashion style, and I love the results.

I worked out a few new techniques in post-processing these shots, including a far more sophisticated approach to smoothing skin without losing its texture - I'm really excited about this one - and creating a more gritty look to some of the shots.  I also discovered  few things about turning photo on their head - this example looks very cool in landscape format, but there's something about the same image just rotated that makes it a bit more "wow".

There's a new album up - please take a look; I hope you like it!  (We couldn't resist a couple of nudes as well, of course :)

As some of you know, Club RUB has moved from its old venue near the Barbican, to a cool new space called the Lightbox in Vauxhall.  I've been incredibly busy the last few months and haven't made it to as many RUBs as I would like - but Emma & I will definitely be there on Saturday (20th Feb).  I also have a BIG new photo project on the cards, and I'll be casting models soon, so come and say hi if you're interested!

This is the set-up shot for the red car image in my previous blog post. 

You can see two small flashes (SB800s) punching through a large skylite panel camera right - my attempt to light the whole side of the car with a fairly diffuse light that still gives specular highlights.  There's a SB900 into softbox camera left onto the male model.  And finally an older flash, SB600 firing up into the doorway - without this the background looked very flat & underexposed.  But it was a bugger to fire cos I couldn't get line of sight with my IR trigger!  (SU800 for other Nikon users out there!).

If you look closely on the left of the photo, you can just see Emma waiting in the wings with a reflector panel for good measure!

I thought it might be of interest to show some of the before and after processing I apply, using one of the recent Club RUB shots.  The "before" shot is as it came straight out of the camera. 

Most of the hard work on the lighting front was done in the shoot itself... I had two Nikon speedlights (SB800) punching through a large skylite panel to the camera right, to light the whole side of the car.  There was a SB900 into softbox camera left onto the male model.  Finally I had a SB600 firing up into the doorway - and this was a bugger to fire, because I couldn't get line of sight with my IR trigger.

However the original image still lacks a little punch, and I needed to turn the car red!  Most of the post-processing was done using Nikon's excellent (but very buggy) CaptureNX2.  The Club RUB numberplate I created using PaintShopPro.  If you want details on the steps, let me know!

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I've been working with Kim from Club Rub (one of London's longest-running alternative clubs) and a range of fabulous models (including, of course, Emma!) to create a set of flyer images for the club.  I had to hold back on showing them, but they've now been released in printed form so I've finally been able to add a gallery with all 6 images! Check it out in the Gallery section.

I'm also going to try and add the setup shots for each image, so watch this space :)