10:30am: With Hayley ready, we start to shoot. Using flash to freeze her movement, we get some dramatic shots of the famous cloak billowing up as she steps forward. The shot is difficult to get in focus, though, because of all the movement.
We have been shooting all week on a brand new Hasselblad H3D-31 digital camera. The one (and only) problem with this camera is the single central focus point – from experience you can forget manual focus in these situations. We are shooting a full-length shot and getting a sharp focus on Hayley’s face is hard. We persevere though and eventually we seem to get into a rhythm and get the timing just right for she to be on the right spot at the right time.
12:30pm: It is habit for me not to stop and sit down to eat lunch, much to the annoyance of my assistants. Ironically whilst everyone else sits down to eat we prepare the second shot: the Widow at a dinner party.
This shot has the potential to be particularly tricky as we are going to mix tungsten light and flash to create a warm feel to the shot. To start with we must black out any daylight so we can fully control the light inside. With this done we create a soft overall light, to which we then add some detail lights to pick out the model. With the lights set we get Hayley in and try various positions for the props on the table, to create an authentic feel to the scene.
What I really like about this shot is that the Widow looks right at the camera. She addresses the viewer, rather than appearing as a distant character in a landscape. This has been one of my aims with the pictures, to try and show the Widow in situations she hasn’t been seen in before, and to develop her character a little.
4:00pm: With the second shot complete we move out into the garden. Being in such a beautiful house it would be a shame not to make use of everything available to us. With the sun dropping in the sky and a little bit of cloud cover we have some nice daylight to work with.
We set up at the end of the garden, using the house as a backdrop, and with just some daylight and reflectors we get a great shot of the Widow having afternoon tea. And just in the nick of time too as rain clouds have gathered to spoil the party.
5:30pm: While we pack up and get the cars loaded, my assistant starts to make a backup of all of the files from the day’s shoot. It’s another hour before we are packed up and ready to leave.
8pm: I arrive home after helping to return the camera and lighting kit to the rental company. Curiosity means that I sit up until 9pm looking at the day’s shots and I select some favourites to process the next day. Eventually (and after a large drink) I find myself nodding off in front of the screen. A peaceful end to what has been a hectic, but hugely enjoyable, few weeks.
