Moving water can allow you to create a number of moods, from artistic to very glamourous and sexy.

Lighting Diagram
Obviously the main concern is safety – mains-powered strobes and water do not mix. The strobes were positioned far enough away that if they fell they could not reach the water. They were also weighted down. They are also of course on full RCD trips.
The principal light is the honeycombed strobe on the left, the softbox on the right provides a little fill at a very low level.

My studio …

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Fine art nudes have a long tradition of putting the naked figure into all sorts of environments. You can either go complimentary, on this case
the contrasty, grotty and incongruity. The textures of the environment really setting off the figure.

Lighting Diagram
A single bare bulb strobe some distance away provides long shadows against the wall.

You can emphasise shape and form and repeat it through the use of shadows.

And always remember to break away from shooting square to the set, shoot along it, down it, above it – whatever …

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This image is about colour contrasts, the strong contrast between the red head and pink tones of flesh to the dark and light blues of the background.

Lighting Diagram
One key light fairly hard on the right with a softbox. Then a small snooted spot light creates a halo of brightness just on the background.

Notice how the difference in pose from the top image to this one completely alters the emotional content of the image, in the top image there is this strong, dynamic and powerful vision of beauty.
In the second …

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A strong woman presented in strong lighting and although clearly studio based a strong environment too.

Lighting Diagram
A softbox lights the front of the figure, a bare bulb behind and to the left provides rim light seperation from the background.

Same place, same light, but a shift in pose from strong to soft.

And then a sitting pose gives references back to many old images both photographic and painted.
Model: Rebecca Mitchell

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Glamour and costumes have been together forever, there is something about the costumed girl, whether its French Maid, School Ma’am, Policewoman or soldier.

Lighting Diagram
A hard light from right, with a little bit of a spot to the head from the snooted strobe on the left.

And if you are going to use the uniform, then use the props too. Of course Frued would tell you that everything is sexual – in fact I think “gun” was his first synonym for penis.
So, no need to be coy about it, of course …

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