Review 1: Creative Glamour: Martin Smith
INDEPENDENT REVIEW:
Two-DVD set; total running time approx.130 minutes
"without realising it you have been treated to a wealth of practical advice"
This two-DVD set falls into the ‘here’s how it’s done by an experienced pro’ category. Its principal component is a series of nine completely different glamour shoots – all in a studio. Among them are a modern take on a pre-Raphaelite-style semi-nude theme, an available light shoot in a store room, a dungeon setting, a shower set and a model shrouded in wet drapes, while at the more expansive end of the scale is a shoot in an industrial workshop setting complete with scaffolding poles and an angle grinder as props, and another which shows a model convincingly climbing the wall of a Manhattan skyscraper. (Though at the risk of giving the game away with that last-named sequence, it’s an optical illusion. It was shot in Cheltenham.)
The presentation of each shoot follows a pattern. Firstly, we are shown how each set is put together and how the scene is to be lit; we are then shown the shoot itself, and that is followed by a review of the resultant pictures and a diagrammatic explanation of the set and the lighting. Presenter/photographer Simon Walden talks us through each stage, explaining his choice of lighting and shooting angles and discussing the pros and cons of various alternatives. We hear him directing the models during the shoot, and he also explains various tricks of the trade relevant to each sequence.
Other sections of the DVD include Simon’s suggestions for finding inspiration for photographs, his ideas for playing with stereotypes (a model wearing lingerie in a junk room? Why not?), a look at various items of studio lighting and accessories, and there’s also an invaluable contribution from the models explaining what they expect from a photographer during a shoot. Incidentally, the three models featured are familiar faces to us NM folk: Holly (Ivory Flame), Rebecca (Rebecca08) and Laura (Summer30).
So that’s a very potted description of the DVD’s contents. But how did it score with this reviewer?
The photographer/presenter Simon Walden has had years of experience at the top end of commercial and glamour photography so he has a deep fund of knowledge to pass on. He does this in a deceptively laid-back manner. It is as if he is having an informal chat with you over a cup of tea – he quietly encourages you, never talking down, and almost without realising it you have been treated to a wealth of practical advice. For me, the lack of tub-thumping or ‘sit down and be lectured’ was a major plus point.
Although a couple of the sets featured in the DVD might not be practical for those of us who have only modest facilities in which to work, they – and all the other sets – should provide plenty of inspiration for all of us. As the commentaries with each shoot – the nut and bolt ‘watch-this-and-see-exactly-how-it-was-done’ explanations – have been very well considered and are presented in a commendably user-friendly manner, one can easily work out how to achieve the effects one requires. Indeed, the credo throughout the DVD is not for you to slavishly copy what Simon Walden is doing, but to use his experience as a springboard for your own ideas.
Not wishing to depart from the best traditions of reviewers, I have a couple of minor criticisms. One is that, while the section which looks at various items of studio lighting and accessories was useful, I feel that it might have been even clearer – especially for those unfamiliar with studio-standard gear – if each item of lighting was shown in use with a model. Another little gripe is purely personal: there are a few brief sequences in which the (video) camera slowly pans along the length of a model’s body. To me, that came across a little ‘Baywatch-ish’ – a little out of place in a DVD such as this.
"It’s not a ‘watch once and put it in the cupboard’ DVD"
Those minor gripes apart, this is an excellent DVD. The use of the word ‘creative’ in the title of this DVD is wholly appropriate. It’s not a ‘watch once and put it in the cupboard’ DVD. I have watched it several times and, each time, I have found very useful snippets of advice – sometimes about lighting, sometimes about techniques – which I had missed during the previous viewings. To borrow a slogan from a certain newspaper: I never knew there was so much in it. Unhesitatingly recommended for anyone with an interest in quality glamour photography.
(I am advised that three additional DVDs are already in production, the first – about fine art nude – being scheduled for release in about four weeks time. Finally, I must emphasise that I have no connection with Simon Walden or Film Photo Academy so this is a totally independent and unbiased review.)
Martin Smith
Review 2: Creative Glamour: Guild of Erotic Artists
"particularly well presented and informative"
Creative Glamour is produced by FilmPhotoAcademy and is one of a series of discs produced around themes such as Creative Nude and Fine Art Nude.
Each DVD is presented by Simon Walden - an award winning, published and exhibited, Cheltenham based, professional photographer. As a presenter, Walden is clear, articulate, softly but confidently spoken and enthusiastic about his craft; he keeps you watching.
Claimed to be directed towards the art side of glamour photography and not the ‘lad’s mag look’, this 2 disc set features nine studio bound themes entitled: Industrial Hot and Sweaty, Shower Scene, Blue Drapes, Kitchen Peek, Corridor, Off the Wall, Glamour Fashion, Chained Up and Wet Drape. There are also chapters offering advise on Where to Find Inspiration, Finding Models and more technical themes such as Studio Lighting Equipment w hich also covers the use of lighting attachments such as barn doors, brollies, snoots, reflectors and how best to use a flash meter. Aside from the technical aspects of a shoot there is advice on communicating with models, directing them during a shoot and keeping the energy alive.
Each section follows a pattern; a brief montage of the set being created followed by the shoot itself, a review of the resultant images and a detailed breakdown of the lighting used. This last section is particularly well presented and informative and is worth the cost of the DVD alone.
There are some extra features listed in the DVD menu but, given a glitch on the preview disc, I couldn’t gain access to them on any of the players on which I tried to view them, so I cannot comment upon them.
The website has extra material to go with each DVD, including some well thought out lighting plans for each themed shoot – this is a welcome addition and added value.
"fun to watch and informative"
This particular title does try to make a distinction between ‘glamour’ and ‘creative glamour,’ which I did find a little bit strained and tenuous, but it is fun to watch and informative and many of the skills on display here can be transferred to other genre. I was a little uncomfortable with the way the camera lingered over the models at times, particularly the girl oiling up for a shot, as this did push it into voyeurism and out of place in an instructional DVD aimed away from the 'lads mag' audience.
There is a lot on offer to photographers, who would like to increase their knowledge of shooting in a studio, even though they might not consider themselves ‘glamour’ photographers – so don’t be put off by the title. Whilst similar material is on offer elsewhere – the strength of this series of DVD’s is entirely down to Walden and the enthusiastic and confident manner in which he delivers each set piece.
Review by Christopher John Ball
****Rating
Review 3: Creative Glamour: Jinx
"What a well thought out, tasteful, informative and inspiring DVD Simon has produced here."
When I received this DVD my first thought was 'when will I watch it?' I can't watch it when the kids are here, if I watch it late at night on my computer and someone sees me I won't live it down! Oh hell, what shall I do? Sod it I'll watch it this afternoon on the computer while I edit an album. That's was my big mistake of the day! Here was me thinking I'm about to watch 'Debbie does Photography' or 'Luscious Linda Gets Your Soft Box Hard' but it wasn't like that at all. What a well thought out, tasteful, informative and inspiring DVD Simon has produced here. I could have watched this anytime with no worries about looking somewhat 'dodgy' at all.
The main theme of this DVD is about the idea or concept behind getting the final image. My first thought when receiving a glamour photography DVD is that it's going to be an excuse to make an amateur soft porn movie and also tell you how to turn your camera on and plug the light into the wall. Simon really talks about his thoughts when producing the image. What he wants to achieve from the image, whether it's to make the model look strong or vulnerable, contrast of the subject to the surroundings etc, he does show that there is a lot of thought that goes into each image he produces. He explains how he wants the final image to look and then goes through the setup of the scene and the lighting that was used to create the image. Some of the images are using studio backgrounds and some are on location. You then see him work with the model taking the photos. Simon knows how to work with the models and compose a great image.
One thing to mention here is that if your looking for a DVD that will show you the basic technical side of photography don't think about buying this one. It's more of a DVD for the intermediate to advanced photographer. He talks about and shows you how to go from concept to finished image. He doesn't mention what F stop he's used either, he does however explain the lighting ratio which gives a good feel that he's talking to professional photographers rather than beginners.
Once he finishes the shoot he then shows you the images, a nice talk through about each image and why he's given a particular post production look to the image. He doesn't really go for any funky Photoshop work, I think he'd rather the images speak for themselves. He does make some images B&W or gives tones to the images and gives a good explanation as to why he has gone for a particular post production look. He does go into good detail about the 'art' side of photography which was quite interesting for me as I know how to take a photo (at least I think I do) but I want to know more about the artistic and creative side of photography rather than 'the rules'.
Once he's shown you all the images from the shoot he then draws a lighting diagram and talks through the lighting he used, a bit of a re-cap. It's worth buying the DVD just to see the way he draws each diagram for the lighting setup! Really nifty!
"for the money I think it's great value"
There are 9 shoots on the DVD altogether, each one talked through in good detail. And for the money I think it's great value as you'd usually get 2 or 3 shoots on a DVD and then have someone sat on a computer explaining the PP for an hour instead of talking about photography.
At the end of the DVD there is 20 minutes devoted to studio lighting and how to set it up. I really think Simon has added this just for beginners, which is fine, it does actually give a good explanation of each type of studio light modifier you can get. If you know how to setup studio light then this part can easily be skipped. But if your new to studio work then this is a good basic introduction to the equipment.
All in all a good DVD! Very easy to watch and very thought provoking. I'll look back on this DVD from time to time and just watch a single shoot every so often just to get the creative juices flowing. If you are looking to go into glamour photography and want to do it properly with some tasteful creativity then this DVD would well be worth watching. Also, if you know the basics and F stops are what you eat for breakfast and want to be more inspired rather than taught then give it a watch.