This was a corker of a job! The mandate, visually, was power and action, and the subtext was showing the highly accurate auto-focus system of the new Nikon D850. Long lens approach, using the 200-400mm f4.
It was a lighting challenge to be sure. We were in open shade conditions, under the forest canopy, so, if I lit just the runners, they would be charging out of blackness. Context is important here. So, the first step was to light the forest, which was done largely by deploying an array of Profoto B-4 units in the way back of the photo. All were gelled warm to connect a bit, color-wise, with the very large bonfire we set up in the background of the muddy stream area we chose to work.
The lead light up front was a Profoto B-1, boomed out overhead of the runners, and firing through a gridded beauty dish. In addition, the runners are charging through a gauntlet of SB-5000 Speedlights, on each side of the creek, again gelled, and controlled from camera via the WR-R10 wireless transmitter. The whole setup took about 5-6 hours to create.
It was a bit hectic. Over on our YouTube channel, we launched a BTS video which shows some light placements, etc. To play video here: https://youtu.be/TTv8wtQ4ZNk
Additionally, we threw up a 12′ silk in the late afternoon light, and commandeered an old climbing wall as a backdrop, and shot portraits of our wonderful endurance athletes in the aftermath of the mud bath they had been running through all day. These woman were amazing, resilient, and tough, and obviously were the key to the whole picture.
Below, Lynn DelMastro, our executive producer, chips in a paragraph with credits and the producer’s perspective on a shoot like this……
This shoot was a blast to cast and fun to produce! Fabulous connection Janine Calise led me to the legendary Joe Ferrini, who set us up at his Tuff Scramblers obstacle course location. The talent consisted of well trained female athletes, all of whom had experience competing in these kinds of races: Candice Peak, Christina Morris, Chrystal Thiebedau, Dani Bryan, Perri Lauren, Sarah Wakeman, and Shelbye Schlange. Our warrior women knocked it out!
More tk…..
No matter what, Joe can light everything. Must be fun to setup 5-6 h in the mud :-O
Wow, great photo! Especially the group shot (of course!). And “5-6 hours to create”… must have been fun to experiment with all the nice equipment. Keep up the good work! Very inspirational! By the way, I’m once again enjoying “The Moment it Clicks” right now . One of the few books I actually have read more than only one time. 🙂 A timeless classic for me.
Genius work! Always raising the bar.
Joe, excellent work as always. When you say bonfire, do you rally mean a bonfire! Or is that done somehow with lighting!
Many thanks! Glad you have enjoyed the book. It was fun to write….
Amazing photography,excellent work of art by joe.photography is priceless
Hey someone check this https://goo.gl/Hj3LDo
You are my hero! These pix are great!
Excellent work Joe as always. Agreed with Rudy “No matter what, Joe can light everything.”
Superb! Good job, Nikon D850 🙂
Really stunning job this light ! camera and mud . I liked this creation and feel impressed . Continue sharing such creative post .
A superb job was done here by Joe, Good capture plus a good sense of editing that converts a photograph into a masterpiece. Love your work JOE.
What a moment! What a click! A great job is done, it seems professional photography and editing also. Love it!
superb! good job
Nice Photography
Amazing photo! Especially the group shot (of course!). And “5-6 hours to create”… must have been fun to experiment with all the nice equipment. Keep up the good work! Very inspirational! By the way, I’m once again enjoying “The Moment it Clicks” right now .
Awesome..glad you are enjoying!
Wonderful photo! Extraordinary of mud photography that’s really very enjoying. Great work done.
Thank you, Anjel!
As always, you do an excellent job. Do you really mean a bonfire when you say bonfire! Is that done somehow with lighting?
Hey Delwar….we did a lot of lighting back there, the orange glow is from a big ass fire, set under controlled conditions!
Well and very experinced photo.