Contender: Martin Christopher

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Copyright © Martin Christopher

Photographer:
Martin Christopher

Where are you based?
New Smyrna Beach, Florida

When did you take the photograph?
February 17, 2007

What equipment did you use?
Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/n, Nikon 85mm ƒ/1.4, Calumet Travelite 750

Please describe how you got this photo?
I shot this photograph on location at a high-end salon in the Phoenix metro area. It was one of a series of photos made for the salon's advertising campaign. Using Calumet Travelite 750 mono lights, I set up a modified clamshell with a 24-inch softbox below and a white Calumet 17-inch Sunlight Reflector above. I like the reflector instead of a softbox because of the extra shine I achieve in the hair. I added more highlights using a Travelite 750 with a 7-inch reflector and honeycomb grid high and from behind the subject's right side. Finally, a fourth Travelite head added gradation to the white wall used as my background.

Did you use any special techniques?
As always on this type of assignment, I shot tethered to a MacBook Pro so the client could see the work as it was made. The final image was processed from its RAW file using Lightroom, then fine-tuned in Photoshop. I later enhanced the image further using onOne Software's Perfect Presets in various layers.