It’s been a while since I’ve done a full blown, working comp, big stage commercial shoot. To say I was rusty is being kind. Now I never was really fast at it, often looked for small details that never really show up in the photo. Sharon worked hard and spent almost three years getting us the client so I wanted to deliver more than they expected. The client is AvFuel and the setting is kinda our home, Minot Aero Center. And the job is to show both AvFuel and MAC doing their daily thing. So with the comp and list in hand, I went to work. This top shot is pretty darn simple, business jet in front of the big, new hangar. To bring it home visually to Minot, shot it after a blizzard had gone through. Simple D4s / 24-70AFS click. Check that off the list.
The next shot might seem simple but it’s one the lawyers got involved with. The pumping of JetA must be done in a very precise way which means holding the nozzle correctly using the right stance, wearing the proper eye protection, ear protection, gloves, vest and even pants. After that, there is bringing in the client and location to the photo; the signs on the truck. The easiest part was the taking of the photo. Quick click with D4s / 24-70AFS and SB-910. Check #2 off the list.
Then came the interior shots. This particular image took three hours to arrange, five minutes to shoot. This is a brand new space at the MAC and the goal of the photo is to bring it to life. It’s the pilots lounge, rec and planning area. Everything you see in the photo except the pool table was staged for the shot. That includes the P-40 Warhawk and Jet out on the ramp, to tables, models, pool balls and even the water bottles with the MAC logo on them. Sharon in the back corner there even has her iPad plugged like she’s a pilot getting ready for the next flight. It was shot with the D4s / 24-70AFS and two Profoto B2 heads with Oct and 2×3 softboxes. The lighting was the challenge, had to light the entire set light and airy. The flash heads placed so you didn’t see their reflection in the windows yet lit it all. Now you can see why it took me three hours to set up and seconds to shoot. The thing that was really important was that I not only followed the comp but went beyond it and since the client was happy that was accomplished. How do I know they were happy? Invoice submitted for payment an hour after delivery of images. That’s always a good feeling! And me, looking for more not so much for the payday but to practice some dusty skills and get back what I had and move the ball forward!