Photographer = Juli Balla
Client: Holeproof Print Ad
Ad Agency: Clemener
Campaign: Woman walking along in corporate attire and she looks at herself in a window seeing her dressed in her hole-proof underwear.
Final art work:
Final art work will be posted when made public
I spent 2 days assisting Sydney based tog Juli Balla. I’ve worked with her a couple of times now and everytime is a huge learning curve. Check out her folio. You’ll see that she has worked with some of the biggest brands, mostly fashion. She expects a lot from her assistants, as most photographers at this level would. Her style is very inspiring to me. There are lots of multilayered shots, heavily themed. Some of her sexualized themes/photos are a bit disturbing but would be so much fun to do.
Both days were about 10 hours long. I spent 95% of this on my feet and being at full alert. Her lighting and attention to detail I would say is very exact. This is a common trend with tog’s at this level. For example in this shoot, we spent about 45-60 mins setting up the first shot, (3 lights and a mirror) then 15 mins with a stand in model (assistant), then another 15 mins tweaking lighting on the actual model (in set). In summary, a lot of work, pushing, pulling, lights to get the scene perfect.
Highlights
- Shooting on a Hasselbald system, with a phase one P30 digi back.
- 3 lights, the main one being a Profoto Fresnel Spot, hired from Sun Studio.
- Juli always has lots of diffuser cloths and gels in her kit. All the lights on this campaign were softened in some manner.
- She always uses cutters to shield from (flash) flare but also expects you to put up cutters between her and any other distracting lights, such as windows.
- On location, safety is a first. Usually always there are 2 assistants on location work. This 1st location was a busy atrium in a large building on Collins st, Melb cbd. I had to gaffer lots of extention cords to the ground that ran across open spaces. The security were uneasy at first but came around. We had special permission to shoot here, which never is allowed.
This shows 3 lights - 1 out window. Juli on left with cam.
in b/g = showing model in position infront of mirror. in foreground = shows digi operator. Camera shoots straight to the computer
Lighting set up - in studio shooting reflection of model