Community Relations #projecteducate week for
The Pinup & Glamour Galleries:

_{Due to the nature of these Galleries this Feature, and all submitted for Pinup & Glamour #projecteducate Week, are rated as Mature Content}

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Interview with lenron

Hi *lenron, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, I've been around photography my entire life.  My father has been a pro shooter, mainly portraits but also lots of varied subject matter, for over 40 years.   After years and years of being an assistant for my dad and his shooting partners, and photography just being a "given" for so long, I decided about a decade ago to capitalize on all I already knew and start shooting on my own.  Oh, but in general, I'm a 35 year old, married father of 3 - and I adore them all!  

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What camera and lenses do you use?
I shoot with a gripped Canon 7D and 10D.  I also keep a 1000D on hand for candids or "junk shots" as I call it, when I want to be fast and sketchy intentionally.   Lenses, I have my fave trio: 70-200 4.0L, 17-40 4.0L and of course the old standby, my 50 1.4, which is probably my favorite lens of all time for lots of reasons.  

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Do you have any other equipment that you couldn’t do without?
Did I mention my 50 1.4?    I tend to bring too much gear to every shoot, but if I had to pick an item, or two, that were too vital to not have on-hand it would be my 580EXII and 550EX (and by extension, my old 380EX too).   I actually don't use my speedlites very often, but they have been crucial in times where I didn't expect to need additional light and had no strobe units with me.  I am starting to use them more as the 7D makes it so much easier to work with the 580 and 550 as OCF's, and that is huge for me.  Even then, I still prefer my strobes when I know I am going to need lighting at a shoot.  But I wouldn't go to any shoot ever without my speedlites in the bags.



What lighting techniques do you favour?
I wouldn't say "favour", but I do tend to overuse a few. haha.   I rim light almost every time, which I love the look of far too much, if I'm honest.  I actually seldom use an intentional fill - most of my studio glamour work is set up as "key + rim + rim + bkgd" = 4 strobes.  I equally use "key + rim + bkgd + whereverthehellelseIcanthrowastrobeforfun" too.     I don't spend much time worrying about Rembrandt styles or really too much consideration of ratios and all that - I sorta just feel it out and create it as I go.  Well, if I'm honest, yes I do consider the old standard technical things that, I guess, you should consider when lighting a subject and/or set - but I literally give a second or two to it then adjust and tweak as I start to feel out what I am trying to do.  Hell, sometimes I just set the lights on gut instincts, shoot some tethered tests and go with it.  Sometimes it's gold, sometimes it's junk.  Then I adjust.  I don't like to waste time getting lighting "right", but I also don't go at random either.  I don't know, it's a more organic process for me - less maths and more inspired moments - though sometimes inspiration just leads to a train wreck.  
  
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are your favourite things about Pinup & Glamour?
For me, glamour is about capturing sensuality and fun without being trashy.   Any idiot can get a model semi or fully naked, oil them down, and snap some shots.  Voila, you have softcore porn.  Congratulations.  

I am not remotely prudish, but I don't go for the "sex" aspect of glamour as my lead in; if I can capture a sexy image that makes the viewer think beyond "mmmm, half naked chicks", then I think I've accomplished my goal.  

I never try to tiptoe around the subject that glamour photography is mostly about sexuality, sensuality and visual appeal.  Anyone who tells you that glamour shooting is "a wholly artistic expression for conveying your emotional triumphs and tragedies through your art without the constraints of "selling sex" and devoid of the hindrances of the human sex drive" is a bogus pinhead.  

While it CAN BE absolutely artistic, glamour photography - to me - is never about taking yourself too seriously.  It's about beauty, sexiness, visual appeal, strong subject elements, color! (for me), and otherwise having fun.  Not "silly ha ha" fun, but more like "sitting in a posh hotel room, on the balcony.  Enjoying a fine rum on ice.  On vacation.  In Puerto Rico.  For 4 weeks.  With your gorgeous wife."   That's my kind of fun.

(I don't just strive for the glamour style all the time, of course, and I do try to shoot "serious" conceptual works quite often.)



What’s the most impressive place that you’ve photographed?
I seldom focus on locations, as you can imagine!   I actually have some impressive locales coming up later this year - looking much forward to those.  



Who would be your ultimate subject to photograph?
Call me hopelessly romantic, but my wife.   We've shot together for a decade now - it's always so comfortable and perfect when we shoot.  It's what I look forward to the most actually. (she is on dA as ~nichellelayne )



Who are your favourite photographers?
Certainly `Davenit, for sure, but also the standards like Ansel Adams, and I do love Annie L (mostly).  In recent times, Jaime Ibarra stands out as one of my faves because he does exactly what I don't do, brilliantly.  Gosh, so many others...



What (or who?) is your biggest inspiration?
My father, of course.  But also my wife, here again she is a huge part of what I do so, really my main inspiration comes from those close to me.

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What do you think is the most important thing to keep in mind when photographing Pinup & Glamour?
Class.   If you keep it classy, keep it fun, never have an ego about you, never take yourself too seriously, and allow yourself to just be real, whatever that may be for you...you will get better shots.  You  may be capturing "sexy fun" or "sexy serious" or "SEX", but whatever you DO and whoever you ARE makes your shots what they are - no amount of equipment or beautiful models can help you if you aren't true to yourself.  

And seriously, I loathe egotistical glamour shooters, and there are way too many out there - WTF guys?  Really?  Yes, you photograph models.  Fine.  But lose the ego, dig?  No one is impressed but you and your lame entourage of pervy flunkies.  Pathetic.  /rant



What advice would you give to someone looking to start in Pinup & Glamour Photography, or to get the best from the Genre?
Can't say it enough - be the nice guy / girl behind the camera.  Freaking enjoy it and convey that to your models.  Whether it's a client or a model you are working a trade shoot with, if you take yourself too seriously (or be a total creep, douchebag or ass-hat) you will just make enemies, and not a future.  Besides, the conservative types out there are going to call you a pornographer regardless, so why add to your enemies list by being an ass?   Really, technical stuff aside, being an all around easy going, fun person helps tremendously when shooting pinup and glamour.  Says me.  

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Thanks to *lenron!

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