thomasholmphoto

Art and fashion with Zoi

The first two images were shot with a Lomo Petzval using a shift/tilt lens that allows twisting of the focal area. Lighting is a direct lamp diffused through a 5-in-one popup modifier.

The next three are from a workshop where I was demonstrating how to create fashion nudes with natural light. So, direct sunlight or available light by placing the model in the shade.

Which of these two sets appeal the most to you, and why?

Sylph Sia on the chain gang

This is from an abandoned soap factory, which, unfortunately, is now cordoned off as it’s falling apart. I only got to shoot there once, with Australian Sylph Sia.

When I go in a place like this, I look for exciting features, like the chain, and then I see if I can make the light work, and it certainly did here.

Tanias Bath BTS

Short iPhone BTS with Tania Aresti in a bathtub.

Tanias' bath

Here is a set with Tania Aresti in the Lake District. I had rented an Airbnb house with this bathtub (one of the reasons why I rented it). After taking several outdoor shots with Tania, she was cold. So I suggested we make a shoot in a hot bathtub.

You would not imagine the amount of enthusiasm :D

The light is entirely from the window behind the bathtub.

The main things to look out for are to have excellent light on the face of the model and to look out for unsavory shadows....

An exception

I generally don’t like to light models from two sides, and in this case, the model is standing in a window alcove that wraps around on three sides:

The backlight on light from the left is more or less from the same angle, but the light from the right opposes that. In this case, I can (mentally) justify it as it is a natural environment where you can perceive that there is probably a window, so it still seems realistic.

But had I had a black flag or some black karton, I would rat...

Just a blouse

It's an oldie with an anonymous model.

I’m totally in love with the first image; the cheekiness in the model's expression is priceless.

Lighting combines a direct lamp (which creates a hard shadow) and a massive 7’ umbrella to open the shadows. It’s not the most thought-through lighting; it works great on the face but less so near her arm/buttocks.

Oval exhibition

This is from a private workshop I did in Scotland in a vast mansion. Shooting this is almost as easy as it gets: Beautiful interior room backlit with wrap-around windows and a gorgeous model. What more do you want?

There is a lot of Bonus material on Discord for the Photographers and Vault tiers.

Don't know how to connect your Patreon with Discord (or set up a Discord)?

2024-02-20 15:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Love me or leave me

And Old favorite with Victoria Alieko. She’s an experienced erotic model, but she also wanted to do some more artsy stuff. This is from a medium silver umbrella above the camera and placing her close to a background roll.

CB shibari

This model has gone through something of a transformation lately:

When we first talked, she would only shoot implied nudes. I declined as I generally find it too limiting unless the model is very experienced.

Then she said she would do topless but would like to cover her genitals with tape during the shoot. I declined again, but mostly because I do not want to shoot with someone I’m not confident will appreciate doing it. And I had a feeling she might regret doing the shoot late...

Shruti and the body chain BTS

BTS for the shoot with Shruti

Shruti in chains

I came across this model by accident and was intrigued by her look.

We have few women of color in Denmark, and as you say, “the neighbor's grass is always greener.”

We set up a shoot, but she was one of the models dealing with everything other than the photoshoot (texts, phone calls, keeping up with social media) and was generally not very present from a mental point of view.

I don’t know exactly what’s going on in her life, but I remember wanting to finish the shoot...

Shady Eros BTS

Shady Eros

In Lanzarote with Wiana, we shot the Art Nude on Location: Mastering natural light. I was careful not to make the movie scenes focus on eroticism. But since both she and I like to shoot more erotic stuff, it did happen a few times that I yelled, “Cut. And now let’s do the erotic version.”

This is from one of those times.

I can work with pretty much anybody (as in, I can adapt and get good pictures with just about anyone.)

But I prefer to work with people like Wiana, wh...

BTS with Katya Clover in the crack

Clover in a crack

This is one of those that almost got away:

Some years ago, I visited Kullaberg with Katya Clover. 

We shot many different images, but I particularly like this one as it deviates from her “normal” look. I can’t explain exactly why, but there is something with the contrast between the look on her face and the pose that conflicts and to see to show another sliver of her personality.

And I think if I can capture a bit of a woman’s personality, the images become so m...

Herodiade

I don’t think I ever will tire of seeing images of this Italian powerhouse of a woman.

Sunlight and reflected light from the balcony. There is a bit of a Helmut Newton feel to this: He was one of the pioneers of strong women in advertising.

Sofa Availability

I’m not one to reveal a model’s age, but I was flabbergasted when she told me.

This is another example of why having skill and style pays off:

Grace 108x doesn’t currently model, but like Daniella, she was keen on visiting and shooting over a few days.

Because she likes the way I portray women as sensual beings, and she wanted to see what I could do with her.

Very reflected and a joy to work with.

Daniella Carter on a Box.

I guess this is one of the perks of specializing in shooting nudes and having excellent technique and edit skills: Daniella Doesn’t shoot nudes, as her perception is too many photographers would not be good at it, and therefore, she doesn’t want to shoot nudes.

But she liked my images and asked if I would shoot her if she traveled to Denmark.

The light here is a 57" Zellelin with a diffuser and a softgrid. In fact, the setup is almost similar to the shoot yesterday.

Marble on a stool

The Gorgeous Ashleigh Rae is doing her thing on a chair.

It’s such a pleasure working with professional models who are used to posing. 

Ashleigh had never shot nude before but was intrigued, but she quickly worked it out and adapted.

Light is a 57” Zeppelin from the left, a flag on top to restrict too much light from the background, and a couple of big black flags on the right, providing negative fill and, thus, clean shadows.

From above so below

The Endless Sinner is doing her thing. This series will have more, but I wanted to give you a preview.

I experimented with the light here since I had just acquired a boom a few days before.

So I mounted a lamp head with a 2’ octobox with a grid, put it above, and had the model lean back.

This way, I can constrict the light to a small area and use this to accentuate the model.

I did, of course, do some additional dodging and burning.

The cigar box

Depani Malika chillin’ in a phone booth set up in a washing room on a film set.

The light in there is so lovely.

Fanny by request

One of my Patrons asked if I had more images with Fanny Muller, so I dug up the archives, and the answer, as you can see, is YES, I did indeed.

Some are duos with Carina Casa; I hope you don’t mind.

The first was shot at a rental studio in Budapest called Flashback, including some on their roof terrace, and the last four in a previous studio of mine:

The elevator shots were lit with a large matte silver Balcar umbrella straight over the camera, so it has a ring-light feel....

Siren at work

Belzen model conjures up a storm so she can lure unsuspecting sailors ashore.

Well, not really, but as you can see on the rocks, we did encounter some rain on this shoot (and ended up waiting in a cave for the rain to stop more than once.

Honey on the stairs

Miss Birdette AND Nausicaa Yami in an exquisite lingerie set - from Honey Birdette. This was shot with a combination of ambient light and a Profotoo B10 with an umbrella to light the model slightly. For these, the lamp is closer to the camera than in the BTS picture.

D Genvievre's back

The gorgeous D Genvievre in my studio chair. I can modify how the daylight strikes the model by tinkering a little with the blinds in my studio. This is precisely the same place and light as yesterday's set. But it’s vastly different regarding the quality of light.

I’ve always found that experimentation and looking closely at iterations when you modify light is the way forward.

If you look at an image and ask yourself, “Is this good,” many factors can play in.

But if...

Claras' see through top

Clara Sinclair brought this beautiful transparent blouse, and I thought it would suit my vintage sofa well, so we shot a set with that. Somehow, having a little clothing makes the set more sexy/erotic, I think. But I can certainly live with that.

The light is ambient light from a cloudy day coming through the windows on the right in my studio. It’s interesting how much a rug makes a set like this seem natural, isn’t it?

Fencing

This is an older shoot from the first time I was shooting at Arsenic:

They reached out and, upon learning I was coming to LA, offered me to use their house in Los Feliz. They also offered to gather some models for me, and I ended up with Krissondra, Channon, Daniella Smith, and Kim Stroher. Amazing team.

The light's soft, beautiful quality is due to a bit of cloud drifting over LA that day.

As a photographer, you play the cards you are played. When you can’t change the lig...

Moroccan Bathroom BTS

Here is a birds eye view of the shot in the Moroccan bathroom. The full edited movie can be found in the Art Nude on Location course

Moroccan bathroom

In April last year, Wiana and I went to Lanzarote to shoot Art Nude on Location: Mastering Natural Light.

One of your Patrons requested more images from this shoot done in a confined space of a small bathroom, and I am happy to comply. These were shot with a 24-70mm zoom, mostly between 24-35mm at ƒ 3.2-4 in available light from a window...

Rococo lighting

This style is such a classic for me:

A bit of sunlight streaming in through a window hits a wall, creating a central framing for a model - and some exciting shadows to add depth.

The ambient light from the sky and a reflector behind the camera open up the shadows just enough to see details around the light frame.

The Model is Daniella Carter.