I couldn't resist!

Sorry for the delay in posting--it's been a busy few weeks.

I was supposed to be there as lighting director and a support to my new student who was making her debut behind the camera. Luna was doing an anthropology project for a class at the University of Hawaii when she contacted me. She was to explore the culture of a field that was unknown--but of interest to her. She wanted to explore fashion photography. She assisted me on a few shoots and took a bunch of notes, but I felt that she needed to actually conduct a shoot for the project to be valid.

Luna took on the challenge and set out to find her first model. She found Esther. Esther was indeed very pretty, but she was as much of a novice at modeling as Luna was at professional photography. Hmmmm...new photographer working with a new model...could be a recipe for disaster!


It wasn't! Esther was a great sport as I made Luna make the tough decisions about the lighting (with a little guidance) and as she built the set. Luna did NOT make the classic first time photographer mistake--she did not freeze and take way too long between shots. She kept shooting and directing Esther (with some whispered directions from yours truly).

I may have helped more than the usual assistant, but it was definitely Luna's shoot--she determined the lighting components and took on the task of directing a new model. Esther was great too. She was goood fun and was easy to work with. I think that it was a great success for both ladies.

Oh yeah, I was looking through the viewfinder at one point and Esther was in what looked like a very natural pose. Instinct took over (I've been pushing the shutter when a pretty girl is in front of my camera for thirty years, so I just starting shooting!) and I grabbed about 8 shots. The photograph of Esther that leads this story was one of them!