The clients were from Brazil and spoke Portuguese. I do not speak this language. Though I know a little bit of Spanish, it didn't seem to do me any good. I thought this language barrier would be exactly that, but it had no real impact on working with the clients, photographer and model. I should disclose they did speak English very well, but the fact the crew was primarily speaking in another language was very daunting. The photographer would be communicating with the model saying "Yi, yi, yi" (or something like that), which I could only translate to "yes, yes, yes" - a photographers favorite words. It's just funny because you don't realize how much you miss out until you cannot understand the other people around. You just wish that you could understand what they are saying.
When we arrived to Tucson, we met up with the crew in the hotel's bar/restaurant. Both of us assistants were not included for what seemed to be a secret meeting between the producer, photographer, model, and clients; but we were notified that we were not included because the entire meeting was in Portuguese. I took no offense, because that would probably have been extremely boring and uncomfortable. Before we arrived for the gig, we had nearly no information about the shoot; though I now know that photo assistants don't need to know what's going on, we just need to be where we're supposed to be, when we're supposed to be there, and do what we're told. If you assist with those principles, you'll be okay.
The desolate location:
Call time for meeting the crew was 6:30am Saturday. As assistants, we arrived in the hotel lobby at 6 a.m. to get coffee, tea and breakfast ready to take to the location. Due to some minor complications, we were asked to leave for the location (which we had never been to) before the rest of the crew to begin setting up equipment. When we got there, the gate was locked and it seemed to be deserted. Perfect start to the day? After a little bit of screaming at the empty graveyard, we heard a voice, and eventually were let into the creepy grounds. Though we were running behind, we quickly set up the first location and began shooting within fifteen minutest after our access through the gate.
Making for an easy day:
I've been on shoots (mine or others) where we use enough lights to make night look like day. This shoot was not like that. We used a single light the majority of time and two lights on one occasion. Our light? Profoto 7B pack and head with an Elinchrom Indirect Lightbank, which is a octagonal light modifier with silver lining, in which the light shoots into the silver and reflects. It is also a little over six feet wide. Though it's a big modifier, it was the only light we needed to move around; this made for an easy day. Also, the Elinchrom makes for a beautiful reflector and can be used without the light at all; so at times we were technically using natural light.
From dusk 'til dawn - whoops - from dawn 'til dusk:
If any of you have been on a location shoot where the main crew is from out-of-town (out-of-country in this case), you will most likely shoot all day, in order to make the travel expenses worth it. This was one of those. By the end of the day, we clocked in ten hours - which isn't too terrible at all. We actually finished shooting nearly two hours early. So, all in all, the shoot was easy, finished early, and the crew was extremely pleasant to work with; turns out for a great shoot.
It's the things you learn not to do
I've been a devotee to photography for nearly a decade now. I like to think I know a little bit about it and a little bit less about lighting. But I do believe I know enough to be a helpful hand on a set - not only as muscle, but as somebody with the vision to know what will look right and what will not as lighting and composition pertains. But, as an assistant, I've found out you need to know what not to do rather than what to do. The photographer doesn't need you telling him that the light would be better from the other side or that it should be powered up or down. I'm not saying that I did this, but I was definitely thinking it while we were shooting. I do have to say though, the images the photographer produced were very beautiful and the light was amazing. Each of us photographers has a style, and if you mess with that photog's lighting technique, you mess with his/her style. It's best to sit back, relax (by lifting sandbags), and watch the show.
Until we meet again,
B
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