At the PSA Festival in Williamsburg, I photographed some of the models in a controlled studio environment. One model was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood with a basket of apples. I thought the image could use a little more action so I asked the model to place an apple on her head while gently throwing up an apple from each hand resulting in the 'original' image here. Later, I played with the image in PS Elements. Extra apples from other images were added along with male and female torsos from other model events and fire at the bottom which was a photo of a fire image generated by a programmable LED light stick in a dark basement. Add some Liquify horns and star eyes and perhaps the picture can tell a devilish story that isn't Little Red Riding Hood. Original image was made with a Nikon Z7 II with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4S lens at 45mm. Exposure was ISO 200, 1/125 sec, f/5.6 lighted by two studio strobe lights in white umbrellas. Photography can be such interesting fun.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 9 comments posted
Lauren Heerschap
This image looks devilish all by itself, but not Little Red Riding Hood. You certainly had fun~ and I am wondering if the stars in her eyes are too sharp; not evil but fun... there might be a better foggy background than the wood panelling? I think you have created a better story here that Little Red. She was originally convinced by the wolf to take her clothes off, throw them in the fire and get in bed with the wolf...who eats her. (Perrault). Here you have baked apples...hmmm...needs some more mystery, and a little less twinkle stars. Posted: 11/06/2023 00:15:43
Karl Leck
Actually, I was trying to turn the Little Red Riding Hood story into Genesis with the apples, two figures and devil. I know she doesn't look like a serpent, but stories can change over time.
I like the idea of taking clothes off and a fire. I may try an image in that direction. Karl Posted: 11/06/2023 01:03:40
Lauren Heerschap
For some reason I got six emails with your reply? No comment. Posted: 11/06/2023 06:10:16
Mariann Moberg
Well Karl that is imaginative for sure and Kudos for having the foresight ro compile what was needed.
I do agree with Lauren, the eyes should not be stars. To be goulash they would do better if it was wide open white eyes.
But either way this was a great project. Posted: 11/12/2023 16:54:23
Peter Newman
The image is a fun image with impact. Good timing, both with the two apples she she is throwing, and the time of the year. Posted: 11/13/2023 21:29:12
Freddie Kelvin
This is impish magic at its best. I wouldn't change a thing!
You need to start a trend in Halloween cards with this.
Just make sure the fire doesn't creep up... Posted: 11/15/2023 14:50:17
Judith Lesnaw
Wonderful concept and masterful composite. Perfect blending of the elements of the image. Amazing that the apples in the original image were stopped in flight without a streak at 1/125 sec. Her expression and the "twinkle" in her eyes are indeed devilish. I might try extending the main fire across the bottom of the image. Posted: 11/17/2023 16:15:17
Karl Leck
Hi Judith, The apples in flight would not be super sharp at 1/125 second. However, the main, strong light source of two studio umbrella flashes give an effective shutter speed faster than 1/1000 second. The flashes provide nearly all the light and stop most movement. The 1/125 camera setting is the flash sync speed, not the effective shutter speed which is governed by the studio flash units. Karl Posted: 11/18/2023 14:40:12
Gerard Blair
A fascination and inventive collage. I suggest that the eyes might better "reflect" some of the flames.
By coincidence I recently learnt that some think that the original "fruit" was a fig: hence the fig leaves that Adam and Eve then used to cover their nakedness. Posted: 11/20/2023 15:55:54
