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private commissioned shoot

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:27 pm
by dk
I've had this on my website a while and thought I'd share it here. This is a swimming pool complete with a 30-foot geyser-fountain, mountain stream with slide, waterfall, grotto, and a full kitchen with Viking stainless steel appliances inside the mountain. Oh, and lest I forget, a bathroom/shower/changing area with lockers, etc. also inside the mountain. The green bubbly water is the 24-man/woman hot tub. The pool is 24 feet deep with a white sand floor. The sand was imported from Florida. It is apparently fine enough to pass through the filtering system without causing any harm. This was the most fun I've ever had on a shoot and by the way, this was my very first assignment for pay. This shoot lasted 45 days (took photos of the entire compound), and every photograph of the site is included in the landscape contractors brochure. To my utter delight he was happy and paid me very well. I lately learned that he is placing an ad in Architectural Digest...I'd like that on my resume.

Please forgive my boasting. This shoot came just as I lost my job and actually propeled me into full-time photography not to mention helping pay the bills. All I can say is that I have been very blessed.

Tell me what you think.

Image

Thanks a million.

David

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:42 pm
by psionic_oz
Sheesh what can you say about that image but WOW ! 8) Picture postcard perfect.

The lighting is stunning and the "green glow" from the first pool is terrific. I keep thinking something from a Harry Potter book is about to leap out at me... If I didn't know better I'd swear I was looking at a CGI... What a marvellous result.

I think you have done an excellent job of capturing the "mood", this is just a stunning image thank you for sharing this with us.

Congratulations on a great result and getting paid, that would be most rewarding.

/M.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:11 pm
by avkomp
wow, just love this. outstanding.

Steve

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:39 pm
by Alex
DK,

As soon as I opened this post, I said "F&CK!!" What an amazing photo. Well done.

Alex

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:58 pm
by ozimax
Strike me pink Dave, an absolute beauty is this one. Must have fun all right. Congrats. Dad.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 6:34 pm
by rokkstar
Excellent shot. I am positive they will be very very happy with that. Well done.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 6:54 pm
by marcotrov
Terrific image. I can see why you were paid handsomely. Well done and good lauck for future contracts.
cheers
marco

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:23 pm
by PiroStitch
Great pic and hope you managed to get a bit of decent $$ out of it for more gear :D

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:00 pm
by SteveGriffin
Beautiful shot - both you and the landscaper did a fantastic job. BTW did the gardens cost 6 or 7 zillion dollars to create???

PostPosted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:16 pm
by Killakoala
Fantastic exposure and composition. What a great image. That garden is so well lit up, with lights in all the right spots. perfect for photography. I'd love to see it in real life.

Fantastique!!!

PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:22 am
by bloop
That is a lurvely shot.

Is that a single exposure or did you stack a few together?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:03 am
by dk
Thank you all so very much for your comments. My client was so thrilled that he purchased 8 - 24X30 metallica prints of this shot alone for $325.00 each; and that was just the tip of the iceberge so to speak. At one point he told me I wasn't spending enough money; meaning his budget for the shoot allowed for more. I obviously didn't take advantage of him or of the wonderful blessing it was for me and my family at such a challenging time (unemployment is always challenging).

To answer some of your questions: Steve, yes this was a multi-million dollar project. Although not privy to exact figures, I was told the pump for this monster (largest thing like it I've ever seen) cost a mere $30,000 to $40,000. This was definitely an exercise in extravagence. Bloop; this is a single exposure no pp with the exception of removing a diving tube in the center of the pool. I waited on site until about 7:00 p.m., had my D70 on a tripod I don't remember the exact EXIF but it was a timed exposure and using my remote clicked away. I bracketed all over and came away with this shot.

Here's another shot from the opposite end of the pool; not my favorite as it maybe a little hot on the left side where the geyser fountain is located. But in order to get the water just right I time-exposed this shot too. I wasn't all that familiar with pp then and now could probably fix the hot spot.

Anyway, here it is just for fun:

Image

Thanks a million.

David

PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:33 am
by elffinarts
Now THAT's the kind of job I want to get next :)

and gorgeous pics!!