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`Staged

Sandra Keplinger Photography
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Doing Tori Amos...

Journal Entry: Thu May 14, 2009, 12:19 AM

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I've had one of the most exciting months in my life and I don't even know where to start telling you about it.

Work has been a blessing lately. Even though I'm always complaining about money I'm still happy to be doing this, esp. with my extended responsibilities as music editor.

Tori Amos has for many years been my hero. I grew up with her. Grew up, literally, haha. Her lyrics used to help me over stuff when I was a teenager and I still like to listen to all those old songs from time to time and be nostalgic. And I do like her new stuff a lot, even though my taste in music has changed over the years. But that's how it is with your heroes, they never really leave you, right?



So, meeting her and interviewing her from a professional's point of view was tricky. Esp. because I'm still working for a men's magazine and all the things I like about her do not really apply for men in general, I guess.

However, Tori is an amazing person and she never fails to surprise me. She's very down to earth, even though she always seems to hover in different stratospheres. Working with her has been a biiig pleasure because she's easy going, she takes her time (even if she's being stressed by label people) and her whole attention belongs to you when you talk or take her picture.

As a photographer, I did an absolutely crazy thing. I took four pictures of her with my pinhole and NO DIGITAL BACKUP.

Why?

Gosh, I wonder... it just didn't feel right. Looking back, I probably wouldn't do it a second time.

I had the most terrifying time waiting for those films to be developed and scanned. Even though I have a lot of experience with that particular camera, you can never be sure if you exposed the film correctly. I had my light meter with me, everything seemed to be right, but afterwards I still had the feeling, the mere inkling, that I underexposed them and pushed it +1 in the lab just to be sure. And I was right. Without the pushing the pictures would have come out totally underexposed and I would have been the most unhappy person walking this earth.

So yes. It's been a big challenge. And yes, it did cost me a lot of nerve. I kind of go looking for a certain thrill. And thank goodness, I've never totally failed. But that's probably just a matter of time because I need to learn how to do a backup.



I've had surprisingly little reactions on the pictures here on dA... what's with you!?

19 Comments
  • Mood: Love Dazed
  • Listening to: Incubus - Pantomime
Skin by *psychol-bob (modified by `Staged)

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:iconmiddeneaht:
*middeneaht May 14, 2009, 12:38:41 AM
Well, I was really curious why you did not user a digital backup\normal camera. Apparently pinhole prodices sort of "arthouse" type of images but the opportunity to meet her is so rare so I'd go for all kind of shoots.

People feedback to shiny, pretty, and "normal" pictures, the feedback is rare when you present something unusual.

--
I shoot metal concerts in Finland! Gallery: [link] DDs : [link]
:iconstaged:
`Staged May 14, 2009, 12:47:56 AM
Yeah, that's weird, isn't it?

Hmm... why did I go for "art house"? Good question. First of all, it was a personal thing. I want to portrait as many different people as possible with the pinhole and compile an exhibit one day. It's not really a project yet, I'm just collecting at the moment. And then... usually you get about 5 minutes to shoot a celebrity on a promo-day like this. And most of the time it's some hotel room or in an ugly location backstage. You need to be quick and you need to make the best of out the bad "material" you're working with.

So pinhole was - no matter how difficult it might be technically - also a safety boat. That back garden was absolutely ugly, the weather was bad, it was raining slightly - so absolutely shit light. But I knew: Ok, if I place her with the light in the back and catch a little bit of sky, there will be a kind of back light effect. So that's what I did. We're talking about an 8-seconds-exposure.
You need your model to be patient and playing the game. I was lucky enough that Tori was curious about the camera and enjoyed being shot.

So that all comes together.

--

stagedweb.com | tumblr | twitting | tori amos
:iconkaios:
=kaios May 14, 2009, 4:53:55 AM
Honestly (forgive me but) I was a little bit... disbelieving :) Tori Amos is like some vast unreachable superstar, so it took a while to sink in that your photographs were real :)
They're beautiful, by the way :) I'm glad you've been able to share them with us all.

--
Eternal life is a prison for the walking Dead.


stock: ~kaios-stock
:icont-hip:
*T-Hip May 14, 2009, 5:49:28 AM
I'm glad you got to meet her.

As for comments I have no idea what a pinhole is so I'm just confused :)

--
Hello from Canada :flagcanada: [link]
:iconstaged:
`Staged May 14, 2009, 6:09:53 AM
I was disbelieving myself. I still am.
And yeah, I think I already (unconciously) feared that people would be disbelieving and not commenting.

Thanks anyway... :)

--

stagedweb.com | tumblr | twitting | tori amos
:icont-hip:
*T-Hip May 14, 2009, 6:31:55 AM
Yeah I looked it up but I guess I was confused as to why you'd choose to use a pinhole when you have a perfectly good camera. I see you gave the answer in the reply to the first comment below.

Fair enough they are artsy looking pics but if you are looking for feedback from me I'd prefer that the pic was in better focus, and keep in mind that is just me.

I do like the idea of a series of pics with the pinhole, it would be an interesting collection. I would also take a camera along as well the next time, which looks like something you have been considering anyway.

--
Hello from Canada :flagcanada: [link]
:iconstaged:
`Staged May 14, 2009, 6:39:15 AM
I HAD another camera with me and chose not to use it. ;)

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stagedweb.com | tumblr | twitting | tori amos
:iconstaged:
`Staged May 14, 2009, 6:39:50 AM
Oh, by the way. I wasn't so much looking for feedback as for reactions. There's a difference. ;)

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stagedweb.com | tumblr | twitting | tori amos
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