Softars & Joyce Tenneson

Ok, I know photographer Joyce Tenneson uses primarily Canon equipment,

but I'd like to know how to get the equivalent soft effect of her

photos (her book 'Illuminations', specifically) with the Zeiss softars

for Hasselblad. I have a feeling I'd need at least the softar III,

but I can't find any good examples of images. Wildi's book has an

example, but it is small and in black and white. I've check the

archives and haven't found anything related to a specific "famous"

artist's work to use as a point of reference. I know WHAT the softars

do, but I'm looking for people who have familiarity with Tenneson's

work. Thanks.

I read once (and this was a number of years ago, so she may be more

open now) that Tenneson was VERY "secretive" about her methods, not

wanting others to steal her "look." Fwiw, my understanding is that for

her look the quantity of lighting is responsible for the quality of

the look more than the lens is. Apparently she uses (used?) bazillions

of softlights, from all directions, to get that soft look. That and

"high key" printing (or, as David Vestal would call it,

"overexposure").

 

Maybe there's been more on her technique since then, but then I think

her look has changed a bit over the years also.

 

.

I just attended a lecture by Tenneson last month. The only thing she mentioned about techniques is that she creates her own backdrops. Also looking at the images projected really large it seemed to me that some of her studio work is double exposures: a final image might consist of two exposures one with the model and without the model present. I suspect that if this is the case she is playing with the balance of exposures to get just the effect she wants. Also it is clear that she does a great job of lighting with lots of softboxes for overall smoothness and low contrast but still creates a sense of where the main light on the subject is coming from. Remember she trained as an artist first and then picked up photography so she is bring that training & sensibility to her work. Compare her work to some of DaVinci's drawings for example. And also her "style"-- like her lighting skills, ability to direct models, use makeup well and create sets -- is in the service of her subject, which seem to me to be some very internal issues she is working on: emotions, ideas about the body, ideas about how bodies are perceived, how she perceives herself, the aging process, etc.<P>

Specifically regarding filters. She might start with Softars but my sense is she either modifies them or creates unique filters or possibly uses filters from other sources. Maybe Harrison & Harrison? I'd also be really surprised if she only used Canon equipment prior to their sponsorship.<P>She was very firm about her need to control every aspect of the creation of the work and the reproduction in books and described herself as "a control freak."

She did most of her famous work on large format, and I believe Ellis is right - I read an article on her once which mentioned that she did some additional exposure of the background without the subject (almost like flashing the film, if the background is featureless enough) in order to get things way up on the tonal scale. And the answer isn't softening filters - some of her best stuff is very sharp, but very softly lit (i.e. lots of softboxes) and printed very high key, and overall has low contrast and low color saturation.

 

Best,

I use softars. I would recomend a 1 or 2 , you can use them in combination. So a 1 and 2 is a 3.Use on e-bay they run from $60 on up, they are several hundreds of dollars new.The only downside side is they tend to flare when shooting high key or something white.

She's one of the more prolific workshop teachers around. I'm thinking of taking her course in either Maine or TPW this year.<P>

 

But am I to understand from the other posts here that she is secretive about her technique and won't even describe it in her workshops? I took Lois Greenfield's (excellent!) workshop last year and I certainly didn't have the feeling she was holding anything back.

Just curious: what is TPW?

TPW = The Palm Beach Workshop

<i>TPW = The Palm Beach Workshop</i><P>

 

<B>Bite your tongue!!</B>

 

<H3>TPW = Toscana Photographic Workshops</H3>

 

http://www.tpw.it/

 

They run an absolutely fantastic school there with some of the best-known names in professional photography, outstanding facilities, breathtaking surroundings, and a warm, friendly, staff and atmosphere.