Rangefinder Magazine
March 2005

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Laser Light Show by Jerry Ghionis

The pictures were for a bridal couture shoot for a local Australian bridal magazine called The Complete Melbourne Wedding Guide. I shoot for quite a few bridal magazines, and I normally demand creative license when it comes to the theme of the shoot, model choices, location, etc. I recently photographed a corporate event, which had a space theme. All the waiters and waitresses were wearing Mr. Spock ears, and the room looked like you were on another planet.

While the guests were entering the room, the organizers put on a magnificent laser light show with a man whose entire body was painted silver from head to toe. He looked like the Terminator, moving his body like a robot while laser beams backlit his movements.

This shoot inspired me to use similar lighting for a bridal fashion shoot. I had never seen the lighting attempted on bridal gowns, so I pitched the idea to the editor. The idea was not accepted favorably at first, as the concept was quite edgy and never before seen. The designers were also concerned that the detail in the dresses would not be seen.

After much convincing, I guaranteed the shoot would please all concerned, and I would not accept no for an answer. (I realized my reputation was on the line.) Thinking the shoot was going to be easy could not have been further from the truth.

The laser light machine costs $4000 an hour to operate. The machine draws a lot of power and doing the environment no favors, the machine requires 10 liters of water per minute to operate. The budget only allowed $800 (Australian) to use for props. I seduced the laser company by offering joint copyright to the corporate space theme shoot at no cost.

The magazine was also prepared to offer the company a credit line on every page of the editorial. After much consideration, the laser machine was secured. Given the cost to operate the machine, I had less than two hours to shoot 12 dresses. I simply gave myself eight minutes of photography time per dress, no more and no less.

The effects of the machine were endless, but I enjoyed the challenge. I chose the models for their unconventional and edgy look, and they certainly did not disappoint. I chose my favorite make-up artist and hair stylist. The shoot evolved into a retro 1980s feel, which is very much in fashion in Australia at the moment.

I selected a venue with stage lighting. A smoke machine was used to amplify the intensity of the laser beams. The machine itself is capable of thousands of effects, but we obviously did not have time to explore all the options. I used a number of stage lights with white, blue, yellow and red filters. I also used a spotlight on the bust of the models.

The images were captured with a Canon 20D with an 85mm f/1.8 lens. I used the camera on a tripod, shooting mainly at 1/15 at f/4–5.6. I only used Photoshop for some color correction, selective Gaussian blur and skin retouching.

The shoot was exactly what I had envisioned, and I am absolutely thrilled with the results, as were all vendors involved.

Jerry Ghionis of XSiGHT Photography and Video started his professional career in 1994 and has quickly established himself as one of Australia’s leading photographers. In 1999 he was honored with the AIPP award for best new talent in Victoria, and in 2002 won the AIPP Victorian Wedding Album of the Year. In 2003 He won the Grand Award in the Album Competition at WPPI. Jerry Ghionis will be speaking at WPPI 2005 on March 21. His program is entitled “Weddings of Oz.”