Image maker, Profoto and Fujifilm Ambassador, Julien Apruzzese invites you on a behind the scenes tour of the first Academy Masterclass organised in France.
It's Monday, March 09, 2020, 8:00 am at Studio Rouchon Paris clock and Julien Apruzzese is about to conduct the first Profoto Academy Masterclass in France, accompanied by his team.
In front of an audience of about 30 observers, he will present an advanced study of light in the studio through the realization of a Profoto campaign, detailing the creative process from concept to light.
Concept
A few weeks before, Julien met the Profoto France team to present the concept study and discuss production.
Its subject is the play of contrasts, in all its forms.
It's the contrast of outer beauty and potential inner evil, supported by the contrast of shapes (subject curves against background lines), the contrast of saturations (the purity of red versus the absence of saturation) and the contrast of lights (hard versus soft).
Lighting
Once the concept was approved, Julien carried out a light study on the Set-a-Light software.
This allowed him to make a precise and detailed pre-production plan, which he could present to the whole team, as well as to the studio hosting the Academy.
Here is the light plan :
- Main light: Profoto B10 Plus with OCF Snoot
The Snoot creates a relatively small light source compared to the subject, resulting in a small penumbra size (hard light). The Profoto B10 Plus is positioned at a long distance from the subject in order to create a long gradation of the light and on the right side and high above the subject to project the shadow of the right backdrop on the subject and the shadow of the subject on the left background at the same time.
- Fill light: Profoto D2 with Umbrella Deep White XL and diffuser
The Umbrella creates a relatively large size light source compared to the subject, resulting in a large penumbra size (soft light). The lighting ratio of the fill light versus main light is 1:8. The Profoto D2 is positioned at a long distance from the subject to create a long gradation of the light and right in front of the subject to create a shadowless light.
- Accent light: Profoto B10 Plus with Snoot and Lee Filter Primary Red 106 gel
With the Snoot, we create a relatively small light source, resulting in a small penumbra size (hard light). The light is positioned at a long distance to create a long gradation of light and at a low angle to obtain a red tinting of the subject's shadows.
- Background lights: Two Profoto B10 with OCF Softbox 1x3’, OCF Speedring, and Lee Filter Half-CTB 202 gel
Equipped with OCF Softboxes, these two Profoto B10 become relatively medium size light sources, creating a medium penumbra size (medium soft light). They are both installed at a short distance for short light gradation and above the subject to create a vertical gradation of light on the background on the left side and on the background wall in the center of the image.
- Counter-light: Profoto B1X with OCF Softbox 1x3', OCF Softgrid Strip, OCF Speedring, and Lee Filter Half-CTB 202 gel
Fitted with the OCF Softbox 1x3’, the Profoto B1X becomes a relatively medium size light source creating a medium penumbra size (medium soft light). It is positioned at a medium distance from the subject for medium gradation of the light and behind the subject to detach the shaded part of the subject from the wall.
Preparation
Time to unload equipment and scenery, it's almost 9:00 a.m. So the team has three hours left to set up the set and start the light tests before the observers arrive.
Set 7 at Studio Rouchon Paris has been chosen for its wall with « floated concrete » rendering that will serve as a background in the center of the image. Then two painted Unique Backdrops are mounted more than 3 meters above a PVC floor with a miraculously similar rendering.
It's now 1:00 p.m. and the participants have arrived. It's time to begin the Profoto Academy Masterclass.
"Hello everyone, I'm happy to welcome you to this beautiful studio.
Light is magical and the discovery of its science will allow us to turn it into art..." says Julien.
Welcome to the first Profoto Academy Masterclass in France!
Behind the scenes & Making-of
Discover the Academy Masterclass from behind the scenes
Visit Julien Apruzzese Studio to see the images of the series in full resolution thanks to the Prodibi solution as well as all the Making-Of images.
Credits
Concept, Lighting, Photography : Julien Apruzzese Studio
Client : Profoto
Studio : Rouchon Paris
Model : Ilona Clément
Make-Up & Hair Artist : Odile Jimenez
Stylist : Etienne Jeanson
Nail Artist : Marcea Gomes
Film : Studiosushi
Assistants : Maxime Sicard, Mathilde Petit & Omar Aljiwari
Making-of Photography : Omar Aljiwari
Photographic Equipments : Fujifilm
Light Equipments : Profoto
Full Resolution Image Solution : Prodibi
Light Simulation Software : Set-a-Light
