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© Tony Powell. April Rae Giangeruso. August 25, 2010
The time I got to spend photographing American Ballet Theatre ballerina April Rae Giangeruso was an afternoon I’ll never forget! Gracious, intuitive, and abundantly talented, are just a few adjectives to describe one of the newest members of ABT.
© Tony Powell. April Rae Giangeruso. August 25, 2010
© Tony Powell. April Rae Giangeruso. August 25, 2010
A behind the scenes peek at my photo shoot with Donald Trump • August 19, 2010 • Trump National Golf Club
Tony Powell. Donald Trump. Photo courtesy of John Arundel/All rights reserved
One of the highlights of the summer was getting the call last week asking if I was available to photograph Donald Trump – on the grounds of his newly aquired golf course – for a Fall issue of Washington Life Magazine. The magazine’s Associate Publisher John Arundel was on hand to interview Trump and it all went off without a hitch. However, bad weather on the day of the originally-planned shoot very nearly put the brakes on the whole deal.
Tony Powell. Donald Trump. Photo courtesy of John Arundel/All rights reserved
Sunny skies prevailed over the greens of Trump National Golf Club in Loudon County, VA, the following day, so once again all systems were go. Arriving early to the club, with my photo assistant Kate Leuba, gave us an opportunity to be fully prepared for Mr. Trump’s arrival – by helicopter! I was advised by a groundsman to hold on to my lighting equipment for dear life as he lands – that the high winds and flying debris might blow it all away. Glad I heeded his warning – I’m still finding grass in my camera bags!
Photo courtesy of John Arundel/All rights reserved
Photo courtesy of John Arundel/All rights reserved
Photo by Kate Leuba/All rights reserved
© Tony Powell. Impact Dance Company. March 20, 2010
My first experience – last Saturday – shooting at Sly Horse Studio in Rockville was a great success! I’m giving my first “Capturing Motion” Master Class there April 4th from 1-4pm with top DC dancer Delphina Parenti as the model for the live shooting portion of the workshop. My wife Kellie co-directs a dance company called IMPACT, with fellow dancer and choreographer Candra Preshong. Their need for new promo pix for an upcoming concert provided the perfect opportunity to try out new studio digs. What a relief not to have to lug around a trunk full of equipment for a change. Every piece of equipment I use on a regular basis (except my camera) was available, on-site, for the asking…strobes, soft boxes, reflectors of every stripe, grids, flags, V-cards, etc.
IMPACT Dance Company. Photo © Tony Powell. March 20, 2010
© Tony Powell. Impact Dance Company. March 20, 2010
The most convenient aspect of the studio’s setup is the complex overhead rail system! The way in which the strobe lighting system (White Lightning) is affixed to it is ingenious. Each mono-light can be moved up/down/sideways/diagonally to achieve nearly any angle required. Each of the 4 strobes has been wired to lead directly into one commander which allows for light adjustment in one centrally located place. No longer do I have to run back and forth to each lamp adjusting intensities of light. This ability to quickly adjust light levels and light positioning increased my workflow and gave me the freedom to experiment with a wide range of lighting setups.
© Tony Powell. Impact Dance Company. March 20, 2010
Samantha Craig. October 21, 2009. Northwest Washington, DC & National Harbor Waterfront, MD
Makeup by Carl Ray
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
© Tony Powell. Samantha Craig. 10.21.09
Courtney Caldwell © Tony Powell
Crystal Hannon © Tony Powell
Thanks to the staff of Urban Chic, yesterday got off to a great start with a photo shoot at one of the most solid and of the moment boutiques for ladies in DC. When model Courtney Caldwell and fashion blogger/stylist Mekeda Saggau-Sackey approached me – at Noche de Gala last Monday – about shooting there, I couldn’t resist. Washington Life Magazine has sent me there twice to cover events: Shoshanna Lonstein’s trunk show and a Spring shopping event, so I knew the layout, but found the back patio and parking lot to be great impromptu locations to take pictures. Courtney is a natural. I could have photographed her all day. I brought along my newest model/friend, Crystal Hannon, to get to know her, in front of the lens, before our really big couture shoot this Sunday – two very wealthy friends have agreed to loan vintage couture dresses by Vera Wang, Badgley Mischka, Calvin Klein, and Nicole Miller. Our first shoot together yesterday was a great success, even though my Pocket Wizards had a mind of their own and decided to trigger the strobes whenever they chose. I guess I’m heading over to Penn Camera today. After the Urban Chic shoot, Crystal and I found a wooded area on Whitehaven that was ideal for playing around with black and white photography. I learned from it all and the results exceeded my expectations. If I can walk away from a shoot with a handful of solid images I’m satisfied. Yesterday’s shoot yielded dozens. Let’s just hope that the rain stays away this Sunday!!!
Courtney Caldwell © Tony Powell
Crystal Hannon © Tony Powell
Courtney and Crystal © Tony Powell
