This week is all about stereotypes and in particular geek culture. Nowhere is this typified more than the television show The Big Bang Theory. Brilliantly written and acted by five characters: roommates Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, two physicists employed at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech); Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress who lives across the hall; and Leonard and Sheldon's equally geeky and socially awkward friends and co-workers, aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali.

So in real life, what do female astrophysicists look like. Do they look like Amy Farrah Fowler, who is the pseudo part-time girlfriend of Sheldon or do they look Penny, the gorgeous girl next door type. In our society we have quickly stereo-typed intelligent people as plain and unattractive and beautiful people as devoid of intelligence. This is pervasive in the thousands of blonde jokes that have been circulated for an eternity.

What if our stereotypes are wrong? Have we judged people according to our stereotypical view of intelligence and beauty?

This week we have a model that breaks all the stereotypes and would be just at home at Caltech in the astrophysics department or in the photography studio. Introducing Katie Buitendyk who has a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. (minor in music; cello)

Click to see the full gallery.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

In June of 2011, the erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey written by E.L. James was published. The storyline begins in Seattle, and documents the relationship between college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. The novel is erotic and is notable for its liberal use of sexual practices  involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism.

Quite often you will see women and men reading it on their daily train commute. As with all of the dull and dreary commuters they have latched on to this book a flagrant way to dream about their own sexual fantasies or to try and spice up their sex life. Most critics have widely panned this book as being poorly written and labelled it as "mommy porn". The book and its followups have spawned many comedic imitators and variations across different genres.

From a photography perspective, 50 shades is just a play on the infinite variation of colors that can be used to create different moods. So to kick things off; here is 50 Shades of Red.  Click to see the gallery.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

This week we have a different spin on fashion. We turn back the clock to the 60's when we had beehive hairdos and a time when a girl becomes of age at a debutante ball. First let's talk a little bit about the background of the hairstyle and the debutante era.

The Beehive is a woman's hairstyle that resembles a beehive; it is also known as the B-52, for its similarity to the bulbous nose of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber. It originated as one of a variety of elaborately teased and lacquered versions of "big hair" that developed from earlier pageboy and bouffant styles. It was developed in 1960 by Margaret Vinci Heldt of Elmhurst, Illinois, owner of the Margaret Vinci Coiffures in downtown Chicago, who won the National Coiffure Championship in 1954, and who had been asked by the editors of Modern Beauty Salon magazine to design a new hairstyle that would reflect the coming decade. She originally modelled it on a fez-like hat that she owned. In recognition of her achievement, Cosmetologists Chicago, a trade association with 60,000 members, created a scholarship in Heldt’s name for creativity in hairdressing. The beehive style was popular throughout the 1960s, particularly in the United States and other Western countries, and remains an enduring symbol of 1960s kitsch.

A debutante (from the French word débutante, "female beginner") is a girl or young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "debut" presentation.

Re-creating the retro debutante look is Ashley Carnegie, who was the Model Mayhem 2011 model of the year. Ashley Carnegie

Click to see the complete gallery. 

Shot on August 26, 2012 at Darkrum Studio in Toronto.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

Quite often, people that see your images or other photographers may ask how this was photographed in a studio. There are countless books about studio lighting for the novice and seasoned photographer. What separates one image from another is the photographer's creativity when adapting different lighting techniques or by creating new ones. The hard part is by explaining how it was done in a studio without going into a long lengthy conversation which has lead the listener into a state of suspended animation. The old expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" is certainly true. A creative individual has taken the requirement by photographers to document their lighting setups and created both an on-line application and a mobile application for creating lighting diagrams. The product is available for on-line use at http://www.sylights.comor for download at the Apple store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sylights-for-ipad/id445217552

It is true that you can document your lighting diagrams with sophisticated tools like Microsoft Visio or using Google Sketch. Microsoft Visio is expensive, sophisticated and takes a bit of training to become proficient at it. I came across the Sylights application at a portfolio development workshop and I have quickly put it into use. Using Sylight to document your studio lighting setup from a photo shoot is just the beginning. You can share your lighting diagrams with your fellow photographers by using the mail option in the tool or you can make it available on-line. You can also view the lighting diagrams on-line and see the photos that resulted from the lighting documented. It is a great way to learn new lighting setups and share with your fellow photographers. Give it a try and see if it helps improve your photography. Free for the time being.

Below is the lighting setup that was used for photographing Courtney.

I thought this week would be a good time to look at the humorous side of models and the photography studio. The main reason is to clear up some misconceptions that people have about models in a photography studio. Or maybe it is the wild imagination that my married friends have or maybe this is their way of trying to suck up to get an invite into the studio for an afternoon. So here is some tongue and cheek humor about those misconceptions and actual questions I have been asked.

1. Do models eat? Of course they do, you doorknob. Maybe, you have been reading Playboy too much, or your mind has gravitated in it's thinking that models are just fembots or androids who exist merely to satisfy your fantasies. The only thing slightly out of the ordinary is that you will typically see a model eat standing up. (They don't want to spill food or drink on the pricey clothes.)
2. Do models fart in the studio? No they don't. Didn't you read the paragraph above. Fembots do not fart. OK, if you believe this you are a complete moron. Every human being farts. Models may be more discrete by going to the restroom and letting one go or they just hold it in until they are with their boyfriends and then they really let loose.
3. Do wardrobe malfunctions happen on person? They only happen on purpose if it involves a celebrity and a television appearance. Otherwise, the stylist and the model work together in a very professional manner to ensure that there are no wardrobe malfunctions. Two sided tape, bobby pins and clips are amongst the things used to ensure that accidents don't happen. Despite the efforts of all those involved, wardrobe malfunctions do happen on occasion. But photographers have to remain professional at all times. Sometimes, a wardrobe malfunction may make its way into my bloopers gallery.
4. Is a photography studio just a synonym for a swingers pad? This is just a common misconception that is perpetuated by married guys. They pass this information along until it becomes an urban legend. A psychologist would tell you that this all rooted in the common sexual frustrations of married guys. Just to clear things up, only a little bit of sex goes on in the studio. So in a four hour shoot there is about 3 1/2 hours of cheap gratuitous sex and a 1/2 hour where the photographer bangs out a few frames. (pun intended) OK, now that I have twisted your mind a bit. Did you ever hear about the expression "Never dip you pen into the company ink!".
5. All models are smokin' hot. No, models come in various shapes and sizes. Specialization comes into play here. There are full-figured models, petite models, hand models, fashion models, car show models, etc. A photographer is only going to show you the "A" list of models to further perpetuate item # 4.

So without further ado, here is a supermodel joke from the internet.

Supermodel Joke

Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Cindy Crawford are flying to a super models conference in Paris, when the captain of the plane announces: "We have just lost power to the engines and are going to make an emergency crash landing -- assume the brace position immediately!"

Immediately the three models start preparing for the worst. Claudia pulls out lipstick and make-up and starts fixing her face. Bewildered, Naomi and Cindy ask: "What in the hell are you doing fixing your make-up when we are about to friggin' crash!"

Claudia responds: "I know for a fact the rescue workers will search for, and save first, the ones who have the best looking faces -- which is why I am putting on my make-up."

Cindy Crawford rips open her blouse to expose two beautiful mounds of flesh which inexplicably defy the law of gravity. Totally confused, Naomi and Claudia shout: "Cindy, have you lost your senses? Why are you baring your breasts for everyone to see when we are about to die!"

Cindy responds: "I have it on good authority in plane crashes, the rescue workers look to save first the women with big beautiful breasts -- which is why I am exposing my tits!"

Not hesitating, Naomi Campbell pulls down her skirt and panties to expose her love triangle." Freaking out, Claudia and Cindy yell: "Naomi -- Are you crazy?? Why are you exposing your crotch for everyone to see?"

Calmly, Naomi responds: "BITCHES PLEASE! I know for a fact the first thing the rescue workers look for in plane crashes is a black box!"

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

This week we have some beauty portraits of the lovely model Courtney. She currently works for ICON models and has done a variety of fashion and beauty shoots in the past two years for many project in the fashion industry. The portrait series of Courtney was done with three different lighting setups accompanies by makeup changes. I think that everybody can see her beautiful eyes and she brings a unique quality and look to the set.

To see selected images from the series click here

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

The arrival of the latest fashions on the runway tend to be cyclical. When I mean cyclical, I don't mean that it revolves around the four seasons. The fashion world will recycle and re-use concepts  from different eras. The stovepipe pants from the 1960's have now re-surfaced in the post 2000 world. Sometimes we see trends in fashion that are better left to the history books. A case in point were the powder blue tuxedo's from the 1980's. We can often date wedding pictures by looking the clothing and hair styles. It is more difficult to date a picture if a classic look is used. For example a black and white tuxedo never goes out of style and neither does a well tailored woman's dinner jacket or black dress. This brings us to this week's updates in our fashion galleries.

In case you missed her, Kelsey Belle has appeared in Italian Vogue, numerous runways around the world, fashion videos and numerous fashion publications. It is not too late to catch a view of this gorgeous model. Go to High Fashion

Last week Samantha Carly re-created some vintage looks for us. Everything from a classic Chanel jacket to a Helmet Newton inspired look with a chair. On a future shoot we will continue with the vintage look by doing all black & white look with Paramount lighting. Stay tuned.
Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

This week we take a look at the use of props in both fashion and portraiture. Quite often photographers; both amateur and some professional photographers are reluctant to use props. The reasons are many; notably the reasons are something like this: I don't know how to instruct the model, he/she doesn't look good with a prop, he/she looks good enough or their own. Or maybe the real reason is that the photographer is afraid to experiment. Lets take a look at what props actually are and maybe they are not what you think. The use of the word props conjures up a vision of a Hollywood movie and a spooky guy with a closet full of weird stuff. In the fashion/portraiture world we should actually call them what they are and something that models can relate to. We should be calling props by the term fashion accessories. We are stretching a bit because sometimes it may not be about fashion or is it. Sometimes one of the reasons why people buy a particular car is because "I look good in that car". All this comes down to is looks and fashion.

Where do I find those fashion accessories. A big hint, our shopping malls are full of clothing and accessory stores. Still not sure what to buy in the accessories department for next photo shoot. That is easy. Just walk into a clothing and accessories store and walk up to the hottest looking sales clerk in the store and explain your dilemma. The sales clerk will be more than willing to help you your fashion accessories selection. Note: Always carry your business card with you at all times. This same technique should be applied when shopping for lingerie for your wife or girlfriend.

Now that we have had a successful shopping trip and maybe picked up a phone number of two it is time to get serious about using fashion accessories in the studio or out in the field. Let's start with something simple. What clothing.shoes or jewelry is model already wearing. A slight change can make a difference to your image. For example a lightweight jacket or blazer can be carried by your model or flung over that shoulder a casual look. Think about asking your model to remove her high heel shoes and carry them instead. Make sure you vary your poses to capture the right mood. Think about a model walking bare foot in the surf while carrying her shoes. What you are trying to capture is a playful atmosphere.

In out first image we look at how the simple use of the model's jacket  and hat has created a mysterious look, while at the same time changed the focal point to be on the model's eyes. The use of a hair light and a conversion to black and white has dramatically changed the picture.

In the second image we have used a construction hammer to change the tone of the picture. The use of a construction vest and some "dirty" makeup has now changed the mood to a lighter comedic look. 

In the final image we used a semi-transparent sheet to change a nude shoot to an implied nude with a fashion context. The simple addition of the sheet wrapped around the model has dramatically changed the mood of the picture.

Changing your portrait or fashion style doesn't mean that you need to spend a lot of money on fashion accessories or "props". Sometimes simple things will suffice and as the images show they can change the mood of your scene to great effect. Remember have fun with it and use your imagination.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.