How I Built The Set For The Holy Mary Photograph

I met Viviane many years ago when we were added to a project together as photographer and stylist by a designer friend. The project never launched but we always kept in touch to see what each was doing. So at some point after we few years we both said: “Why don’t we ever shoot???” This started a 30 min brainstorm through facebook chat. We both wanted something very stylized. She suggested something like a “holy mary”? Then I came in and suggest something darky holy mary. And the idea was born. “The Holy Sinister Mary”.

…on the edge of your seat? Onwards…

“Never burn bridges. If you meet someone interesting and a project cannot continue with that person. Keep in touch. Keep looking what that persons up too. You never know when your paths may cross.”

At first we had some issues getting the shoot to launch. The night before the official shoot the model/stylist had a little accident and fell from her bicycle and had a big head injury. Yes this can happen to anyone. We had everything built and planned and a team ready to rock. Had to cancel everyone. Took a deep breath, regrouped and re-planned. It took another 2 months before we could actually shoot it.

“Things don’t always go your way. Dont get discouraged dont give up. Keep trying until you do what you wanted to do.”

The Idea

As soon as we had the boundaries for the shoot – a “Dark Holy Mary” – my brain could start filling in the pieces.*building a box to think in isn’t always a bad thing. My mind automatically went to something I’ve wanted to try for ages. That is build a set with stained glass/window. I’ve hitchhiked through europe a few times and I always visited old churches. I just love how the light hits the stained glass to form a marriage of colors inside of the church. So it was on to building one, because I couldn’t find a window cheap enough or transportable enough. And I couldn’t find a church to shoot in. If I cant find it, I build it!!

I got out some polystyrene, my wife and a knife. And she started cutting out little windows in the poly. Then we stuck some translucent foil and gels to the little windows. And I had my stained glass window. This is what we call a GObo. (Go between object, it goes between your flash and subject or background in this case). On to the rest of the scene.

All this I was communicating back and forwards with the team! By this time I had seen the styling as well and knew what color palette the stylist was using. So I decided to build my set in the same hue she had her clothes in. This, because we wanted that stylized look. I went to the paint store and got some soft deep purple color paint and painted the walls.
On the floor I had a piece of carpet I once bought at a thrift shop for another project. It has kinda of a holy feel and was the same tone as my backdrop so we left that in. Last I wanted some height in the scene. So I rolled in a table and threw a baroque style cloth over it. Trying to keep everything in the same color palette. Besides the design of the set I needed props to fill it. So out went the casting call on my facebook looking for anything holy! Crosses, paintings statues and I got a few hits back. Went out to get those.

The Light:

• This one was interesting. In the first shots I had the Elinchrom ELC 1000 left of camera up high tilted down. With the Rotalux 100cm Deep Octa in front of the model.
• Camera right had the stained glass, behind it a Elinchrom RX One to shoot through it bare bulb.
• Camera right also had a Rx on with a small Portolite 60×60 softbox. I love these little guys for an extra fill. But don’t really like using them as main lights. Almost no control in the light spill.

Here are the lighting diagrams for this shoot:

So after shooting a set with this setup I wasn’t really satisfied. I was missing the ambience. I know the ELC has a killer 300watt modelling light in there. So I switched that on. Turned off the Skyport Trigger. And fired one shot. I was sold! So changed my white balance on my camera to counter the yellowish feel of the light. This doesn’t matter much when shooting raw, but i like to see it on my display. So I switched on the rest of the modeling lights and we had instant ambience with all the candles. The rest of the shoot was a mix of ambient light and flash light.

The Gear

• Elinchrom ELC Pro HD 1000
• Elinchrom D-Lite RX One
• Rotalux 100 cm Deep Octa
• Rotalux 175 cm Deep Octa
• Elinchrom SkyPort Trigger
• Canon 5D MK2
• Sigma 50mm F1.4

The Team

• Set Design/Photography: Richard Terborg
• Photographer Assistant: Jobke Rensen
• Styling/model: Vivian Kramer Gezegd Freher
• Assistant Styling: Anne van Driel
• Makeup artist and hairstylist: Jet van Dijk

About The Author

Richard Terborg is a Dutch conceptual portrait, fashion and fine-art photographer. His background in media and design helps his overactive brain keep up with the many things he does at the same time. Add a drive for getting people to ‘stop talking and start doing’, and you’ve got this guy in a nutshell. You can follow Richard’s excellent work through those channels: Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Instagram & 500px. This Article was originally published here.