photographing a model in Hoboken … is complicated

A few weeks ago in October, a friend and I arranged to photograph Kerri, the model shown here. My friend had just bought a Nikon D3s and some serious glass, so I thought that instead of me just telling her about the camera’s functions and settings, it would be more interesting to hire a model to photograph. Then we get to play with the new toys, and get some photos. More fun than just being lectured by me.

So the two of us picked Kerri up along the way to Hoboken, to shoot there. Why Hoboken? I struggle with this question every time that I hit the traffic going into the helix at the Lincoln Tunnel. I hate the traffic by now. And then the traffic in Hoboken is just as bad. But I like photographing in Hoboken. There is a lot of variety to work with. There is the Hoboken waterfront with New York as the backdrop. You have urban areas, but you can make it look park-like by turning your camera the other way. There is the train station nearby, and two blocks up there is a long stretched-out alleyway.  So I can’t think of any other place really in New Jersey that offers that diversity within a few blocks … and have parking garages available.

At some point we ended up in the (very well-known) alley in Hoboken, photographing Kerri. My usual off-camera lighting setup at the moment is the Lastolite Ezybox, held up by a monopod by an assistant, or in this case, my friend. It keeps everything mobile and fluid. In particular, another reason why I use the softbox on a monopod, is that I often shoot in Manhattan. The New York City Hall has clear instruction as to when you need a photography permit, and when you don’t. If you don’t use a tripod or light-stand while shooting in New York, you don’t need the photo permit. Great! But we’re in Hoboken in New Jersey.  And this is where it gets complicated …

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