FashionSF

Tarah B

Credits:

Photographer: Pat Yuen

Model: Tarah B

MUA: Lauren Warner

Designer: Verrieres & Sako

The fourth annual 5 designers and a poodle fashion show was produced by Charleston Pierce, a nominee for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man Of The Year. Charleston is a veteran of the San Francisco fashion scene having modeled for and worked with the Macy’s Passport show for many years. He was drawn to this worthwhile cause due to his mother’s passing away from the disease in 1999. This year’s show was held at Temple night club and featured five designers including returning designers Verreries & Sako. Stephanie Verreries and her design partner Kimi Sako are veterans of the Bay Area design scene having risen to notoriety after showing with Gen Art’s Fresh Faces In Fashion two years ago. They continue to innovate with their feminine and elegant designs incorporating both modern and classic design elements that adorn their many creations. The other four designers included California Innovations Resort Attire , Cory Couture, Picky San Francisco, and Oksana Couture, as well as a collection of Men’s Wear from Macy’s.

The evening consisted of a VIP reception, a silent auction, and a doggy fashion show featuring dog clothing by Bow Wow Meow. The main fashion show was followed by a celebrity fashion show featuring Wilkes Bashford. Overall, the fashion show went off smoothly and the night was a success.

To see the full gallery of all 690 images, click on the image below.

There’s not much going on in terms of runway fashion shows in San Francisco so when the opportunity came to shoot LA Fashion Week I jumped at it. LA Fashion week is a real industry event open only to people in the fashion industry. Produced by IMG, the same company that produces NY Fashion Week, these shows are professionally produced and not staged for selling tickets to the public. I made the drive from San Francisco to L.A. for this event and the timing for this day was tight due to a long delay caused by the closure of Interstate 5 at Santa Clarita. The detour was not exactly easy and took over an hour. I arrived at the parking area with just enough time to change, gather my gear and catch the shuttle to SmashBox Studios by 3:45 pm. The first show, Sue Wong, was scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. so I knew I had to hustle. The check in for the press line was ridiculously slow. They had a small trailer with two people inside issuing credentials for all media so the line was not moving at all. By the time I got in line, it was already 4:10 so I made the decision to go in and shoot it with just the credentials I had from Sue Wong since I had gotten an invite from her P.R. team.

By the time I got to the riser, it was already packed with about 75 still and video photographers. I made my way up to the top level and found a spot. It was pitch dark so I had to setup my gear by touch along. Fortunately, I got settled just in time for the show to start.

The show started with some dancers so this was a great opportunity to setup my exposure. I was a bit startle by how bright the lights were. I had planned to shoot at ISO 400, 1/250 at 2.8. Instead, I had to quickly reset my camera to ISO 160, 1/400 at 2.8. This show took place at the Main Tent which is the largest of the three venues. It’s a traditional setup with a white runway, audience seats set at an incline, and two banks of lights down the middle of the runway. One bank points at an angle toward the models as they approach the end of the runway. The bank next to it points at the back of the models for back lighting. I make this important distinction because I have some seen other shows staged by less professional lighting teams who point the lights straight down at the models. This setup creates very unpleasant dark eye sockets in still and video photography.

The Sue Wong collection was huge with lots of bright, vibrant pieces and very interesting head gear to match. As expected, the models were gorgeous. In a press released from Sue Wong, her collection was inspired by 20^th Century modern artist such as Alexander Calder, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miro and Victor Vasarely. Each artist is rendered throughout the collection in a series of hand-painted prints, color blocking, negative / positive reverse and embellishment all in bright, lively colors as well as an infusion of black & white graphic repeats.

As I was shooting the collection hearing all the shutter clicks around me, it became even more clear to me that there are three type of runway photographers. First you have the sports shooter’s rapid fire style of holding the shutter button down and hoping for the best. Second, you have the more experienced runway shooters who pick their shots and timing it for optimal effect. Third, you have the occasional shooter with a kit lens and a flash but those are pretty rare on the risers. Los Angeles Fashion Week is a bit different from others due to the celebrity factor. It was interesting to watch the dichotomy between celebrities and paparazzi photographers. At L.A. Fashion Week, photographers are basically broken down to two groups; those interested in shooting celebrities (paparazzi photographers), and those interested in shooting fashion. It’s impossible to do both because if you want to shoot fashion, you have to get on the riser early, claim your spot, and nest there until the show starts. This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes and over an hour. Paparazzi have to camp outside the entrance waiting for red carpet arrivals. Once the celebrities walk in, they follow them around the runway and front row taking pictures. Runway shooter might occasionally grab a shot of a celebrity as they walk pass the runway but basically, you’re pretty much stuck to the spot you claimed. In less popular show, it’s possible to step off and move around a little.

Shooting Fashion Week is a series of hurry up and wait interrupted by 40 minutes of intense focus and repeated over and over again. One of the biggest challenges in runway photography is managing resources. It’s a real balancing act trying to use the limited resources you have while still maintaining enough for the next show. If you shoot rapid fire, you will definitely run out of memory and power very quickly. Not to mention the extra time required to edit the junk out after the show. The way the runway is setup, it pretty much impossible to get full length shots when the model is at the end of the runway unless you are in the first or second row. Most of that space is taken by the video guys with the humongous tripods. So I ended up shooting most full length shots while they approach the runway and tighter shots at the end.

With the Sue Wong show behind me, it was off to the Nicky Hilton show. This would be a circus as she has one of the biggest celebrity factors and was showing at the smallest of the three tents. In the end, we manage to squeeze in and make it work. Fortunately, sister Paris did not make a showing to it was not as bad as it could have been. As for her collection, let’s just say it was more off the rack than designer fashion but maybe that’s her target audience. Who knows? It’s just not what I expected to see on a runway among more flamboyant designers.

Next up was the Yves Castaldi show. He started the show with a solo vocal performance that tested the patience of all in attendance. People are there to see fashion and anything other than fashion just detracts from it. I have no problem with the performance of a single song so I can test the lighting but I was not ready for a mini recital while packed shoulder to shoulder on the riser with a bunch of sweaty photographers. The show finally opened with Bai Ling as a celebrity model. I was rather impressed with the collection. His entire collection consisted of black, charcoal, and white.

The day ended with the headliner show in the big tent by Randolph Duke. It was a huge show with lots of celebrities present. Randolph Duke is known for elegant gowns and he did not disappoint based on the positive response from the crowd. As expected, the pieces were elegant and feminine.

By the time the show ended, it was already past 9 p.m. By the time I caught the shuttle back to the garage and check in to the hotel, it was already past 10 p.m. and I was exhausted. Luckily, none of the shows start before 2 pm so I could relax before the cycle starts over again. Having the first show behind me, it was now time to make an assessment of what I really needed. I had brought along a backup body and a couple of wide lenses and a flash for backstage shots. But it was just too much weight to carry around so for the second day, I just brought what I needed and a small compact camera for backstage.

Nicky Hilton slide show

Randolph Duke slide show

Yves Castaldi slide show

Well here we go again with Cycle 8 of ANTM. Thirty two new whining, drama queens are inducted into the Tyra Banks house of worship. If you’re reading this, you are already a fan of the show so there’s no need for me to recap. What I will do is offer my observations and opinions. No less than 7 minutes into the program, the over-the-top Tyra worship begins. Tyra makes her entrance probably preceded by a large group of stagehands holding huge signs instructing the contestants to scream as if they had seen the second coming of Christ. Does Tyra’s ego need stroking so much that we need to see this pathetic display season after season. Even Oprah doesn’t get this kind of welcome in Africa. In a surprising departure from past seasons, the model’s house is decorated with pictures of past ANTM winners instead of being decked out as the Tyra shrine.

The models:

First up is Kathleen (20) who screamed to Tyra “You’re so pretty” no less than three times. She must of thought they measured hair when it come to height because she showed up with a monstrosity on her head that was no less than a foot tall. Great body but her nose is a bit wide for her jawline. I actually liked her photo better than some of the others but the judges didn’t agree and booted her.

From a physical point of view, Sarah (20) jumps out from the rest. She has a fashion model’s body, very symmetrical features, and a very high fashion look to her face. Her experience in the fashion industry gives her a definite advantage over the other girls but it looks like they are already making her out to be the “Miss know it all”. I was disappointed with Sarah’s photo. Both the pose and face were very awkward. One would think she would have done a better job considering she has photographed models before.

Cassandra (24) seems to have stumbled onto the set of ANTM from another show called “What not to wear” complete with a sewed on wig. She has a pretty face and a nice body but is otherwise quite forgettable.

Brittany (21) has a very pretty face and her body certainly fits the bill but her walk is a bit clunky. I like her hair color so I hope they don’t change it. She took one of the stronger photos as a dame decked out in fur.

I’m not going out on a limb much here by officially declaring Natasha (21), as cycle 8’s new bitch #1 aka opportunist. That’s not necessarily my opinion of her but it will be the title the show producers will inevitably place on her. She married a man more than twice her age as a ticket out of Russia. Hey, more power to her. I’m sure her husband knew what he was getting when he married her so it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. Her walk really sucks. Way over the top and borders on being slutty. No doubt she will be a male fan favorite due to her glamor girl face and big hair. She’s more Maxim than Vogue but maybe a makeover will change that. Oh, she has great lips. She took a really weak photo. Very forgettable.

Micheline (22) didn’t make the cut but is worth mentioning. With a quarter of her body covered in tattoos, she has no chance of becoming a mainstream model. I think they just put her on for the shock value. She’s one that pronounced Haute Couture as Hot Couture. And for those who don’t know, it’s pronounced ōt-ku̇-ˈtu̇r.

Samantha (19) is from Alabama. Why is it that every time a reality show puts on someone from the South, they find the ones with the jacked up teeth. There must be someone from the South with good teeth. She is one of the skinniest of the bunch and walks like a stick. No doubt they’ll be doing some work on her brows in the makeover episode. She took a pretty good photo and has one of the best profiles.

We learned more about Dionne (20) aka “1B30″ in the first five minutes than we’ll learn about any of the other girls this entire season. Nothing really stands out about her except that she’s a motor mouth.

Jaslene (20) returns after being booted in Cycle 7 strutting her size 0 frame “all day, every day”. She’s kind of a wild card. They clearly like her personality but we’ll see how far her looks get her. Great photo but what the hell is a ball and chain doing in a photo representing the death penalty. I want to know what State or Country carries out the death penalty by beating the convict to death with an iron ball. Wouldn’t an electric chair be more meaningful? Even a guillotine would have made more sense.

Renee (20) from Maui has one of the best bodies and a very pretty face to match. I’m officially declaring her bitch #2. Anytime someone says they are not a bitch, you can be sure they will be made to look like a bitch. It’s not clear if she will hold on to that title or give it up and take the title of the whiner/crybaby instead. She’s already playing her trump card, her baby. I predict a showdown between her and one of the other models over the use of the phone when she just want to spend more time talking to her baby. I think she may go far in the competition. Her face kind of reminds me of Cameron Diaz and she has good muscle definition on her upper arms. She took a really awful first photo.

Next we have Whitney (20), one of two plus size models this season. Her goal is to revamp the industry so that plus size models can do high fashion. I recall hearing that from the last plus size model who was booted out. Unless ANTM changes sponsors from Covergirl to Trimspa, she’s not going to the finals. It’s nothing against her but she won’t be modeling for Calvin Klein in this lifetime. Is it fair? No. But then again, it’s not fair that I can’t play in the NBA and ugly people can be on covers of fashion magazines. Whitney does have a gorgeous face and I love her smile so she’ll make it a few more episodes. Her photo was kind of weak.

Jael (22), the cry baby. She’s a bit of a drama queen and will no doubt hog a lot of camera time. I like her face the least of all the girls. When she talks, her eyes rolls around and she sounds like she’s high on something. Her hair is also a mess. She took a pretty weak photo.

Diana (21) is the second plus size model. And guess what her goal is? To be the first plus size model to become ANTM. Unlike Whitney who actually looks fat, Diana actually has a really nice body with great proportions and a very pretty face. I think she can hold her own against the other models even without the plus size label. She took a really bland photo.

Felicia (19) aka “baby Tyra” does have a strong resemblance to Tyra. Same skin tone, hair color, and forehead. I like her personality too. I really liked her final photo.

If anyone is keeping track, fight #1 was between Natasha and Sarah over the name of the designer for shoes Sarah wore. Fight #2 was between Natasha and Renee over burping. Fight #3 was between Renee and Sarah over Sarah commitment to being a model. Looks like we have a real three ring circus with these three girls. Fight #4 was between Jael and Renee because Renee was upset with Jael for “acting like everything is OK all the time”.

Rest assured that every time a model wins a competition, a losing model will offer a reason why the winning model didn’t win legitimately. When Sarah won the boot came challenge, it was because she’s a photographer and knew who Richard Avedon was. (Tidbit: Both Jay and Sarah mistakenly referred to Richard Avedon in the present tense. Richard Avedon passed away on October 1st, 2004) When Jael won the Goodwill challenge, it was because she shops at thrift stores.

Did anyone else notice that the Goodwill auction only netted $286.50. That’s $22 per outfit. You would think that Goodwill could have sold these outfits off the rack for the same price without the models. Where did they find these bidders? Did they just walk out to the Goodwill parking lot and grabbed the first 40 people who came of the Smart & Final?

Finally, what’s with all the Photoshop work on the final photos? Someone is getting a little carried away with the motion blur filter. It’s way overdone and absolutely unnecessary.