Jon Savage
First Shots Count
Sometimes, even a test shot is a keeper. A killer smile, and a little moment is all it takes
I’ve always thought it’s really important not to delete a damn thing. I go back after a while and look at old shoots. Looking at things after a while, with a fresher set of eyes means you sometimes discover little gems you missed on the first pass through your edit.
It’s a rare opportunity that we get a good sunny day in Glasgow! It’s been an even rarer thing in 2020, which has been quite the eventful year for all of us.
To be able to get out and do an afternoon of shooting after six months in lockdown was clearly refreshing for both of us.
It’s been years since I’ve shot down at Pacific Quay on the Clydeside. It was a favourite little haunt of mine for a long time some years back, but I haven’t been back for ages. We thought it would make a great little spot as it’s quite quiet at a weekend, and the spot I like is a little off the main thoroughfare down at the riverside.
There’s nothing fancy here, but it’s obviously all shot on my XH-1, and either with the 50-140mm f/2,8 or the 56mm f/1.2.
I think the exception is the jump shot below, which needed a wider angle, so was using the 35mm f/1.4.
Everything was also lit using my Godox kit, the AD400 Pro, and the V1 round-headed speed light. I attempted to use a beauty dish for some of it, but I’m afraid to say the wind had other ideas, and it ended up hitting the deck more than once.
I have to admit being a bit of a meanie getting this shot… Jon is a former ballet dancer who retired due to injury. I asked him if he was able to still do a jump - and he said yes… maybe one or two. Poor soul. Do it again. And again. Admittedly, we gave up after about half a dozen attempts, but we did get something fun and funky in the end.
