Sometimes the simplest ambient light offers the ideal mix of mood and illumination. At other times, complex multi-light setups are required to tell just the right story. I shoot with a Canon 5Dsr body combined with the best “L” lenses. I use Elinchrom Quadra portable strobes that allow me to bring their great quality of light and power to any location. Combined with the correct light modifiers lik
e the Rotalux Deep Octa or Lumodi beauty dish, just about any combination of lighting solutions can be achieved. Following the shoot, I process the RAW files and then finish in Photoshop CC. Using techniques I learned through the study of drawing and painting, I finish each image to a high level of perfection and detail that cannot be detected by the naked eye. But to me, many details which are not easily seen build to a climatic finished image. It’s the Zhen Touch. My Inspiration
I have been greatly inspired and influenced by renaissance masters such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo and the use of chiaroscuro (lights and darks). One purpose of recent trips to France and Italy was to further study their work. One can see their influence in many of my images that use a lot of dramatic shadows and color. For 1930's and 1940's genre photography, the work of George Hurrell shaped how I shoot those portraits. Olivia De Berardinis and Alberto Vargas are my go-to references when I work on pinups. Studying the work of Annie Liebovitz has helped me look at light in a different way. And amazing photographers such as Ellen von Unwerth have shown me the power of subtle eroticism behind some image concepts. Great locations have sometimes gotten my creative juices flowing. During a shoot, a model who really “gets” the concept and knows how to “be” the character creates tremendous chemistry and inspiration.
