JT Chestnut photographed in the infrared spectrum by Eric Schwabel

JT and I did these shots with my infrared cam.  Someday I’ll post specs on that but basically it’s made from a Nikon D100 body, I ripped it apart to accept the infrared and visible spectrum.  Since this shoot I’ve ripped it apart again so that it only shoots IR, so I’m thinking my D200 might need to be modified next.  For instructions on how to do so, and to purchase the clear or IR replacement filters, check out lifepixel.com

ANYWAY.  Check out some of the shots below.  One of these made it in to my book, Shooting Male.

JT Chestnut photographed by Eric Schwabel. IR spectrum.

JT Chestnut photographed by Eric Schwabel. IR spectrum.

Johnny Hazzard photographed by Eric Schwabel

I’m a big fan of the out take, and it seems a blog is the perfect way to show a few.

Johnny Hazzard and PD are the cover models for Schwabel's SHOOTING MALE

The cover shoot with Johnny Hazzard was originally for a magazine.  When the magazine expressed copyright concerns about me using my own shot on my own book (*ahem*) Johnny and I got together and reshot it.

Now, every model has their breaking point.  Some shoots just go on too long, or, as was the case with my ANTM shoot a few years back, some models just have no energy for whatever reason.  Neither of these were the case this time around, but Johnny’s co-star, his pooch PD, definitely let me know when enough was enough.

To be fair — PD has the greatest disposition and is extremely well behaved, and I’m honored to have he and his sidekick Johnny as the cover models for my book.  The two were extremely gracious — you’ll have to ask Johnny but I think each time we’ve shot together has been fun all around.

PD has had enough and decides the shoot is over

Setting up lighting

Most people would run the other way around a pantsless Johnny Hazzard. Clearly PD is over it.

"Parting shot..." Or "Things you publish when you're not working with an editor"

Mario Kenyon photographed by Eric Schwabel

Mario was sent to me by Felix Tipper @ JLA.  I didn’t find out until after the shoot that this was his first test with a photographer.  So, not too shabby.  The shot on the chair with the grass wallpaper set was used in my book, SHOOTING MALE which is becoming available in US bookstores in July.  It’s already out in Europe and most of the rest of the world — in fact someone recently told me they got a copy in Cambodia.  You can also order it @ Amazon.com, though I encourage you to visit your local bookstore instead.  Once we get a list of where it is from the US distributor, I’ll post it on the shooting male website.  I do know it’s available at Barnes and Noble in Minneapolis though, thanks to my sister-in-law.

Mario Kenyon photographed by Eric Schwabel

Mario Kenyon photographed by Eric Schwabel

Mario Kenyon photographed by Eric Schwabel

Chris Anthony photographed by Eric Schwabel

Chris Anthony is Associate Artistic Director (and head of the youth programs) for Shakespeare Festival/LA, a nationally recognized company in downtown targeted at city youth and engaging them in the community and arts through Shakespeare.

Raul Clayton Staggs photographed by Eric Schwabel

Raul Clayton Staggs, casting director,  occasional actor, and Associate Artistic Director for the Playwrights’ Arena sat for this Faces portrait recently.

Debbie McMahon photographed by Eric Schwabel

Debbi McMahon is the artistic director of Grand Guignol, a movement-based company that performs in the style of the Grand Guignol of Paris — known for onstage ‘horror and comedy’ shows that featured dismemberments, etc as well as satire and puppetry.  Think Punch and Judy. Debbi was the first to bring her own props, which I give her props for doing.

Shot this on a new digital back for my Mamiya RZ67 that I got a few months back.  I’ve shot a few commercial projects on it but haven’t really played around with it that much.  Obviously having more MP is very nice when it comes time to print, but I was more interested in the quality of the pixels and being able to use my old RZ lenses for digital capture again (I’ve since ordered a 645 body via eBay given the crop factor, and my occasional desire to shoot things wide angle).

The glasses are new as well, thanks to my friend Dan and the good folks at Chrome Hearts.  Haven’t put prescrip lenses in them yet.  Decided to take a pic to make sure I liked them (trying on glasses blows — you can’t really see yourself in the mirror since, you know, you can’t focus — and I don’t wear contacts). But I think they’re keepers.

Gustavo Marzolla photographed by Eric Schwabel

Gustavo originally hails from Brazil, but now works as a screenwriter in Los Angeles.  I met him through a previous model, Jeff, and shot him for the Naked Truth series, but called him back for this test shoot.  Both Jeff and Gustavo appear in my new book, “Shooting Male.”

This was a test shoot with a Lensbaby Composer.  I also shot a “standard” faces shot (below) and… err…  zoomed back a bit.

Gustavo Marzolla photographed by Eric Schwabel

Gustavo Marzolla photographed by Eric Schwabel

Gustavo Marzolla photographed by Eric Schwabel

Gustavo Marzolla photographed by Eric Schwabel

Christian Levatino photographed by Eric Schwabel

Artistic director and lead actor for Gangbusters Theatre Company, Christaian Levatino, recently sat for my “Faces” series.

Gabriel Rivera photographed by Eric Schwabel

Artist Gabriel Rivera photographed by Eric Schwabel in his studio for LUXE magazine.

Edgar Landa photographed by Eric Schwabel

Edgar Landa recently sat for my “Faces” series.  Edgar is the managing director of Son of Semele, a very alternative, experimental theatre company.  He is also a successful fight choreographer, and a faculty (and alum) of USC.

Lynn Manning photographed by Eric Schwabel with glasses.

Lynn Manning is an award winning poet, playwright, actor, and former Blind Judo Champion of the world.  He recently sat for my “Faces” series.

Lynn Manning photographed by Eric Schwabel without glasses.

Each day I post a new photo that I’ve shot that day. See the full rez shots at smugmug.

Today’s shot is on a Nikon that I modified to shoot only infrared light (and subsequently covered the sensor with dust galore…  I’ll open it up eventually and clean that out).  Shot in Venice, CA.

© 2009 Eric Schwabel. All Rights Reserved.

Yes, that’s his real name!  Makes googling impossible.

John was awesome, this nude shoot is from way back in 2006, but as he just got in touch with me — apparently his agent had never given him copies of the photos — decided to post as I sent them out to him as well.

A few of these appear in my book “Shooting Male” which Amazon is shipping now!  Today is (technically) the release date! But they started shipping late last week.  Get it now, the price keeps going up!  hah.

Calibrate your camera. Photo © Eric Schwabel

What ISO is that camera wantin’ to shoot at, anyhow?

Time to calibrate some new gear and recalibrate some old gear (deleted those damn profiles!), and I know I’m not the only one…

Come to schwabelstudio Sunday, June 21st @ noon.  Calibration patches and instruction given for your RAW-shootin’ digital camera.  Bring your own lights (or calibrate to our Profoto gear).

RSVP to studio@schwabelstudio.com Event will be afternoon-ish on Sunday.

Good times.

Photographed Jason Alexander (of Seinfeld fame) for the “Faces” series.  Nice guy!

Jason Alexander photographed by Eric Schwabel

Johnny Hazzard and PD are the cover models for Schwabel's SHOOTING MALE

Amazon.com received their first shipment of my new book, “SHOOTING MALE” today.  Already, they’re down to three copies while I’m writing this, order now!  Shameless plug, I know I know.  In 2009, I think all shameless plugs are allowed while we all search the couch cushions for spare change.

I haven’t really blogged about the book yet, I don’t know why.  It was a bizarre journey, and I didn’t really know if I was ready for it…  Until the publisher sent me the first copy.  It came out beautifully and the buzz already has been awesome.  It’s for sale in Europe (someone just told me they bought a copy in Cambodia…  Christ!) and with Amazon’s news today, that means US-dwellers will be getting their hands on it soon.  It will hit brick-and-mortar stores next month, and of course a big release party is planned.  You can get an invite to the party and info on book signings at shootingmale.com, there’s an eMail form.  Don’t laugh at that site — myself and my intern made it from scratch.  Just hired a designer (Faith Miller) to take it and my main sites, which need SERIOUS overhauls, over and get ‘em pretty-fied.

So check out the book, and check back here for more info.  The book has lead to many interesting developments in my career, and I’ll try to be a tad more up-to-date with this blog if anyone is actually listening.

-Schwabel

Actress / Producer Eileen T'Kaye photographed by Eric Schwabel

Eileen T’Kaye on IMDB

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Voice over artist / actor Justin Hibbard photographed by Eric Schwabel

Justin Hibbard’s website

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Lane Aikin photographed by Eric Schwabel

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Ian Roberts photographed by Eric Schwabel

Ian Roberts on Wikipedia

Gloria Hole at Burning Man 2008

Today is my dear friend and famed painter Harold Cleworth’s birthday, and it’s a big ‘un — 70, but he doesn’t look a day over 69.  Anyhow, Harold and I were a part of something extraordinary last year; a camp at burning man called “Mal-Mart.”  To put the name in to context, the theme last year was “American Dream.”  Somehow my idea of creating a strip mall in the middle of a social experiment where money’s only value is as toilet paper or jewelry turned in to something much bigger and more impressive.

Anyhow, back to Harold.  He and my sometimes-assistant-slash-set-designer “F” were magically transformed into Mal-Mart’s spokesmodels.  Harold is known, once a year at a very special haloween party, as the Emcee, miss Gloria Hole.  F’s creation of Hellen Bacque however we can only assume is a new tradition.

So I photographed these lovely ladies as advertisements for Mal-Mart.  We then had them printed on perforated Vinyl larger-than-life, and they were used as “walls” on the structure.  I ended up not attending last year, but was happy to see photos of Mal-Mart surfaced all over the web.

So enjoy, and once again, Happy Birthday Harold!

I photographed the Furious Theater Company a while back but never posted.  Yes, finally, a post since FEBRUARY.  ACK!  Stay tuned for more.

BEFORE

AFTER