Shooting A Header On…In…Torch Lake.
Sometimes stuff just does not work out
While riding around, I kept trying to think of how we could capture Torch Lake in one shot. I knew it would involve the water, but I wanted it to scream Torch Lake, But how. The three of us were running around and then we found a magical place where the water was perfect. Now , how does one pull this off. There was only one option, and it involved getting wet. Now where was the shot. I always believe that the shot finds you sometimes, and in this case, I only really found it once i was looking through the shots. Here is a fun archive of some of the out takes and fun. A big thanks to Chad, Matt B, and Dennis and Michelle Spillane and the there very special 1939 Chris Craft. .You can click on the pictures and they will blow up.
Here is Dennis and Michelle when we caught up with them. Look at the reflection on the bottom.
Michelle pointing to where is a great spot to get some amazing water
Maybe we line up the boats and shoot them. This is about as close as they came. It was very windy. NEXT!
It was getting a tad scary out there , not for me, but the new camera was inches away from a bad end! Note to self. Go Pro with a water case.
Ok That’s better, clean, water, sky, boat…but the Chris Craft flag is creating a strange shape on Chads head, and its just missing something..
This one is with the trusty iphone. Tads wife will like this. Its a bird, its a plane, no its CHAD man! Where is the monkey?
Maybe a close up, Here is Michelle look’n good.
On the iphone, close up from a low angle creates a sense of motion. Not header stuff, but very fun
Close. But the flag is blocking Dennis head. Looks strange Wait, this says it all. no really, even in words. Dear god there it is. Dam flag!
BAM, some small lighting fixes, sky fixes, and a logo, and we gots a header.
Here is a shot from Matt B showing how it was taken. Note the saggy flag, After 10 shots of the same shot the wind lended a hand. I think I was on my toes in this. I knew i had all the stuff worked out, only I had to step off the little sand bar.
And just like that, the shoot was over and off to have some fun on the lake. Dang, even driving off looks great on this lake
It is Amazing what you guys go though to get such great header shots.
Realize that most of us have no idea the troubles you take to get it right, but we sure do appreciate the AWSOME headers!
My job was to find shallow water for Matt to stand. The water was so clear that you could see every detail on the bottom. You’d swear you were in 3 feet of water, when it was more like 6 feet.
My other job was dragging him back into the boat after the shoot. …thank god there wasn’t a shot of that.
speaking of which did ya see that the last real whaling boat was relaunched this weekend in CT
I did witness Chad helping Matt back into the boat. It wasn’t pretty…. Lucky for you guys I didn’t think to get a picture of it. Hopefully Lilly will recover from the trauma.
Chad looking so very regal.
Love the clear water and the sandbar is an awesome place to anchor. I would guess like most of the lakes in Northern MI that are crystal clear Torch may have “swimmers itch”. Let’s hope not. And for those from out of state your local doctors won’t have a clue. You may wake up and scream but it will pass and is harmless.
OH thanks, now there goes that perfect place. Michigan water is AMAZING, and well worth some digging!
‘Swimmers itch?’ What on earth is that Mike?
Parasite larvae that crawl under your skin and die. Look like little pimples, and itch like CRAZY for a few days. Only an issue when the parasite is at larval stage. Snails are the host, ducks eat the snails, ducks spread the love (poop) all round the sandy lake bottoms. If you don’t want them, don’t stir up the bottom.
charming.
Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel!
Matt Byrne, you didn’t happen to get a shot of Matt taking a picture of me taking a picture of him, did you?
😀 Great!! Stuff…
I still say you guys need to do a calender with your header shots…I know i,’d buy one
Matt would go crazy trying to pick the 12 shots for a calender…..
“We’re gonna need a bigger calendar…”
What’s the length of Miss Torch Lake 1939?
I was just speaking to Dennis…. That is a 17′ Double Cockpit Deluxe……I have to say, Michelle’s hair looks fantastic in those photos…..did she have a stylist on board?????
Yes she did!. The Spillanes think of EVERYTHING, we even had a little dingy with food. like a craft services table. Although the chips got soggy in the water.
Great just great now I am itching!
Its great to have the cooperation of the subjects and then there’s the ability of the photog to think out of the box and you have a great combination.
Torch Lake reminds me of going over the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron/Sarnia but with the brightness turned up to max. Must be a similar sand bottom. Seems like all Michigan lakes are very clear inspite of what industrial Detroit did to local watershed.
That last one of “Miss Torch Lake” taking off is the one I’d use for a Header! Yes we have a lot of “Blue Water” and sandy bottoms. Legacy of the glaciers. And in a lot of instances the Zebra Mussels. Oh and Swimmer’s Itch isn’t universal but is also not uncommon. Gotten worse as the waterfowl have increased.