This image was a classic set built in our studio. We worked about a week on a shot like this and still were pushed at the end to be ready. I know a guy who worked at a shop next door who looked like Santa. We asked Bill to come and be Santa on Friday and commenced to build the set.
The Set
We built a small roof on the ground and dressed it with snow. The light pole was cut off to lower it in the frame so it would be below the sleigh and we would not have to raise the sleigh so high. We did weld a single arm from a tall post with 4 feet at the bottom to hold the sleigh in place. It was a bit scary because it was held in place with a limited amount of welding. It held just fine.
The chimney was left open so we could run smoke from a rosco smoker coming out of it. The snow was a cotton snow blanket with fake plastic snow on it. My kids having been raised in Southern California for years thought that snow was itchy and plastic. We hung a blue sky backdrop and lit it to look like night.
We used an air hose to blow snow on each shot so it looked like the sleigh hit the roof.
The Light
I like to give reasons for the light in a photograph. The street light gave me the excuse I needed to light the image. It would be coming from the street light or appear to be so. The street light was wired to have a 200 watt bulb and I used a long shutter to give it presence in the image. It does not however light anything, it simply looks like it does.
1. There was a grid on Santa’s face from Camera right high and a grid on the roof from camera right low.
2. There was a head on the floor in the front of the roof to light the camera side of the house.
3. Overhead there were two soft boxes giving me a soft top back light. These lights are 20 feet in the air and very difficult to manage on High Highs.
4. There were 4 strobe heads on the floor pointing at the back ground. They had 3 layers of gels on them. The first layer was frosted to soften the light. The second layer was red and then yellow. It was to give a sense that the sun was just finished going down. I usually put light high on the Backdrop as well but did not in this case because I wanted it to go dark on the top.
The Talent
Bill, the guy next door, arrived on Friday for the shoot. He came in on cruches and only one leg. I had no idea he had a prosthetic leg. When he arrived I asked him where his leg was. He said that it was hurting so he left it home. I explained to Bill that most people view Santa with 2 legs, you know it was kind of a tradition. Egg nog, 2 legged Santa, mistletoe and presents for pretty girls. He apologized for not bringing it and started to get dressed in his suit. My guys jumped into action and carved a leg from a section of 2X4. We placed him in place and rigged the 2X4 in his suit so it would hold the boot and taped it into place.
There is no end to what can go wrong on a shoot. You simply need to be prepared to take on whatever comes at you. Not giving up on the hard arts is usually what separates a good image from an average one. I do love this work.
