Alberto “Beto” Perez
It’s always great to get the call from an editor with those words, ” Your shooting for the cover”. Your image will be on representing the magazine on newstands and Kiosks all over the country. It puts a smile on my face when I’m hurrying to catch a flight and see one of my images on a newstand in the airport. Anyway. Most people when they think of a Business magazine cover…its always a guy/girl in a tie. Armed crossed. Captain of the Universe low angle shot. Not on this one.
CEO Alberto “Beto” Perez gave me over fifty high jumps without the aid of a trampoline until we both were happy. I actually used my ears more then my eyes for this session. Beto would stomp his right foot harder on the ground as he propelled himself into the air. I have shot ballet before which has its own challenges, but the dance is very choreographed.
His zumba leaps were very free form and each shot yield a different shape. Sometimes the action was great but the expression was off. Or he would jump completely out of the frame! It was air dancing. We shot on three backdrops, white, black and a eye popping yellow. The editor, Travis Ruse wanted an image which leaped off the page. INC got its cover and I got a few Zumba lessons from the man who invented it!
Here are a few technical details. Camera: Phase one DF camera with P40+ back and outfitted with a V-Grip which allowed me to shoot a air dance freezing speed of 1/1250 with a Schnieder 150mm LS lens. Lighting: Profoto bi-tube and Profoto 7 packs.