PDN Edu - Spring 2017

Jerry Ghionis’ powerhouse dance shoot with powerhouse gear.

Designed to make you look twice, a recent composite series by Nikon Ambassador Jerry Ghionis features a vibrant redheaded model moving energetically across the frame (pictured above right). Ghionis crafted the composites using the full-frame, 36-megapixel Nikon D810 and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR lens. Although Ghionis has created composites before, these were special since they were commissioned by Nikon as part of a series of images to be displayed as 60-inch prints at the 2017 WPPI Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

Ghionis lists the D810’s “quality, detail and dynamic range” as the reason he shoots his portrait and fashion photography work with the powerhouse DSLR camera. “It combines the ease of use of a handheld camera with the quality of a medium-for-mat camera,” he explains.

Ghionis initially chose the model for her distinctive red hair and hoped that she was graceful as well. As luck would have it, he says, “after I met her, I found out that she is also a dancer.

She moved and jumped incredibly well and she easily interpret-
ed my directions.”
Although he didn’t use a storyboard, Ghionis had a num-
ber of poses in mind that would work within a five-person
configuration. For example, “the center image had to be
taller than the rest to provide hierarchy,” Ghionis explains. He
placed the model in similar positions to keep the lighting and
the shadows consistent and, with the Nikon D810 and AF-S
NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR mounted on a tripod, captured
about 50 images for each composite. “I typically favor a longer
focal length,” Ghionis says, “[but] since Nikon released the 24-

70mm f/2.8E ED VR, it has become a great all-around comple-
ment to the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E ED VR and the AF-S
NIKKOR 14-24mm F2.8G ED to complete the ‘full house’ of focal
ranges.” And, he adds, the AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR
is “the perfect lens for family portraits, wedding ceremonies
and reception coverage.”
After selecting the images with the “biggest impact, emo-
tional content and the poses that would be conducive to put-
ting them together in a composite,” Ghionis narrowed the list
down to his five favorites. Once the final five were selected,
Ghionis worked with Australian Nikon Ambassador Rocco
Ancora from Capture to Print to bring his vision to life.

A single portrait of the same redheaded model featured in
the composite (pictured opposite) is equally deserving of a sec-
ond look. This stunning image, shot outdoors against a paint-
ed wall, was captured with the Nikon D810 and the new AF-S
NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED lens. “This image,” says Ghionis, “is
a perfect example of the power and brilliance of this lens. Her
avant-garde sleeves in the foreground and the milkiness of the
beautiful pink background, combined with the compression at
f/1.4, makes this image so much more striking than what you
would see with your own eyes.” He adds: “After shooting pro-
fessionally for more than 24 years, it’s exciting to capture imag-
es with the fastest 105mm on the market. [It] makes my images
look different than anything I’ve produced in the past.”
Still, the newly updated AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E ED
VR is his favorite lens of the group, particularly for shooting
weddings. Ghionis “loves the additional function buttons on
the lens itself” and at 50.5 ounces (including tripod collar), the
lens is light for a telephoto zoom. Perhaps most importantly,
he explains, “its speed and sharpness are truly exceptional and
the compression of the lens makes everyone who steps in front
of it beautiful.” n N
I
K
O
N
U
S
A
.
C
O
M
/
P
D
N
E
D
U
S
P
R
I
N
G
2
0
1
7