Federal Reserve of Kansas City

I recently started shooting for a new client, the Federal Reserve of Kansas City. I was contacted by them to photograph a couple of individuals here in Denver. One of my subjects works at the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Security at the Federal Reserve is very tight, I had to provide my licence plate number and vehicle type the day before I arrived. I was instructed to enter a specific gate, press an intercom button and give my name and my contact persons name. I was also told not to be alarmed when armed guards come out and search my car.

Sure enough, the day I arrived I was greeted by 2 armed guards and a uniformed guard carrying a mirror on a pole used to check beneath my car for a bombs. Yeah, security was tight. Once I was permitted to park my car, I went to the glass booth and presented my ID. My contact was informed of my arrival and I was escorted into the lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank.

My assignment was to photograph the assistant vice president and branch executive economist. The photos were to be used for their monthly magazine "Ten". I was shown around the building, allowing me to scout a couple of locations for the portrait. I wanted to provide my client a "safe" corporate style portrait as well as something a bit more edgy.

During my scouting, I noticed the elevator interior and I just knew I had to shoot there. The light modifier that I choose to use was a ring flash. This was the perfect solution for the environment my subject was in. The back wall was a reflective service and the use of the ring flash provide a intensity of light around her. This is the final image I selected from the shoot.

The ring flash I used is made by RoundFlash, this is a very clever ring flash which is collapsible and fits in a small bay. The opened size is about 17" in diameter. My friend Eric Krugl in Austria sent me one as a gift, I really like it and the size is great.

For the second portrait, I need met my subject at the Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. This portrait was a straight forward corporate style portrait, I'm also including two set-up shots to show you the lighting.

In the photo below, you can see where my subject and I was standing. On the left, I bounced a flash off the wall and on the right you can see a flash fitted with a grid for a rim light.

If you have any questions regarding the set up, feel free to comment.