In Studio with Joel Grimes

Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer Joel Grimes has worked as commercial and advertising professional for over 26 years. Specializing in bold, eye-catching photography, Joel has been the recipient of a variety of awards and accolades, including a dedicated 18-month exhibit at the  Smithsonian American History museum. Joel strives to create beautiful conceptions with his photography and teaches his techniques at workshops and seminar throughout the globe.

Throughout this shoot in studio at Westcott HQ, Joel utilized the new 59″ Zeppelin Deep Parabolic softbox. Introduced by Westcott in February of 2014, the Zeppelin Deep Parabolic series of softboxes were designed for commercial and fashion portraiture. Featuring a deep profile, a superior silver interior, and multiple mounting methods, the Zeppelin creates a large wraparound light. Joel placed this large modifier directly in front of his model and adjusts its height by the amount of shadows he prefers under the model’s eyebrow, nose, lip, and chin.

The Zeppelin is available in 35, 47, and 59 inch models, all equipped with high-quality construction and needlework, 16 durable lightweight and heat-resistant rods, a 1/2-stop inner diffusion panel with a 1/2-stop center dot to eliminate hot spots, a single sheet outer diffusion panel, and a travel case. The Zeppelin Speedring Bracket is available for purchase and compatible with Bowens, Profoto, Balcar, and Elinchrom style light heads. This heavy-duty bracket not only provides quick mounting for these large modifiers, but also serves as additional weight support. The Zeppelin is equipped with a zippered entry point, serving as a second light head mounting option when paired with an additional light stand. When partnered with a Westcott boom arm, a third mounting option is achieved through the Zeppelin’s rear ventilation cover. Internal mounting methods are optimized with the available Zeppelin Deflector Plate, which eliminates light spill.

In studio, Joel uses the rear mounting method with the inner diffusion baffle. This allows for a soften light output, with a bit of specularity due to the gap between the inner baffle and the Zeppelin’s silver interior. He places the model against a white wall, which provides a subtle fill reflection and softens the overall look of the final images.