Icons of Cigars™ — Janny García

Posted by on Friday, May 27, 2011 · 16 Comments 


When I started this series of portraits, some of the people I most wanted to photograph were the members of the García Family, as (to me), they represent some of the most influential people in the cigar business today. I was able to photograph Pepín with my first portrait, but the other members of the family have eluded me.

Until last week, when I heard that the wonderful Janny García would be in town for a few days (at a few different shops). I traveled to the Up In Smoke in Irving, where I asked if she had the time to sit for a few photos.

Janny was amazingly gracious with her time, and just a great person to be around. We talked for about an hour after the shoot about her family’s history and their view on cigars, as well as discussing some of the upcoming releases they are trying out.

The photo itself was a bit challenging, as I needed three different light sources to accomplish what I had in my mind. The only place to photograph was in the back lounge, and there were TVs all over the walls (GREAT for a cigar lounge, not so great for the background of a portrait) that I knew I had to get rid of somehow.

I decided to go with a VERY dark background, and basically try to expose just for Janny in the portrait, thus rendering the background black. However, I still needed to light Janny AND the smoke. In order to light the smoke coming off her cigar, I put a Quantum on 1/8th power directly behind her shooting up, which provided two very different and important things: it backlit the smoke (made it pop nicely from the background) and also provided a nice rimlight to separate her from the black background.

One thing I wish I had done differently, I needed a bit more rimlight on the back of her head, I should have bumped up the light behind her to about a half power or so.

Janny herself is lit with two different video lights, one camera left and one camera right.

So, as always, thanks so much to Janny for taking the time to sit and smoke for the camera, and thanks to Charlie and Joe for holding the lights.

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Filed under Featured, Icons of Cigars™, Main · Tagged with , ,

12 comments
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MikeRebeiro
MikeRebeiro

if u love the cigars dear really u are one very great lady here really ok wish alot of women like u were like u really a great cigar a beautiful lady thats the way to truly sell the cigars ok ?a woman  can sell more than any man its very true ok ?if there are more women working in a cigar shop the men would go there ?if a man works there yeas some men will go buy them but  men like to go into there because of a beautiful woman ?i have tryed so many many cigars really ok ?its very hard to tell who has the best so far thank u very much really take care i will orded some soon really  mike rebeiro monterey ca

t_ron99
t_ron99

Looks great to me! Very nice addition to the Icon Portraits.

hawgmauler
hawgmauler

Ed,

The full portrait is definitely better than just the preview. Just needed a little more rim light on her hair (top of head). The little bit on her arms, shoulders and leg really help define, but the top of her head kinda disappears. You do good work, Ed! I wish I had your equipment and skills.

I would have liked to have been there, but was on vacation.

:)

Lefty
Lefty

The harsh lighting on her face makes her head appear to float in space. I would have preferred an image with softer lighting to make her appear more attractive.

pr0nphisher
pr0nphisher

Awesome job, Brooks! I agree with the light behind the back of her head - would've given it definition. I personally would never be able to take that shot, so bravo!

Jfire
Jfire

Brooks,
I gotta say I dont like it nearly as much as your other Icon photos. Her face just looks SI on her body! But then again I',m a fireman what do I know!
Cheers,
Jfire

Brooks Whittington
Brooks Whittington

Hey Steve, actually there was almost no PS done on her face...The look is because of the video lights I was using to light her, a very harsh light (which was the look I was going for)...

Steve-O
Steve-O

Everything looks awesome except for her face!!! Holy overprocessing, Batman!

Charlie
Charlie

Portrait turned out awesome, one of the best you've done Ed.

Tony (issues)
Tony (issues)

Great picture, no doubt!!!

Not a bad subject either. ;-)

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