Posts Tagged ‘Ultimate Graveyard’

When I first moved to Los Angeles for film school, and began exploring nearby locations while working as a cinematographer, I immediately fell in love with the California desert. As a lifelong East-coaster, I had only seen these seemingly endless stretches of raw land in the movies.

Years later as a magazine photographer, I found myself shooting in the Mojave desert month after month, and so it was only a matter of time before SlickforceStudio opened its own artists’ playground—Ultimate Graveyard. The property stretches more than 300 acres, and features panoramic horizon views of breathtaking mountainscapes, picturesque Joshua trees, sprawling railroad tracks, and even the stunning Milky Way at night. By popular request, we also added several “apocalyptic” features, such as abandoned vintage vehicles, sun-worn furniture, and a gutted plane shell.

This year, Ultimate Graveyard celebrates its 10th anniversary. Visit the new UltimateGraveyard.com for frequently asked questions, a blog of recent shoots, and full galleries of the various features. It’s a dream shoot location that was built for artists, by artists, and it’s available for your next production.

Drone photography by NICK SAGLIMBENI, RAFFAEL DICKRUETER & SERGEY ASTAKHOV
Time-lapse astral photography by NICK SAGLIMBENI

Video footage courtesy of these amazing productions:
ROCKET JUMP / LOOT CRATE
THE DANCE – Cheers
FRENCHIE DAVIS – Love’s Got a Hold on Me
ADAM TYLER – Friction
QUEST PISTOLS – Different
JER MASTER
DUKE INDIA – California Summer

Train to nowhere	Gutted plane shell
Plane shell at night	Abandoned Packard car

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One of our favorite international clients recently flew to LA to create a 50th anniversary campaign for Duke India‘s fashion brand. SlickforceStudio produced the “California Dreamin'” campaign, which was shot over two days.

Day One took place at our favorite playground in the Mojave desert, Ultimate Graveyard, where the models posed on vintage vehicles, climbed plane shells, and danced along the railroad tracks.

On Day Two, we set up shop at Point Dume in Malibu, making use of the sprawling horizon views, steep cliffs, and sandy beaches.

See the 60-second commercial above, and behind-the-scenes images below. Congrats to Duke India on 50 years of success!

MODELS: Celine Farach, Maryam Zolghadr, Federico Pedroni, Austin Moreno
PHOTOGRAPHY: Nick Saglimbeni
WARDROBE STYLIST: Katie Qian
MAKEUP & HAIR: Sherri Celis, Sunny An
VIDEOGRAPHY: Derrick Cohan
BTS IMAGES: Joyce Park for SlickforceStudio

Few people can claim to have accomplished so much before turning 18. Already a fashionista, a TV star, a Balmain model and the #1 most popular person on Snapchat, Kylie Jenner clearly has plenty of momentum heading into adulthood.

The SlickforceStudio team is proud to have played a small part in Kylie’s meteoric rise, as she did her very first professional shoot right here at our studio five years ago. Since then, the younger half of Jenneration K has returned in front of our cameras many times to further grow her brand.

Last month, we asked you to rank our best Kylie Jenner shoots. You voted, and now here are the Top 5. To see the full list (voting remains open), click here.

Click on the titles for more info, full galleries, and behind-the-scenes of the shoots. And if you’re still itching for more Kylie after that, you can view every shoot we’ve ever done together right here.

Wishing Ms. Jenner a very happy 18th birthday and continued success. Drumroll please.

5. Kendall & Kylie’s First Team Up at SlickforceStudio

This shoot was not only the first time I photographed both Kendall and Kylie together (aside from the Christmas cards), but it was also shot entirely in 3D. See the final images and the making of this shoot here.

4. Kylie Jenner: Day One – Kylie’s First Shoot

The historic first time Kylie Jenner stepped in front of my lens, and she couldn’t have shined brighter. See more from Kylie’s first shoot here.

3. Arthur George Socks for Neiman Marcus

The shoot was a ridiculous amount of fun, as you can see both in the video above and also in the behind the scenes and final campaign images here.

2. OK! Magazine Spring Fashion Feature

Beautiful, bright, and full of energy—see Kendall & Kylie’s full OK! shoot and behind-the-scenes here.

1. WMB 3D: Kendall & Kylie at Ultimate Graveyard

Easily the most epic shoot we’ve done together, K & K take over the desert for WMB 3D: World’s Most Beautiful. Go backstage at their Ultimate Graveyard shoot here.

And there you have it. Love this list? Think you could improve it? Vote your favorites here so your voice is heard!

It’s probably the alternator.

In Issue 3 of WMB 3D: World’s Most Beautiful, I brought two of my favorite rising starlets out to Ultimate Graveyard for an apocalyptic shoot-to-remember. Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s fashion feature was styled by the insanely talented Monica Rose, who found the perfect pieces to complement the decaying location.

Here is a backstage look at the making of this shoot, with wonderful production images by photographer Joyce Park. WMB 3D #3 is available now for iPhone, iPad, and on Google Play. And check out the video below for a closer look at the shoot!

CREDITS
Photography by NICK SAGLIMBENI
Styling by MONICA ROSE
Makeup by GABY RAMOS TORELL
Hair by JAKOB SHERWOOD

Production Stills by JOYCE PARK for SlickforceStudio

Hot desert temperatures sometimes bring about unwelcome surprises. Have several fire extinguishers on hand in case of unexpected emergencies.

(Photo taken at UltimateGraveyard. For location rental information, visit UltimateGraveyard.com.)

Last month we held our second PhotoKamp in Los Angeles. Students flew in from all over the US—including 2 graduates from PhotoKamp I—and from as far as the UK this year, which was both awesome and flattering. The three-day photography workshop is designed to teach up-and-coming photographers how to handle professional photography and lighting equipment, direct models to desired results, and light subjects in difficult situations.

On Friday evening, I took the photographers atop a downtown skyscraper, where they captured the LA skyline from sunset to night, and the results were incredible—especially in an era where even consumer-level cameras feature respectable sensor sizes, robust ISO latitude, and long-exposure capabilities. After the rooftop shoot, we headed indoors to a warmer meeting area where my amazing team arranged dinner during an informal Q&A session between me and the students.

On Saturday, we met at SlickforceStudio for an in-depth lesson in professional grip and lighting equipment. We also discussed budget-friendly options, which allow for amazing lighting setups at under $100. It’s always fun to see the wheels turning in the students heads as they learn about new equipment and contemplate exciting lighting setups based on their newfound knowledge. Each student then rotated between the positions of photographer, camera assistant/tech, lighting assistant, and fan operator (always the most fun.) Two models posed for the photographers, allowing for each student to have two full hours per day as photographer, in charge of the entire set. They chose the models’ wardrobe, directed their team and the hair & make-up crew, experimented with lighting, and built sets.

On Sunday, we awoke early and carpooled to Ultimate Graveyard in the Mojave desert. Two new models joined us, and while they were in hair and make-up, I showed the photographers solutions for dealing with harsh sunlight and extreme contrast, as well as safetying equipment in high-wind environments and using generators on location. Everyone always has so much fun out in the desert, and there is nothing better than seeing new photographers get excited about cool locations, as I have since the first day I picked up a camera.

For more info and upcoming dates, visit the PhotoKamp site!

Special thanks to Kevin Savarese for coordinating the weekend, the SlickforceStudio staff and amazing interns for their support, and to Joyce Park & Derek Eskridge for these fantastic images!

In November 2010, with the help of my elite SlickforceStudio team, I held my first photography and lighting workshop. For years, photographers have been asking my advice on which lights to buy, what lenses I prefer, and how to direct models. So I compiled the e-mails and years worth of feedback from our Slickforce forum into a wishlist of features that would form what I believed to be the mother-of-all-photography workshops, and Nick Saglimbeni’s PhotoKamp was born.

On Friday evening, I met the attendees high atop what we affectionately refer to as “Slickforce Tower”. We enjoyed a barbecue dinner with the studio team while everyone introduced themselves, and then we went into an open-forum Q&A on the business of photography. I relayed several stories from my own experience, as well as those of fellow photographers. The energy of our class was amazing, and it was clear from the first night that it was going to be an exciting weekend.

Saturday morning, we met at SlickforceStudio to learn studio lighting. Here, I covered the many different types of lighting and modifier options, and then everyone watched me demonstrate live on one of our lovely models. Finally, we split the class into two groups, where the students rotated between positions of photographer, camera assistant, lighting tech, and even the fabled fan operator (which incidentally was nearly everyone’s favorite job.) They shot both fashion and glamour looks, and each student got a minimum of one-hour of complete creative control as the photographer.

Finally, we met early Sunday morning and carpooled out to Ultimate Graveyard in the Mojave desert, where the team was introduced to our new models for the day. Here, we covered both simple and complex location lighting, ranging from working with natural light to large-scale magazine-style lighting setups using strobes and reflectors. It was so much fun to watch the photographers’ excitement shooting in the desert—it reminded me of why I love shooting there so much. Once again, the students took turns creating their own lighting setups, directing the models, and assisting each other. I looked over their shoulders while they remembered why they LOVE to create art—and I realized we had created the ultimate playground for photographers.

After sunset, a few photographers experimented with long-exposure photography in the desert, capturing everything from the Milky Way to writing “PhotoKamp” with a flashlight. On the ride home, though exhausted from three days of power-teaching, I couldn’t get over what a pleasant and thrilling experience PhotoKamp was. The new dates for Spring 2011 have just been posted! But don’t take my word for it, here are a few quotes from our PhotoKamp attendees:

“PhotoKamp was one of the best weekends of my life. I was surprised how enthusiastic the crew was, and how they went out of their way to help each one of us.”

Raffael Dickreuter

Visual Effects Artist, Iron Man

“Of all the workshops I’ve been to, this one featured the smallest class size, the best models, and longer shooting time than expected.”

John Agger

Photographer

“Shooting at SlickforceStudio was like being in a photographer’s candy store—they had a beautiful assortment of lighting, modifiers, and even lenses for me to experiment with. But the biggest surprise was the models! They were not only professional and beautiful but had NEVERENDING patience!”

Kyla Schultz

Photographer

“I enjoyed watching how Nick’s team works together to achieve a work of art. I wish PhotoKamp was a month long—it is an experience I will never forget.”

Henry Thompson

Photographer

“PhotoKamp was a life-changing experience for me—it was AMAZING. It would have cost me far more time and money to rent all of that equipment on my own and figure out how to use it through trial and error.”

Von Jackson

Art Director

In 2008, the SlickforceStudio team and I started ModelKamp. For years, models had been asking us not only for help with their portfolios, but also for magazine referrals and tips on how to navigate the often-intimidating modeling industry. As with nearly every spin-off of the Slickforce brand, the idea for a modeling camp was sparked when countless aspiring models came to us after being scammed by shady producers of “super-shoots,” which ultimately over-promised and under-delivered. We’ve always prided ourselves as being the most professional photography studio in the world, so the “model-camp-to-end-all-model-camps” seemed a logical step, especially given our unique position in the magazine and modeling industries.

This October we held our 6th ModelKamp, which sold out a full two months in advance. The three-day workshop began on Friday, opening with a panel of industry guest speakers. First, I spoke with the new models about building their portfolios, how to work with photographers and styling crew, and tips on magazine submissions. Then, 20-time Magazine cover-model-turned-actress Vida Guerra spoke to the ladies about her career, avoiding the pitfalls of the modeling game, and not losing yourself in Hollywood.  After Vida, SHOW publisher Sean Cummings spoke about his magazine, what he looks for in models, breaking in to the business when you’re brand new, and the payoffs of persistence. Finally, the models did fittings with their wardrobe stylist, selecting their outfits for the next two days of shooting.

On Saturday, the girls arrived bright and early for a full day of shooting at SlickforceStudio with myself and magazine-photographers Christian Arias & Cherry Gardner. Cover-model Brittany Dailey then arrived on set, so the models could watch a professional photo-shoot first hand. Brittany and I then coached them on poses and facial expressions while they shot fashion, glamour, and headshot looks.

On Sunday, the models were ready for their final exam. We met at 5:30am, hopped in passenger vans, and carpooled out to Slickforce’s Ultimate Graveyard location in the beautiful Mojave desert. There, the girls experienced a large-scale supershoot, usually reserved for celebrities, as they shot fashion and glamour looks with our three top photographers. It’s always a treat for me to take people to the desert for the first time, because watching their excitement reminds me of the awe I experienced when I first fell in love with the California desert.

As we wrapped at sunset, one of the models, Yvonne, threw her arms around me for a tearful goodbye, saying she never felt so good about herself, and that she was sad to be leaving her new family. I reassured her that she would always be part of our ever-growing Slickforce family, but it was still a warm reminder of why I take so much pride in our company.

All in all, our models left with a minimum of 6 looks, over 700 photos, and free retouching. To date, we’ve had 11 models land spreads in various magazines, two of them covers! Registration for ModelKamp 7 opened this week. Get more info and hold your spot at ModelKamp.com!

Here’s your Pep, boys.

Production Shots:

I was thrilled when I got the call that Vida Guerra was returning to modeling. She was my first celebrity model client when I started shooting magazines. I first worked with her on shoots promoting National Lampoon’s Dorm Daze 2. By 2006 we were working together almost exclusively (I think I missed a King and an FHM cover due to prior arrangements), so I was extra bummed when she retired from modeling in early 2007, right after we shot her calendar in Cancun (THAT was a fun trip with lots of stories that I’ll save for later, but remind me to tell you about calling Vida’s dad the wrong name all week and something about a chicken.)

When approaching a shoot, I always try to avoid repeating not only myself, but also other shoots that the model has done. With a model like Vida, you have to accept that guys are buying the mag primarily for her incredible shape. But having become Vida’s friend, one thing I always felt that other photographers missed was her smile and her personality. Yeah, her butt is great, and that’s easy to make look good, but I decided to show Vida in a way she hadn’t been seen before—having ridiculous fun. This was Vida’s first magazine shoot in over two years, and I wanted something really different. So what better location than Ultimate Graveyard?

We all busted our butts for the two-day shoot, and I towed that ’55 Chevy Clipper into the desert with my Hummer (I picked it up at an auction for $500…the Clipper not the Hummer LOL). Then, all the production vehicles, including the RV, got stuck in the sand due to windstorms, so I had to tow 5 vehicles out of the sand. That was the day I fell in love with my truck.

Vida says this is her favorite shoot ever. Hopefully the fans like it too.

(And as you’ll see in the behind-the-scenes, my crew really helped me hit this one out the park. Love to my awesome Slickforce team.)

Build Your Own Apocalypse.

I’ve always loved shooting in the desert. And after the real estate market tanked, I decided the time was right to buy my own plot of awesomeness. I have to admit, I felt like a kid getting his first Optimus Prime…I mean, there I was, in the middle of NOWHERE, staring up at the brightest stars you’ve ever seen, and I thought. Holy crap, I OWN this. So throughout 2009, the Slickforce crew and I towed out busted cars from the 1940s, old plane shells…we even set furniture on fire (FUN!)

We’ve shot 5 magazines out there since we opened it.  Now, I want to share it with everybody.

Enter Ultimate Graveyard, a 350-acre apocalyptic landscape available for your next film production or photo shoot.

This desert masterpiece features an auto graveyard, gutted plane shells, jacked-up furniture, rusted oil drums, and tumbleweeds as far as the eye can see. Picturesque railroad tracks sprawl across one edge of the property, and the 360º panaromic view showcases breathtaking horizons in all directions.

Best of all, Ultimate Graveyard is completely hidden from public view, so you’ll have total privacy during your shoot. Ultimate Graveyard in is the Mojave Desert—a little more than an hour from Los Angeles.

Ultimate Graveyard is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask us about our student rates and independent-film discounts.

Visit http://www.UltimateGraveyard.com for more information and to book your next shoot!