Actor Rachael Taylor: How I Photographed an Aussie Movie Star
Movie star, Rachael Taylor, photographed by window light, during Summer Coda filming.
I was fortunate to photograph movie star Rachael Taylor, while working as a stills photographer on the Australian motion picture film Summer Coda, in and around the regional city of Mildura in Australia.
Rachael Taylor is an actor, model and producer, best known for her roles starring in Transformers (2007), Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and Grey’s Anatomy. Born in Tasmania in 1984, and an advocate against domestic violence, Rachael launched Power Up Create as a way of mentoring other creatives.
As we progress through this post I’ll outline how I went about photographing Rachael and my impressions of working with this accomplished Australian movie star.
The above photo shows Rachael Taylor immediately after filming a scene from the movie.
Despite oppressive heat, and at the end of a difficult scene, Rachael got straight back into character which enabled me to make a series of images of her character, Heidi, with her violin.
Fortunately I only needed to suggest a few changes to the scene to make this photo.
I remember asking Rachael to move backwards, so that her head could rest comfortably on the pillow. Doing so illuminated her face and made it easier for her to look upwards.
The uneven intensity of the light across the scene allowed me to position Rachael in such a way that drew attention to her face, and away from her lower body.
Frankly, I was a little concerned about the prominence of her left foot, at the very front of the photo.
Fortunately, through the use of a very shallow depth of field I was able to greatly reduce the foot’s significantly in the image.
I then asked Rachael to look towards the window, as a way of illuminating her eyes and creating a more candid, contemplative mood.
The violin and bow were added into the shadows as props, in a way that kept attention on Rachael’s face.
I love using window light in portrait photos. Being a relatively large light source, window light provides soft illumination and, when employed skillfully, produces very flattering portraits.
The Making of Summer Coda
Summer Coda was filmed predominantly in and around Mildura, in north west Victoria during December 2009.
Over the years I’ve created numerous posts from the film illustrated with images of the crew and the local landscape.
While I found working on the film to be an enjoyable and uplifting experience, Summer Coda was made with a very small budget and under very difficult conditions.
I was extremely impressed with the way actors and crew alike met those challenges.
Oppressive summer temperatures were faced by all and, in addition, others had their own, unique problems to manage as best they could.
It's a credit to the professionalism of all involved that the work came first and, as a result, the finished product shines under the direction of USA-based, Australian filmmaker Richard Gray.
Candid Photography: Is it Real or Contrived
Personally, I found Aussie movie star Rachael Taylor to be generous and engaging, very aware of the needs of a stills photographer like myself.
As well as being required to make numerous stills during or immediately after the filming of certain scenes, I was also asked to photograph a range of candid moments, of actors and crew alike, on and around set.
This was particularly important to director Richard Gray, who also wrote the script, so I did my very best to make a series of images that helped tell the story of the making of Summer Coda.
From my point of view, these were the photos I most enjoyed making.
Movie star Rachael Taylor, photographed with a violin, while filming Summer Coda.
photographers Must Respect The Movie Stars They Photograph
This study of Rachael Taylor’s character Heidi, playing the violin, was made with the aid of window light.
Once again, the soft window light provided a wonderfully flattering illumination by which to shape the face and highlight the warm hues present in the violin.
You’ll notice that, by critically focusing on the eye closest to the camera and employing a shallow depth of field, attention is quickly drawn from Rachael’s hands and the violin she’s playing, up to her face and eyes.
It’s an easy photo to make, and the whole process would have taken me less than a minute to complete.
There are some actors, with whom I've worked in the past, who simply do not want to be photographed once their filming responsibilities have ended.
There are numerous reasons why this is important to them and/or the management group with which they’re involved.
Image is important to movie stars, and it's not unreasonable that they would want to try and protect their image by controlling how and when they’re photographed.
Off set, as public figures, this is clearly hard to achieve. The dreaded and vile paparazzi make sure of that.
On set, I’ve occasionally had to balance the views of an actor with the needs of my employer. This is particularly the case when, just after arriving, I’m required to photograph an actor.
It’s always best to meet these folks before you’re required to point a camera at them. Doing so helps them get a sense of your character, motivations and, ultimately, whether they can trust you.
However, I’ve also experienced disappointment when an actor moves suddenly out of character and, only seconds after the director says cut, is unable to recreate the emotion, expression or physicality they so brilliantly displayed moments prior.
Fortunately, I never had that experience working with Rachael Taylor. And that means a lot to me.
Movie star Rachael Taylor, behind the scenes in Summer Coda.
How to Photograph Movie Stars and Film Crew
Off camera, and around the set, I wouldn't dream of photographing anyone who doesn't want to be photographed.
I simply make the point that, as I'm only interested in making positive, life-affirming photos, refusing that opportunity is as much their loss as mine.
If I can't photograph them then, sadly, they’ll be missing from the body of work I produce celebrating the making of that film.
Personally, I think that's unfortunate but, whether I agree with their rational or not, I absolutely respect their decision.
In Rachael's case I had no such problem.
Due to her very hectic schedule on set, there really wasn’t much time available to photographer her off camera, other than during meal breaks or between wardrobe changes.
I do my best to keep clear of actors during those times, assuming they need space and quiet between scenes.
In this case, I simply stood back and made use of a telephoto lens to make this photo of Rachael, being prepared prior to her next scene.
Mind you, I always make this kind of photo in full view of cast and crew.
At such times it’s important to keep out of everyone’s way, but still remain visible, even if it’s on the edge of their peripheral vision.
And let’s me clear, you’re fooling yourself if you think you’re not going to be noticed pointing a huge, white telephoto lens in someone’s direction.
Actually, this was one of the first photos I made during the filming of Summer Coda.
While a very straightforward image, I remember feeling that it was an important photo to make.
It allowed me to document an interaction between a home-grown movie star and two of the unsung heroes who work so diligently and so expertly, behind the scenes, on low budget motion picture films like this one.
Due to other commitments, I was only available for about two thirds of the project and, as a consequence, I had to arrange for another photographer to fill in for me during those critical first weeks when bonding between cast and crew usually occurs.
Frankly, it was a battle at first. But, over time, and despite the oppressive heat, I developed really great relationships with many of the cast and crew.
And the bonds and great memories that followed have stayed with me over the years.
Working on film sets, particularly on location, can be incredibly difficult. The conditions are tough, the work relentless and technically challenging, but the people are great.
For me, that’s what it’s all about.
I’m always interested in bonding with people and making new friends, and it's always a good feeling when you get a chance to sit and chat with any member of the team, whether cast or crew.
Along the journey I’ve realized that everyone has a story to tell, and that I’m always interested in hearing and, where possible, documenting their story.
That understanding is one of the key factors that’s motivated me, year after year, to make all manner of sacrifices so that I can continue to create beautiful life-affirming photos.
And the day when I realized that my camera wasn’t a physical barrier, but a passport into the lives of others, really opened by mind and my heart to employ photography to more deeply explore the human condition.
Truly, it was like a flash of lighting on a blue sky day.
Movie star Rachael Taylor, during a hitchhiking scene near Mildura, Australia.
Summer Coda: A Journey of Candid Moments
The above photo, one of the many walking scenes Rachael Taylor performed in Summer Coda, helps tell the story of her journey from the USA to the orange groves around Mildura.
For these walking scenes I positioned myself as close to the Director Of Photography, Greg de Marigny, as possible without getting in the way or having the sound of my camera’s shutter being picked up by the audio guys.
I'm really not what you might call a candid photographer, preferring to work in a more interactive way with the people I photograph.
However, the nature of this project required the recording of certain candid portraits. Right from the beginning Rachael seemed fine with this.
I'm not the type of photographer who hides in the bushes, with a big telephoto zoom lens, making images on the sly.
As outlined previously, I prefer to stand back and out of the way, but remain visible. When an opportunity arises for a candid moment (e.g., laughter, banter, interaction with the director, etc), I'II make a photo.
And I’m only interested in making high quality, beautiful photos.
I really have no interest in rendering anyone in a demeaning manner, unless they choose to ham it up for the camera. And, even then, I'm careful who, if anyone, sees such photos.
Night scene of movie star Rachael Taylor filmed in Mildura, Australia.
Low Light Photography on a Film Set
As many of the scenes from Summer Coda were filmed indoors or, alternatively, outside at night, a lot of low light photography was involved.
Please remember that filming for this project was undertaken back in 2009. Needless to say technology, particularly high iso noise reduction, auto focus and image stabilization have come an enormous way since then.
I remember having to employ what, in those days, was considered high iso (e.g., 800 or 1600), in addition to slow shutter speeds (e.g., ⅛ second) and fast lenses (e.g., 85 mm f/1.2) to be able to record the moment as close as possible to how it would appear on the big screen.
Right from the first time I made a candid photo of Rachael, I was aware, and very much appreciated, that she'd wait until I'd released my camera’s shutter before she moved.
That was really helpful though, in the case of actual action scenes filmed at night, I had to do the best I could with the light available to me at the time.
It would be great to revisit some of those scenes today, with the benefit of a new camera and fast lenses.
My current camera is a Sony Alpha 1, though I’m interested in moving back to Leica, particularly a Leica SL3 Reporter or, perhaps, the smaller Leica M EV1.
On the first day we worked together Rachael would send the faintest type of wink towards me, as if to say, "No worries, hope you got a good one".
I'II never forget that, particularly after arriving for my first day on set, some way into the project, with the temperature reaching 47 degrees Celsius.
Movie stars Rachael Taylor and Alex Dimitriades, Summer Coda film set, Mildura.
Conclusion: Aussie Movie Star Shines Supreme
Any opportunities to photograph Rachael Taylor, during the filming of Summer Coda, were a real highlight for me.
Rachel has an enchanting smile and luminous skin, as is evident in this black and white portrait of Rachael with Australian actor Alex Dimitriades who co-starred in the film.
Photography is largely about light. And Rachael and light share a rather special relationship.
Rather than light reflecting off her skin, light seems to radiate outwards from Rachael’s face.
This luminous quality is what I try to achieve in all the photos I create. With Rachael it’s just there. Which is why, regardless of the oppressive temperatures under which we all worked, it was such a joy to photograph this Aussie movie star.
