For this first lesson I will present you two different works on Bugattis.
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©Text and Photos by Roberto Bigano
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The first one of 1991 for “Divina Bugatti”, a book for the refined italian publisher Franco Maria Ricci in 1991 using film and a second one, in 2009 at the International Bugatti Meeting in Castiglione della Pescaia, Tuscany. Here I shot in digital, using the Hasselblad H3DII-39 MS.

The first time I shot cars was in 1991 for an assignment from Bugatti Automobili and Franco Maria Ricci Publisher. I had to shoot twenties and thirties Bugattis for a book, “Divina Bugatti”. This book became later a milestone in automotive publishing.
The beginning was very hard, I had to shoot on location at Musée National de l’Automobile at Mulhouse, Alsace….
Read the whole story in Roberto’s personal blog.

Technique: Divina Bugatti 1991
The basic concept is very simple. A white screen, larger as possible with two-four lights, possibly fresnel spot lights placed at the bottom of the screen to model the car with higlights and give structure to the image. Two more lights, spot or flood, placed at the beginning of the screen to give a basic fill lighting and color.
In Mulhouse 1991 and Castiglione 2009, the great star was the Avenger Butterly Modular Frame; it’s one of my workhorse. I use it as an immense reflector with a special white textile also used for painted backgrounds in the film industry. Together with my spotlights, it allows me ultra-fine lighting control on location. Because it’s modular and detachable, it fits in the trunk of my car. It’s fast to set up and fold out, ready to mount on stands in a few minutes. I normally used the 20×20 feet – 6×6 mt model.



Technique: The Bugatti Glamour 2009
The Bugatti International Meeting 2209, organized by the Bugatti Club of Italy, took place in the Tuscan region of Maremma between May 23rd and May 30th. The gathering celebrated the centennial of the Bugatti foundation and brought 120 Bugattis and their crews to Castiglione. It was the largest Bugatti Meeting ever done. A stunning professional and human experience for me.
Eighteen years later nothing better was available. So I used again the Avenger Butterfly to shoot Bugatti. Here below I will present you some pictures and their backstage


Bugatti Type 40 (1926) – Bugatti Type 44 (1928)


View the video below
The Bugatti Glamour 2009 Backstage with Hasselblad & Manfrotto from Roberto Bigano on Vimeo.
Eighteen years later nothing better was available. So I used again the Avenger Butterfly to shoot Bugatti.
Here below my crew who mounted the Butterfly in Castiglione with all the equipment needed.

The equipment
View a video on how we set it all up
Tripod & Heads
1 Manfrotto 475B – Photo tripod
1 Manfrotto 410 – Geared Head
1 Manfrotto 547B – Video Tripod
1 Manfrotto 701HDV – Video Head
1 Manfrotto MBAG100PN – Tripod bag
1 Manfrotto 269HDB-3U – Look out tripod-stand
Stands & lighting
3 Manfrotto 1004BAC – Black Alu Air Cushioned Stackable stand
4 Manfrotto 003 – Backlite Base
4 Manfrotto 156BLB – Black Alu Low Mini Pro Stand
4 Manfrotto 001B – Black Alu Nano Stand
1 Avenger A0010 – Steel Baby Stand
1 Manfrotto 022 G-PESO – Counterweight
1 Manfrotto 023 L-PESO – Counterweight
1 Manfrotto G200 – Sand Bag
Century Stand and light control system
2 Avenger A2016D – C-Stand 16 Detachable
1 Avenger A2022D – C-Stand 16 Detachable
3 Avenger D200 – Grip Head
2 Avenger D250 . Gag Gobo
2 Avenger D500 – 20″ Extension Grip Arm
2 Avenger D520 – 40″ Extension Grip Arm
1 Avenger I1010 – Meat Axe Flag 30×36″/75x90cm . Black Cloth
1 Avenger I1021 – Cutter 18×48″/46x120cm . Black Cloth
1 Avenger I1031 – Floppy Cutter 24×72″/60x182cm . Black Cloth
Butterfly Modular Frame System
1 Avenger Modular Frame Set – 20×20 – 6,10×6,10 mt
6 Avenger tubes 4×4, 122×122 – with balancing accessories for background
4 Avenger A3043CS – Overhead steel stand 43 with bracked wheels
Accessories
4 Manfrotto 143N – Magic Arm
9 Manfrotto 035 – Super Clamp
4 Manfrotto 386B – Nano Clamp
8 Manfrotto 271 – Panel Clamp
2 Manfrotto 171 – Mini clamp
8 Manfrotto 013 – Adapter Spigot
Third party stuff
8 Arri Junior 1000 – Fresnel Spot Light
2 Lastolite foldable panels
More contents about this matter on my blog.
See more about Bugatti International Meeting 2009
Roberto Bigano Uses Hasselblad Cameras: check his profile here on www.hasselblad.it