THE SPRINGS, IDAHO CITY, Advertising Photography

When Mary, the managing editor of Eagle Informer Magazine,called us to do some photography for a new advertiser that wanted to do a full page ad, we were excited and apprehensive.  The advertiser is The Springs, a natural hot springs resort in Idaho City.  They were planning to reopen this famous old resort after a huge, 10 year, remodel to commemorate its 150th Anniversary (1862-2012).  The grand re-opening was to be in February 2013 and Mary had a magazine deadline and it was the middle of January. So, I didn't get to do my usual site location scout so that I could see what I was getting into and plan accordingly.  But I figured, hey, they're doing this big grand re-opening next month and they want site photography with models shown enjoying their facilities…So, how hard could this be?…and it sounded like fun.  Mary got the models, a nice local couple that had just recently gotten married and off we went.

I'm told that the site is wide open--there's no shade--so all photography is being done outside since the new main building still needs interior finishing. With no shade possible I tell them I want to do photography in late, warm, light, so it's planned for photography to start at 4pm.

To my horror we arrive at a construction site completely unprepared for any kind of photography!  Granted, their big geothermal pool and hot tub are done--finished and up and running--but all around the hot tub are huge pieces of black plastic covered by sheets of plywood and there are stacks of construction materials covered in blue tarps in my background! The place is a mess! This is the finished image AFTER Kathi's extensive photoshop clean-up:

f16.0 @ 1/320 sec., ISO 400, Lens: 15mm fisheye

So, here's the site when we arrived with all the wonderful debris.  That's Mary on the right!

You may be asking why did he use a 15mm fisheye lens for this image? Well, it was the only way I could get the whole hot tub in the frame because 2 feet behind me there was a wrought iron fence, that surrounds the site, with a shear drop-off on the other side. Damn good thing I always have that lens in my camera bag. 

This is my next favorite from the fish-eye series:

My next set-up was to reverse the angle to take advantage of the back light from the setting sun and show off the now fully warmed-up hot tub's steam.

f6.3 @ 1/1000 sec., ISO 400, Lens @ 95mm

This image, from that set-up, is in the current Eagle Informer Magazine (Feb. 2015 - You can view on line.) highlighting various natural hot springs in Idaho including The Springs in Idaho City.


















The image below was MY favorite of our couple in the hot tub.  I guess it was a little too steamy for the folks at The Springs for advertising!

f6.3 @ 1/1000 sec., ISO 400, Lens @ 200mm

So, for any Idaho locals reading this or any of you looking for a special vacation, check out The Springs ( http://www.TheSpringsID.com ) and experience it for yourself.  They have a 40'x80' geothermal pool and the 16' hot tub, kept at 104 degrees, that you've already seen.  They also have heated sidewalks in the winter, a steam room, Watsu and couples massage and there's a cafe as well.  Pretty cool place! 

'Til next week…

Author:  Jerry W Venz, PPA Certified Master Craftsman
Training site:  http://www.LightAtTheEdge.com