Nick Fancher 6/8/25 Nick Fancher 6/8/25

Recent Work

I have fallen behind when it comes to blogging, but still wanted to update it periodically. Here’s some of my favorite work from the last six weeks…

I have fallen behind when it comes to blogging, but still wanted to update it periodically. Here’s some of my favorite work from the last six weeks. Some of the images are from workshops I’ve taught, some are client commissions, and the rest is personal work. Though they range in technique and concept, I feel like they’re cohesive in the sense that they mark a particular time in my art-making.

I do have an announcement. For those that have taken my workshops and would like a space to continue education and art-making, I’ve started a monthly event called Geek Sessions. There are morning and afternoon sessions, each with a unique model and five slots for other photographers, and are held at my studio in Columbus.

Finally, I’m open for commissions, so hit me up if you want some images like this of you / your band / your brand, etc.

Nick Fancher 6/25/24 Nick Fancher 6/25/24

Slipknot X Revolver Magazine Photo Shoot

This shoot was a make-it-work situation, if ever there was one. I was given 30-minutes to shoot a magazine cover as well as individual portraits of each member of @slipknot for @revolvermag. Apparently I didn’t think this was tall enough of an order, so I decided to shoot four different color schemes, both with and without a prism.

Because the shoot was so last minute, I wasn’t able to scout locations, or even know whether or not the shoot would be indoors or outside, under the bright, hot summer sun. When we arrived at @sonictemplefestival I was relieved to find that we’d be shooting indoors. My relief was short-lived when I realized that the location had nine-foot drop ceilings, and I needed to shoot a large group of adult men in this small space, in a vertical format for the magazine cover. My team and I ultimately decided to pull in a couch and have three of the subjects stand on, which we then blocked with the remaining subjects.

On top of all of this, the shoot occurred an hour after I wrapped up teaching a 2-day workshop, all while nursing a deep cut on my thumb, which was held together with gaff tape. To quote Jesse Ventura in Predator, “I ain’t got time to bleed”

Thanks to @jimmyhubbard, @brandongeist, for the trust and opportunity, and thanks to @lindsay.berndt @brookelabrooke @ryandugger_ for the assist.

If you want to snag a copy of the issue, it’s currently on pre-order on the Revolver site.

Nick Fancher 5/29/24 Nick Fancher 5/29/24

Images From the May Creative Portrait Workshop

Here are some of my favorite images from my latest Creative Portrait workshop. As you can see, we covered a braod range of techniques over the two day class.

Here are some of my favorite images from my latest Creative Portrait workshop. As you can see, we covered a braod range of techniques over the two day class. There are currently two spots left in my August class, which is at an early bird rate for two more weeks. More info, here.

Nick Fancher 3/25/24 Nick Fancher 3/25/24

Shelby X Creative Portrait Workshop

I had a blast hosting a sold out workshop at my studio this past weekend. Thank you to my students for coming from places as far away as Boston, Seattle, and the Cayman Islands. Shout out to my incredible models (@yesandso seen here) for making it easy to turn these techniques into moving art.

There are two spots currently left in my May workshop, as well as spots in the August and October workshops (which are both currently at a discounted early bird rate). Details here.

Nick Fancher 3/3/24 Nick Fancher 3/3/24

Warped and Fragmented Portraits of Rachel

I had a blast playing around with a range of different prisms, refraction panels, and ring lights last week with @rachelluree. As always, these effects were created in-camera, with the only post work done being color grading in Lightroom.

Nick Fancher 11/13/23 Nick Fancher 11/13/23

Photo Shoot with a Projector and Prisms

New work with @fulltime_babe. Been continuing my trip down the prism rabbit hole. I’ve learned the importance of waiting to edit a shoot until I’m in the proper headspace to really explore where the images want to go. The smallest tweak to my color grade can completely change the vibe of an image.

Nick Fancher 11/2/23 Nick Fancher 11/2/23

Glowing Halo Photo Shoot (In Camera Effect)

This glowing halo effect is latest technique that I’ve been exploring. The possibilities are as exciting to me as they are overwhelming. I want to dive in and try everything at once, but I’ve learned to let the process dictate the pace.

What’s especially wild to me is that these images are 99% how they looked coming out of the camera. All I did was some minor color grading in Lightroom. I shot this whole set in under half an hour! I really want to shoot a music video with this effect, so email me if you’re in the market for one.

Also, this was my first shoot using my new cyc wall. I’m excited at the possibilities that this wall affords. Huge thanks to @artmakescbus for the grant which made this project within reach and thanks @bhappygolucky for helping me christen my now-complete studio.

Nick Fancher 10/9/23 Nick Fancher 10/9/23

Images From the Glow Photography Workshop

Here are a few selects from my “Glow” workshop this past weekend. One of my favorite things about teaching is that I often end up discovering new things, such as this concentric circle halo effect that I stumbled upon. Thanks to @cortadh0e for killing it as always and thanks to my students for coming out to make art with me.

My next workshop is in January and has an early bird discount until November 1st. More info here.

Nick Fancher 1/31/23 Nick Fancher 1/31/23

Images From Latest Creative Portrait Workshop

This past weekend I taught a 2-day Creative Portrait workshop at my Columbus, Ohio studio. Students came in from Utah, Arizona, Texas, and New York. It was an intimate time of learning, experimentation, and creativity…

Each Creative Portrait workshop that I teach is unique since I base the lessons off of what the students want to learn, as well as the latest techniques that I’ve been exploring in my personal work. Because of this I’ve had students take the workshop on more than one occasion, since the experience is not simply about learning new techniques, but also about revitalizing one’s creative drive.

Below I’ve included a selection of the images that I created and techniques that I taught over the weekend. Finally, keep an eye out for an announcement of my next workshop, if you’d like to join!

Nick Fancher 8/29/22 Nick Fancher 8/29/22

Images From My Latest Creative Portrait Workshop

Last week I taught a two-day photography workshop called The Creative Portrait. I taught my students a range of innovative camera and lighting techniques that allow them to capture subjects in creative ways. Here are a few of my favorite images from the weekend.

Nick Fancher 7/14/22 Nick Fancher 7/14/22

Cannabis Campaign Photo Shoot

I was recently commissioned by Rove, a California-based cannabis company. They asked me to create a range of creative, lifestyle images using my in-camera techniques…

I was recently commissioned by Rove, a California-based cannabis company. They asked me to create a range of creative, lifestyle images using my in-camera techniques. Shoutout to my models Chyna and Dustin for doing their own hair, makeup, and styling.

Nick Fancher 5/17/22 Nick Fancher 5/17/22

Stef's Aura

In this shoot I explored prisms and color and creating a glowing aura with Stef…

In this shoot I explored prisms and color and creating a glowing aura with Stef.

Nick Fancher 1/17/22 Nick Fancher 1/17/22

Using a Fungus-Filled Lens with Long Exposure and Prisms to Create Psychedelic In-Camera Effects

Whenever I’m doing a personal shoot I try to make at least one small change to a tried-and-true technique in an effort to see how the resulting images differ from previous sessions. For example, let’s say I’m shooting long exposures in a darkened room while my subject is wrapped in strands of LED lights and moving around the room. Each image is different based on their movement, which creates unique light trails. In the following shoot I might have the subject and camera stationary as I swing the strand of LEDs around the room, thus framing the subject in light. Another session might involve me moving my camera while the subject and lights are unmoving. Each tweak of the formula creates dramatically different results and I frequently discover new techniques through these experiments…

Take this recent session as an example. Kayla, who is a super talented illustrator and designer, came by to sit for me as I explored using with a new prism that my dear friend Kristin gifted me. I set up two GVM 800D LED lights in a darkened room and set it to “party mode”, where the lights pulse through the prismatic spectrum. I used a fungus-filled lens that I bought off of ebay, which creates hazy, atmospheric images. I locked my camera down on a tripod and made half-second exposures while I moved the prism back and forth, in front of the lens. The half second exposure was a sweet spot as it was enough time to allow the lights to pulse through a full range of colors (any longer and they all blend together into white light; any shorter and you only see a couple of the colors), while also giving me enough time to move the prism across the front of the lens. As the prism moved and light changed, each color of Kayla had a moment to burn into a distinct image.

Doing effects in camera creates moments of surprise— elements that you may not think to incorporate. For example, if you were to simply try to create this effect in photoshop by changing the hue of a portrait and stacking a bunch of them together, the final shot would be made up of a bunch multi-colored, but otherwise identical images of Kayla. Images created with this technique are more nuanced in that each one is comprised of multiple, slightly different images of Kayla over that occured over the span of the half second exposure. As such, these straddle the line between portrait and video, where the passage of time is more of an element.

For the remainder of the shoot I played with some fiber optic brushes that I got from Light Painting Tools.

The BTS video below shows how fast the lights were changing, how close the prism was to my lens, and how quickly I moved the prism during the half-second exposures.

Nick Fancher 9/29/21 Nick Fancher 9/29/21

Shoot with Ballerina Francesca Jordan Dugarte

My latest attempt at capturing the beauty of movement over time. Been exploring long exposures while rotating my @prismlensfx linear filter and multi-strobing my flash. Excited at the possibilities! Also really loving the hard light and fast falloff I can get with my @lindsayadler_photo @westcottlighting Optical Spot.

Nick Fancher 8/6/21 Nick Fancher 8/6/21

Dreamy Shoot with Actress Aleksa Palladino

Always great to shoot with @aleksa_palladino. Thanks to @nalanihmelo for co-directing and styling the shoot. Also, how amazing is that light through my fungus lens?!

Always great to shoot with @aleksa_palladino. Thanks to @nalanihmelo for co-directing and styling the shoot. Also, how amazing is that light through my fungus lens?!

Nick Fancher 5/23/21 Nick Fancher 5/23/21

What Nightmares May Come: Exploring Prisms and Mylar

I’ve worked with prisms from time to time over the years and enjoyed the effects that they offer but never really fell in love with them. Last week I decided to see what would happen if I used a prism while photographing mylar. The beautiful nightmarish images that were produced are the closest visual representation of a panic attack that I’ve ever seen. Now I’m in love.

Model: Sera

Prism: Linear Prism FX Filter

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