View of the runway at the Rock & Republic 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Tent at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

So, for me, there are three main aspects of Fashion Week: runway, backstage action and the notable people who sit in the front row at the shows. Over the next couple days, I’ll give a brief breakdown of each scenario, the gear I use, ballpark camera settings and a glimpse of the shooting environment:

BACKSTAGE
Gear: I’ll use everthing in my gear list except for the monopod.

Settings: One camera body is set up with a flash bracket, a flash unit and powerpack. The camera is set at 1/250 second, f/11, IS0250. The flash is set to manual output at 1/4 power. At this setting I can get a proper exposure at about 6ft. If the subject gets closer, I bump my f-stop closed in small increments (f/12, f/13, f/14, etc.) and if the subject moves further away, I can open up (f/10, f/9, f/8, etc.).

Designer Nicky Hilton backstage at the Sass & Bide 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Promenade at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

Environment: There is a storm of activity backstage: the designer, photographers, models, hairstylists, makeup artists, security guards, PR mavens, venue production crews, sound and lighting technicians, food services, maintenance crews, corporate sponsors, video camera crews, reporters, dressers, custodial and others, all trying to do their jobs in tight spaces and in limited timeframes. Ostensibly, we’re all there for the same reason, but frequently photographers are barred, removed and pushed around. Fortunately, this season, Getty Images is only concerned with photos of the designers and celebrities backstage, so I’m relieved. In previous years, we’ve shot models getting their makeup done, their hair done and the “first looks” with them dressed in the outfits immediately before they walk the runway.

Designers Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton backstage at the Sass & Bide 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Promenade at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

My schedule today:
- Alexandre Herchovitch, The Tent, backstage & front row (3:00PM)
- Ashleigh Verrier, The Salon, backstage & front row (6:00PM)
- Sass & Bide, The Promenade, backstage & front row (7:00PM)
- Rock & Republic, The Tent, backstage & front row (8:00PM)

Singer Kat DeLuna attends the Rock & Republic 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Tent at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

Singers Christina Milian, Josh Stone and Sophia Bush attend the Rock & Republic 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Tent at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

Model Tyson Beckford attends the Rock & Republic 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Tent at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)

Model Niki Taylor (L) and designer Nicky Hilton (2nd from R) attend the Sass & Bide 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at The Promenade at Bryant Park on February 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for IMG)