Peter Gowland STUDIO 4

The problem having our studio in our home was that up-and-coming photographer’s, with whom we’d made friends, asked if they could use it.

When an acquaintance told me about his apartment with an ocean view that had single bare rooms next to the elevator, and at a very reasonable rental rate, I decided to set up a studio on the 11^th floor even though it’s view was of the city rather than the ocean. There was no water, no bathroom, but it was large enough to work as a studio. I could think of five photographers who would probably jump at the chance to rent a studio, complete with lights, etc. for only $50 a month. That way, it would pay for itself.

Studio 4 was a success. In fact, I had many more than five photographers interested and finally had to turn some away. Eventually, rents went up. Today it would be impossible. I checked with the manager and rentals are ten times what I paid!

Putting in a sink was simple. I built a box to hold a regular single wash basin. Then for plumbing I bought two plastic containers, one for fresh water and the other a drain. A hand pump was used to bring this water up. It then drained into the other bucket. I also built a make-up table and installed 12 lights into a frame that went around the mirror. I also built a platform to raise a bed next to the East window, where daylight could reach the subject. From my home studio, I brought a key light, a back-ground light, and a camera stand that I had designed and built.

YACHT CLUB

I am most happy building things, like wall to wall mirrors, a low wall of wood for the patio and running in to the living room, lights over the patio a custom bed and lattice around the opening to the kitchen & hall to the front door.

Mirrors have a wonderful way of doubling the size of a room. We used 3-ceiling to floor mirrors!

Notice that the woodwork is continuous, extending into the interior of the "Yacht Club".

Santa Monica Pier on the 4th of July taken from the “Yacht Club”