Here is something we can learn from joe-clarke about the techniques and story behind this awarded photo.
1. joe-clarke,where did you take this photo?
A secret location in Bristol.
2. What time of day?
9.30 am
3. Anything worth sharing about lighting?
Natural lighting worked well as it was a dull and overcast morning, the flat light allowing me to achieve a consistent exposure on the skin tones and showmans carriage, ideal as you don't want to be using dazzling flashes when working with tight rope walkers using no safety!
4. What equipment did you use?
Canon 5d mk lll
24 - 70 2.8 L lens
Tripod
Cable release
5. What inspired you to take this photo?
The couple (Chris Bull and Phoebe Baker) asked me to create a promotional image to be used for Glastonbury Festival. The real inspiration is in the uniqueness of this couple, this vintage showmans wagon is there full time home, and they have just become engaged (congratulations!) and are planning to get married on the high wire! So the image is referencing many sides of there unique personality, lifestyle and insane circus skills.
6. Did you do any post-processing? if yes, tell us about it!
Yes, quite a lot! The set up is completely real, they were really walking the high wire attached to the showmans carriage without any safety. Sometimes when your shooting an image ideas become very strong and you just know what post production it requires to really sing. I knew that this image needed a lush and idyllic backdrop, so I carefully put one in from other landscape photographs I've taken (the backdrop is actually Ashton Court if your familar with Bristol). The real background was an abandoned warehouse and an unforgiving concrete ground. You can see it in the bottom right corner.
7. What equipment do you normally have in your bag?
Canon 5d mk lll
Canon 24 - 70 2.8L
Sigma 12 -24
Mamiya TLR (with a few rolls of film)
Light meter
Cable release
8. Any advice for others trying to capture something similar?
I'm lucky to know such creative and unique people, it's there highly developed skills and eccentric visual style that grabs the attention. So advice wise, find something unique!
Photography wise, always shoot RAW, it gives you so much more to play with afterwards. This was quite simple to shoot, i set the shot up on a tripod and watched there movements and expressions and clicked away. This image really came alive in post, the key was using adjustment layers across the entire image once the background was in place, to give a united feeling to the colors and light, trying to make it all look as believable as possible with a pinch of filmic nostalgia in the processing.
Discover joe-clarke's photographic style and techniques.
The Bullzini Family by joe-clarke
