lancebalchin

POTIAD

Sep, 2014

Views

353

Likes

+65

Awards

Editor's Choice

Peer Award

+21

Superb Composition

+10

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

All Star

Superior Skill

Outstanding Creativity

Magnificent Capture

Behind The Lens

Location

In my living room/studio (in my tiny flat in Brisbane - Australia). One day I'll have a bigger space to work in but, for now, this set up is working pretty well.

Time

We shoot mostly in the day. The space we shoot has no outside windows so it is not really affected by the time of day we shoot.

Lighting

A funny story? I went to India to shoot some fashion for a friend. Dropped off all my lighting gear and took a side trip to Thailand. On trying to return to do the job I discovered I had no visa (having used the one I had) and had to return to Australia. So, with my entire lighting rig in India, this image was shot with a single 500w head (and beauty dish) and two cheap Speedlights. In a funny way having less lighting can be a good thing, makes you a little more inventive?

Equipment

D800 with a 1.8 85mm Prime. No tripod (1/250 at about f9). Reflector and 1x500w flash head and two Speedlights. Tethered capture to a Mac running Lightroom.

Inspiration

The model's amazing cheekbones. She is a friend (I mostly shoot agency models) and a great photographer in her own right. We wanted to get 'epic and Italian Vogue' (my art director's words) with this one. We like simplicity and are influenced by Andrey and Lili from Russia (just stunning work).

Editing

I'm a Photoshop photographer. I use a technique called 'frequency separation editing' where I can split the image into a colour layer and a details layer (bit like using a high pass filter but with more control). If you're doing portraits or fashion I highly recommend learning it (heaps of tutorials on Youtube), it will change Photoshop for you and speed up your process. I also use a lot of colour overlays set at different blending modes to create a more 'volumetric' image. I think this image is a little 'over perfect' but it was what we set out to create...

In my camera bag

D800 and a 50mm lens (oh and a charged battery and empty memory card!). I don't really do street photography as I'm very much based in the studio. My 'studio bag' would contain lot's of reflectors (bought ones and ones I've made myself) and lots of gaffa tape (duct tape for those outside of Australia). I say duct tape because I believe (as a trained lawyer) if you're going to take photos you have to think about the safety of your crew, models and the general public. Tape those cables down!

Feedback

Start with a Beauty dish (or, if you don't have one, a bare light with a spill kill) up high and pointing down at 45 degrees. I normally line it up pretty much straight on to the subject but in this one it is slightly to the left (you can see the darker shadows on the right). A Speedlight on the floor behind the model and pointing up to light the background and another over her shoulder and pointing down into a reflector that is just out of shot at the bottom of the image. Then it's a matter of playing around with the power of the lights and your aperture.

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lancebalchin

lancebalchin

POTIAD

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow lancebalchin

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