maddyvermilya

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Sep, 2015

Views

1579

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+410

Awards

Zenith Award

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Top Shot Award 21

Editor's Choice

Featured

Staff Favorite

Outstanding Creativity

+100

Peer Award

+82

Superb Composition

+60

Absolute Masterpiece

+38

Top Choice

+22

Superior Skill

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Genius

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was actually just taken in my friend's bedroom. At the time I took it I didn't have any studio to go to and didn't want to do it outside because I think it could have interfered with the mood and the lighting.

Time

The photo was taken at night. I think the fact that helped the effect of it since there was no naturally light shining through. I think the darkness of it contrasted by the lighting gives it a sense of a darker time of day.

Lighting

Lighting is the most important part of this piece. Lighting is something I think can be crucial to taking your photo to the next level. It's all about experimentation. It can change the mood so drastically and the way your subject is seen. What I loved about this photo was the way the light shined through the glass onto the figure. It created a different sense of light that you can't get from just anything. It highlights her eyes and parts of her face, while also bringing out little details in the glass. That's one of my favorite things about this photograph.

Equipment

I just used a Nikon CoolPix point and shoot camera for this photograph. It was before I had invested in a DSLR. This photo was part of a series that made me decide to pursue photography as my career. It made me realize you don't have to go out and find interesting things to take photos of all the time, although that is amazing, but you can create things to make photographs the way you want them to. I also used my iPhone flashlight as the lighting source.

Inspiration

At this time I was experimenting with making molten hot glass castings. I decided to experiment with how glass and lighting could make a photograph, but also how an interaction between a person and a cold glass object could play into it. Again, I really wanted to experiment with lighting through the glass, and how that could change and manipulate a figure or what illusions it could bring into the photograph.

Editing

I adjusted the contrast and exposure on this more than anything else. I didn't do tons of adjustments, but enough to make it pop more than it did without the adjustments.

In my camera bag

I have a few different cameras. I have my point and shoot that I don't use much anymore. I have a Nikon DSLR D3100 with a 18-55mm lens. I have a Nikon N90s 35mm Film Camera with a 28-70mm lens. I also have a Holga 120N that is a ton of fun to experiment with if you like funky pictures. I sometimes carry my external flash or lighting sources with me, but only if I think I'll need to use it. Generally, I always have my Nikon DSLR and Nikon N90s on me, as well as charged batteries and my external drive.

Feedback

My advice would be to experiment as much as you can. Turn the lights off and see how lighting can be used with flashes, with flashlights, with long exposures, etc. Experiment with bringing other materials into the equation and how that can affect the lighting and the subject of the photo. Don't get discouraged if something doesn't come out the way you envisioned the first time because it just teaches you more. Find things that interest you and photograph that. And if you feel like there's nothing interesting around you make your own things to photograph!

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maddyvermilya

maddyvermilya

Alternative Materials

Behind The Lens

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