Learn how to shoot magical photos the way ViewBug community member CasaBay_Photo does. Maria Fernanda Bay shares some tricks and techniques on how to achieve dream like shots. "My name is Maria Fernanda Bay. I am a Peruvian photographer living in Bend, OR. I love to travel and I am obsessed with photography. It seems that it is all I read about, talk about, and dream about. I love photographing people, we are such interesting creatures and it is a wonderful challenge to try to capture someone's personality through one image. Lately I have been doing somewhat surreal photography and it is like a drug!"
1. CasaBay_Photo, where did you take the photo shown below?
I had arranged to meet with a group o local dance students in my apartment in Lowell, MA to shoot some outdoor portraits. The weather didn't work with us, and by the time we were ready it starting raining so much we were stuck inside the building. Needless to say, I was NOT happy. We were all sitting in the lobby waiting for the rain to either stop or calm down when one of my neighbors walked by and, when he heard why we were all just sitting there, said: 'Why don't you take some pictures by the old staircase?" I had never heard of a staircase so he took us there. The interesting thing about this is that I used to live in an old mill building, it is a beautiful brick structure that was built in 1907. So this 107 year old wooden staircase was just ridiculously beautiful! ... I was so happy my plans didn't work out!
2. What time of day?
It took us a little while to get set up since we had to use a ladder and some artificial light. We started shooting at about 11 am.
3. Tell us the lighting strategy you used?
Usually, when I do my surreal images, I try to use only available/natural light. This time, however, this was impossible. This old mill building has very large windows, but like I mentioned before, it was raining and the light coming into the building was minimal. I always carry with me one Speedlite, so I set it up on the left side of the split staircase pointing down at the model. I did use a white umbrella to try to soften the light as much as possible. I removed this in post.
4. What other equipment did you use?
I used a tripod and my trusted Canon 7D with a 20mm lens. To light the scene I see a canon Speedlite 580ex ii on a stand and a white umbrella to soften the light. Also, I used a ladder, so she could stand high and achieve the levitation effect.
5. What is the inspiration behind this shot?
I loved the antique looked of the staircase. This beautiful structure has been there for so long and the fact that it is still used and still strongly resisting the passing of time was very interesting to me. If this place could talk, it would tell stories about hard working women who used to run up and down the stairs to work the mills, it would talk about the every day struggle for fair working conditions, and the birth of labor laws. I wanted to create an image that would embody the history of the location and compare it to he strength of the women that worked in it so long ago.
6. What type of post-processing did you do?
I usually have a clear idea of what I want to accomplish at the time of shooting. So for this particular image I shot about 20 frames just for the background and I merge them together in photoshop. I wanted a high quality background that would allow me to distort it a bit as to simulate an explosion. To create the effect on the dress I took an image of a bird and created a customized brush. There are many layers to this file... I had to save it in multiple versions because of its size.
7. What equipment do you normally have in your bag?
I carry two camera bodies: Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 7D. I also have a 50 mm prime, 70-200 mm, 24-70 mm, and a 10-22 mm. I always have a grey card, a tripod, and a reflector with me.
Also, just in case, I have a canon speedlite 580ex ii and an umbrella for rainy days.
8. Any advice for others trying to capture something similar?
Be prepared for the unexpected and know your equipment. I am a girl believer that you cannot be fully creative unless you know how to use your tools to achieve what you want.
Also, creating images like this is like putting together a puzzle, but in reverse. Think about the image and effect you want to create and reverse engineer it. Make a mental list of photos you need in order to put together your creative image.
