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chrismercerimages
December 15, 2018
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AlexLabry
December 16, 2018
I had that same exact same thought when I saw her walk up and assume such a remarkably similar pose. I keep asking myself, "Wonder what was she thinking at that moment?"
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was made in Venice, Italy. We were walking around a very crowded Plaza San Marco when we saw a poster for the Helmut Newton's Big Nudes exhibition. This interesting exhibition notwithstanding, was on another island and very likely to be less crowded. So, we set out to find the exhibit. Already being a warm day, we took a break to relax on one of the gallery benches. The gallery wasn't crowded but as soon as we sat down I noticed a woman walk up and stop to view this Newton photograph. Suddenly she assumed the exact same pose as the model! I instinctively reached for my Leica M and made this photograph. A moment later she was gone.Time
It was mid morning perhaps just before ten am. Ample ambient Venetian bright sunlight poured in through large open windows along with the spice of gallery lighting added unusual patterns. My Leica M is always set on manual. I like to choose my settings, not the ones some engineer chooses, consequently I eschew automatic settings. Therefore, as a matter of habit I update my ISO and aperture settings whenever I go in and out of buildings, just in case something interesting happens. Then, all i need to do is concentrate on focus which on a Leica M has its own challenges.Lighting
Because of the large open windows there was plenty of available light.Equipment
I use a Leica M digital camera, usually a 50 mm with a maximum aperture of F2. I don't normally carry a flash. Frequently, I carry a small mono pod. You might guess that I don't like flash or artificial lighting and you would be right. To me artificial light is like Tabasco Sauce, a little goes a long way.Inspiration
The moment. Her pose -- as soon as she struck it, I made the image.Editing
Very little. Most I often I add a little contrast, sharpness, some clarity and pump up the color. That however is something in my opinion every digital photograph needs. It is the nature of the beast to be a bit soft, and under saturated. I absolutely avoid overworking images that don't look like "photographs". I can easily be let up to the podium to start lecturing about my feelings towards "overworked" images. To each his/her own but for me a photograph needs to be visually connected to the real. (https://www.alexlabry.com/about/)In my camera bag
I carry a tiny camera bag in which there are two other lenses and a cleaning cloth. One lens is a 90 f2 and one is a 35 f2. I'm not trying to attract attention with loads of equipment. I travel light. In fact I have taped over the Leica trade name in order to look less conspicuous. I don't want to be noticed I want to notice.Feedback
Be a Boy Scout. Always prepared, wherever you are have your camera ready to make a photo in that environment. I pretty much carry my camera where ever I go. "Some people walk their dog; I walk my camera." Alex