thombarbour

1980s Love Letters

NIKON D5000

settings

Aperture f/5 ISO 2500 Shutter 1/10 Focal Length 32/1

upload_date

Aug, 2020

Views

479

Likes

+61

Awards

People's Choice in Something Old Photo Challenge

Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Volume15

Peer Award

+18

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

All Star

Superb Composition

Absolute Masterpiece

Magnificent Capture

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

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Top 20 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

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Behind The Lens

Location

This image was taken in my attic at the time.

Time

It was a very warm, mid-afternoon. I had to hunch my body while shooting because the set up was directly below the slanted roof part of the attic.

Lighting

The attic was dark wood and small windows. The light coming in through dirty windows illuminated small areas with lovely, diffused light. I moved an old table in front of, but at a distance to, one window and shot the scene head on.

Equipment

I only needed a camera and tripod for the shot.

Inspiration

I was in the attic looking for something unrelated when I opened a box and realized I was carrying these letters around with me since high school, through college and my first apartment, and into different cities as I moved around for work. Clearly, they were important so I grabbed a camera and memorialized them.

Editing

I corrected a slight angle to the image that created a noticeable perspective issue. I wanted (and thought I had) a straight on shot. I also de-saturated the background and table top, allowing the thin colored lines of the envelopes to pop a bit more.

In my camera bag

I always have my Sony a7Riii body and two lenses. My favorite is the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 prime for it's ability to expand the story around subjects. I also carry a Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 telephoto zoom because a lot of my paid work is shot from a distance. Accessories include a simple light meter, extra battery and charger, remote shutter release, collapsible reflector (tucked inside an exterior panel of my backpack), grey card, and tabletop tripod.

Feedback

The more I fussed with organizing the envelopes and color bands they created, the more I got away from the casual feel I wanted. Texture is an important part of the image, I enjoyed moving around the space to get some nice layering of textures for the final shot. In retrospect, I would want more space around the main subject to underscore more of a "lost in time/space" feel. But, I am very happy with the final image.

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thombarbour

thombarbour

1980s Love Letters

Behind The Lens

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