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FollowA portrait photo of model Rachelle Summers.
A portrait photo of model Rachelle Summers.
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Behind The Lens
Location
Indoors at the model's (Rachelle Summers) house next to a window (camera right).Time
Early afternoon, it was winter and the sun was low on the horizon with intermittent clouds.Lighting
It was taken with natural light (which is what I prefer) and a reflector.Equipment
Nikon D800, 85mm/1.8 Sigma prime lens.Inspiration
I like closeups of the face and Rachelle is very expressive. It was a combination of the light being in the right place and the perfect play of shadow and highlights on her face as well as the expression that created the shot.Editing
Yes I did some subtle adjustments to the colour palette in a combination of Photoshop and Nik Color Effex Pro to try to replicate the colours in classic paintings like Botticelli's painting of Venus.In my camera bag
Far too much. I usually pack everything in case I need it (although I normally don't). I usually carry all my lenses 85mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 3 flashes along with several light modifiers like a beauty dish (these don't fit in the same bag) and most importantly a foldable triangular reflector. If I was forced to pack light I'd take the 85mm/1.8 prime lens plus the 70-200mm and the reflector. These are the most important tools for good portraits in natural light.Feedback
It's kind of obvious but always look at what the light is doing. If the light isn't right you can't create a great photo no matter how skilled you are. You don't always have to wait for absolutely perfect light though. Although you can't move natural light around the same way you can with artificial lighting you can move your model around and sometimes it is just a matter of a small step in one direction that can give you the perfect combination of light and shadow. Also don't forget to experiment with light modifiers when you are dealing with natural light e.g. you can still soften harsh light with a diffuser.