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DesertEagle63
Mike
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Mike



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Took this photo of my good friend Mike and decided I liked it. Got tired of shooting landscapes and decided to shoot a few portraits....
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Took this photo of my good friend Mike and decided I liked it. Got tired of shooting landscapes and decided to shoot a few portraits.
Read less
cameraNIKON D300

settings Aperture f/3.2 ISO 100 Shutter 1/200 Focal Length 550/10 

upload_dateFeb, 2015

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2078

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
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Absolute Masterpiece
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Superior Skill
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2 Comments |
claudia_lothering_1704
 
claudia_lothering_1704 May 06, 2015
Great shot - excellent composition with the blue smoke, the brown eyes and the red top. I also like the mood the subject exudes! And that he seems to communicate with you as he looks straight at you Masterpiece.
DesertEagle63
 
DesertEagle63 January 28, 2021
Thank you all so much for comments and the likes.

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo Mike was taken in a very small room next to the pool on the compound where I lived and work in Saudi Arabia. I bought a small set of studio lights and decided to try my hand portraiture and because being in Saudi Arabia made finding models impossible. Photography was frowned upon till 10-15 years ago and you can shoot easily in public even now, even the rules do not prohibit it. So I decided to start taking shots of my family, friends and co-workers. Well one evening Mike ventured over to the makeshift studio to talk a bit and we decided I would use him as a model and the rest is history.

Time

I took this shot in the evening and totally controlled the lighting.

Lighting

I used a beginning setup, two lights an Octo box and a 22 inch beauty dish with grid. It has been a long while so I am trying to recall.

Equipment

D800E Nikon, 24-70 2.8 lens, Phottix Sries triggers.

Inspiration

The shot was inspired by the old photos I had seen of old skippers with the sharp eyes and big beards with a big cigar protruding from their lips.

Editing

I used PS 2015 I believe, nik effects and a high pass mask for sharpening.

In my camera bag

D800E, 14-24 2.8 Nikon, 24-70 2.8 mm Nikon, 80-200 mm 2.8 Nikon Film lens, 50 mm 1.4 Nikon. Benro Tripod.

Feedback

My advice is to scour the internet to learn the principles of light and then learn lighting setups and types of lighting and then practice, practice, practice until you are happy with the results.

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