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Craftsman.

The photo is of a good mate of mine, Steve Wheeler. Steve is a master craftsman, artisan knifesmith and swordsmith. He is also a published author and I caught h...
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The photo is of a good mate of mine, Steve Wheeler. Steve is a master craftsman, artisan knifesmith and swordsmith. He is also a published author and I caught himat work making a model of a combat craft featuring in his books. He was positioned near a window in his studio and I liked the way the light played on the shot.
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FinePix HS20EXR

settings

Aperture 360/100 ISO 800 Shutter 10/580 Focal Length 1050/100

upload_date

Jul, 2016

Views

264

Likes

+42

Awards

Winner in UNALTERED SNAPSHOTS - At Work Photo Challenge

Peer Award

Superb Composition

Top Choice

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

Absolute Masterpiece

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in the workshop of Wheeler Knives at Eskdale, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. The picture is of Steve Wheeler at work making a model of a futuristic fighting machine that features in one of his published books "Burnt Ice, a Fury of Aces 1." Steve's workshop is one of those wonderous places that look for all the world like they have been arranged by a tornado! A veritable den of light and shadows - a photographers dream. Steve is an artizan knifesmith and swordsmith and made a lot of the cutlery featured in the Lord of the Rings films by Peter Jackson.

Time

I arrived at Steve's workshop about 9am. After a tall tale or two we went out to his workshop with a mug of coffee each. Halfway through his coffee, Steve spotted a small piece of the model he wanted to alter. He picked up the model and immediately became engrossed in what he was doing, completely oblivious to me being there.

Lighting

As Steve worked I suddenly became aware of the light coming in from a dusty window to his left. It played on his white hair and spotlighted his hands - a shot not to be missed! This shot was completely natural and not posed. About 20 minutes later the light was completely different and this shot missed.

Equipment

No other equipment than my Fujufilm HS20EXR camera!

Inspiration

I had started out to take photo's of some of the older machinery using black and white to have some fun with light and shadow. The light on Steve's hair and hands just seem to reach out to me and beg for the shot to be taken! I sometimes wonder how long it would have taken me to get a shot like this if I had originally set out to do it? Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time!

Editing

No post processing at all other than a small amount of cropping.

In my camera bag

I normally have my HS20EXR, a Fuji XP200, circular polarising filter, some ND filters and spare batteries. I usually find the versatility of HS20EXR to be the master of most of my photography while the XP200 does the business for shots at the beach in situations requiring a waterproof camera. I'm a huge fan of Fujifilm cameras. An X-T1 or X-T2 would be perfect but a little beyond my means at the moment. (are you listening Father Christmas?)

Feedback

Sometimes these situations just occur and sometimes they can be hunted out. Older buildings, either derelict or in use can be explored at different times of the day. Make yourself familiar as to where the sun will be at any given time of day and how it comes in throught windows and doors. Even cracks, holes or splits in walls and ceilings can be small gold mines. Old buildings or barns on farms are well worth a chat with the property owner to see if you can get access. The light through Steve's window was slightly diffused by dust and cobwebbs carefully left alone for years seemingly for me to take advantage of!

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Bruizaphoto

Bruizaphoto

Craftsman.

The photo is of a good mate of mine, Steve Wheeler. Steve is a master craftsman, artisan knifesmith and swordsmith. He is also a published author and I caught h... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow Bruizaphoto

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The photo is of a good mate of mine, Steve Wheeler. Steve is a master craftsman, artisan knifesmith and swordsmith. He is also a published author and I caught h...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.