olgamest

Ofelia

Jan, 2017

Views

1040

Likes

+107

Awards

Contest Finalist in Sexy In Nature Photo Contest

Peer Award

+15

Absolute Masterpiece

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

Superb Composition

All Star

Superior Skill

Genius

Magnificent Capture

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in a little stream not far away from Castellar (Barcelona). My friends and I were heading to a totally different place to shoot some pics, got hopelessly lost, stopped next to a restaurant to ask for the directions and luckily I remembered there was a shallow river nearby so we just stayed there.

Time

It was around 11 a.m., virtually empty as people come to that place just to have lunch and the light was falling beautifully on shallow water, reflecting the blue of the sky and the greenery around.

Lighting

Natural lighting only was used, not even compensatory flash, no reflectors. I enjoy working with harsh daylight and the shadows it creates.

Equipment

This was shot on a Sony77, with an 18-55 mm lens, no tripod or flash.

Inspiration

Originally I just wanted to play with female form combined with water. Not necessarily Ophelia-like although it's an idea I keep coming back to. I tend to use flowers, leaves and branches in my shootings a lot as props and play with the idea as it goes. My young friend simply melted with nature and I hope this picture conveys the beauty of spring, both in nature and in this young body busking in sunlight.

Editing

It's one of the least processed photos I have. The natural colours were perfect, I just used a bit of extra saturation to highlight the blue in the water and some gentle blending brushes to remove the harshness of the light. I really didn't need to correct anything in my model. What can I say? Lucky me! Coming from fine arts, I don't work with photoshop and I do all my retouching using the painting brushes in corel paint.

In my camera bag

Just my camera, lens ( I only own one of each), extra batteries and all the stupid little props that can come in handy. Oh sorry. Chocolates or candies, water, paper towels. Models must be fed on a regular basis and hungry photographers don't function properly either.

Feedback

I really believe in playing. If you have an understanding with the object of your photo, the work will flow. Of course, in this case I was really lucky as I was with two friends and they have some uncanny belief in my limited abilities. Nevertheless, it's always important to create a genuine atmosphere of ease and trust when shooting nudes. Specially if the water is cold and full of plants and crustaceous you're both faintly terrified of. Play it cool and if you believe in what you're doing, you might as well transmit this feeling to your model. Jokes aside, in my case at least, I need to admire something about the person I'm taking a photo of. Be it a child, a young lady or a granny. I believe there is something beautiful in each of us and if you fall in love just a little with this particular charm of your subject, the result will be a good one.

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olgamest

olgamest

Ofelia

Behind The Lens

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