Mysterymantis

Christian on Guitar

My friend Christian playing guitar. A rare serious look on his face, he is usually very smiley!

My friend Christian playing guitar. A rare serious look on his face, he is usually very smiley!
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Canon EOS 80D

settings

Aperture f/2.8 ISO 100 Shutter 1/200 Focal Length 105/1

upload_date

Jun, 2018

Views

1687

Likes

+60

Awards

Contest Finalist in Interesting People Photo Contest

Community Choice Award

Contest Finalist in Musical Instruments Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in The Lifestyle Project

Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 43

Peer Award

+20

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Top Choice

Virtuoso

Magnificent Capture

Outstanding Creativity

Emotions

Impressed

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Top 20 rank week 1

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Behind The Lens

Location

This was an impromptu porch session put on by my friend's band Day Old Dozen. They like to get on the porch and play for passersby. I am the lucky photographer that has access to them and these sessions. Or in other words, I am lucky they don't mind me putting my cameras in their face!

Time

Right in the midst of the golden hour, mon ami! My friend Christian just happened to be in the best light possible; he seems to have a knack for that.

Lighting

All sun in this one, baby. I was using fill flash at other times, but for this shot it wasn't needed. Golden hour FTW!

Equipment

I took this on my Canon 80D with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 macro lens attached. Not a lens I use often, so i decided,why not? I knew macros could be great lenses for portraits thanks to their excellent sharpness, and this one did not disappoint. I love the color this lens gives as well; I actually had to turn my vibrance and saturation down a touch just to tone it down! Nothing serious though, like -5 each. I often like the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 for a shot like this, but the min focus makes you have to stand pretty far away. The macro lens doesn't have that issue, and gave a very flattering look.

Inspiration

These guys are just inspiring to be around. They are great musicians and a fun bunch of guys, and Christian just happens to make a great model. He is a natural in front of the camera. I think I just wanted to try to get a perspective style shot, with the neck of the guitar serving as a leading line, and the face being the obvious subject. But, 105mms is a little too tight for that, but figured I would take a shot anyway. It worked. I'm pretty blessed and grateful to have access to their sessions.

Editing

I do all post in Lightroom. Mostly jsut try to keep it real, but it is handy to save those shots where you didn't quite get it all right in camera. For this shot, mostly reduced the sat and vib, since the Sigma lens had just so much color it almost didn't look real otherwise. Some minor exposure and tone corrections, lens profile for CA and distortion, the usual. I debated drawing in additional vignetting, but I think on a photo this bright that is a mistake. The natural vignette was enough.

In my camera bag

Oh jeez, what a loaded question. I carry a Lowepro 450 AW, a massive bag that with all my gear is at least 50 pounds. Inside I have 2 Canon 80D's, one with 17-55mm F2.8 and the other with 70-200mm F2.8 IS II (main setup). Also from Canon I have the 10-18mm F4.5-5.6 and 24mm F2.8. From Sigma I have the 105mm F2.8 macro and 50mm F1.4. Other gear would be a set of Kenko extension tubes, 2 Flashpoint Li-Ion speedlites and a transmitter for firing off camera, a Flashbender reflector, polarizing filters and ND filters, an off-camera trigger, spare strap, spare battery, spare mem-cards, spare caps, Vanguard tripod, and cleaning supplies. I sometimes attach an external case with a Canon 100-400mm F4-5.6 IS USM and 1.4x telephoto converter, upping the weight considerably! I'm a total gear head, but I also am away from home a lot. So I don't want to miss my chance to shoot something simply because my lens was left at home 70-100 miles away. I probably should start narrowing it down...

Feedback

For a shot like this there is no special formula. A lens, with a camera, close enough to get the subject to fill the frame. I left just a little open for context so you can see he is playing a guitar. Keep it simple whenever you can, and make the image as personal as you can. If you only seek to recreate the work of another then you will never have that reaction to your own photos that lets you know you have something really great. I took 1000 photos on that day, and this was the one that made me stop in my tracks and say "that's the one". That should be your goal. Also, have fun, or else why bother? :)

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Mysterymantis

Mysterymantis

Christian on Guitar

My friend Christian playing guitar. A rare serious look on his face, he is usually very smiley!

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow Mysterymantis

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