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Aug, 2012Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Guincho Beach, a beautiful spot between Sintra and Cascais, well known for its nearby dunes, and 30 Km west of Lisbon, Portugal.Time
It was 7:24 PM, and the sun had already set quite some time before. It was the middle of October, 2011.Lighting
The lighting here couldn't have been more simple. Just the waning sunlight brightening the sky and some clouds, and giving the ambiance a warm and cold atmosphere at the same time. So I just manually exposed for the ambient light, and therefore obtained the silhouettes of the couple, just like I was aiming to. For this particular shot, I set the ISO quite high, to 2000, and the aperture at f/2.8. The shutter speed was 1/125s, so I could freeze at least most of their movements. Focal distance at 65mm.Equipment
For this shot I used a Canon 5D Mark II along with the all-round lenses, Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L USM. I was shooting handheld because I needed to be able to follow the couple's movements along the beach quickly.Inspiration
Well, the couple were inspiring. They were so natural, so in love, just having a good time together, that I believe they almost forgot for some moments that I was there shooting them! I like how a silhouette can tell so much about someone and at the same time not reveal his identity. Also, I had tried this kind of image three years before this shot, in 2008, for my personal photography project, during the Professional Photography course I took. At that time I shot some Kung Fu students. So later, with better tools, more knowledge and experience, I went for this much more romantic mood shot.Editing
Yes, I shoot in RAW and I have edited this image on Lightroom. Not much of a difference, compared to the original shot, but of course, I increased the vibrance to make the colors in the sky and the reflections pop. Also some noise reduction was applied, since I was shooting at 2000 ISO, and I spot healed a few minor distractions in the sky and in the sand. The major adjustment I did I believe was the crop, because I shot this horizontally - which worked great on other shots of the series - but on this one I believed it would be much more pleasing to have the couple in a vertical frame with their reflection, thus giving more impact to the composition.In my camera bag
I currently keep my Canon 5D Mark II along with three lenses: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Canon 50mm f/1.8 II and my new and beloved portrait lens, the amazing Canon 85mm f1.8 Also carry a pair of Yongnuo YN622C TTL + YN622C-TX E-TTL Flash Triggers for my speedlight, the Canon 430EX And sometimes a Slik Pro 500DX tripod, 5-in-1 reflectors, light stands and umbrellas, and most recently a variable ND filter.Feedback
Low light doesn't have to mean you need to use speedlights or super low shutter speeds. Make the most of what you have, sometimes it is the key to achieve an image you'll feel proud of. Also, take risks. Don't be afraid of pumping up the ISO. Sometimes it's better to have a slightly grainy image that you can easily correct later, than to have a very underexposed or shaken image what you will probably delete right after you look at it. Take control of your gear; don't let it control you. Use the manual mode of your camera as often as possible. This shot would probably not be possible in any automatic or semi-automatic mode. Broaden your view. Don't just focus on the subject for the composition. Try to look for environmental features, like reflections, symmetries, clouds, etc. to balance and add depth to the photo. For the silhouettes, it's important that the subject's faces are at least sideways to the camera, so you can emphasize their shape and still make them recognizable. Try as much as possible to have a good communication with your subjects, make them feel comfortable with you and don't be too intrusive. Just let them have a good time and wait for those candid moments to appear. Don't go clicking and shouting directions constantly. And after all, if you fail, fail again, but fail better!
