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Jan, 2013Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken as part of a fashion advertising campaign on Long Island, but the situation soon turned editorial as we gradually turned away from the assigned task and began tackling a more exotic take on traditional Japanese beauty.Time
This photo was taken at sundown on a midsummer day.Lighting
I almost exclusively use natural light in my photos. While I find it essential to construct a situation, manipulating the conditions already present can create awe-striking photos.Equipment
Nikon D7000, 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6; no tripod, no flash. Often times I try to simplify my use of fancy equipment to let the scene guide me to actualizing a photo.Inspiration
This image represents a fusion of the east and west: here, standards of western beauty collide with traditional Japanese geisha aesthetics. I wanted to create something that would show a refined aggression, something that takes the restrained confinement that comes with incredible eastern beauty and unleashes it via emotion and expression. This image is ultimately meant to foster a visual merging of different interpretations of culture.Editing
I always try to minimize post-processing in images and work to do a models make-up in detail for a shoot. The difference here is the whiteness of the skin of the model because there are essentially no products that create a true white skin while still retaining its texture. There is also minor dodging and burning, particularly on the make-up around the model's eyes. What's more, since this photo was taken at sunset, I neutralized the warm hues of the lighting in photoshop, but while taking the photo, I was careful to take advantage of the evenness the light can offer.In my camera bag
I always carry a Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8G prime lens, mini-tripod and wireless remote control; I figure if I come across a beautiful scene and don't have a model, I can always improvise with myself! I also always carry a touch-up kit for makeup and granola bar (no one models well if they're hungry!).Feedback
With an image like this, the concept is more important than the technical of the shoot. In fact, the shoot was originally for a series of fashion advertisements, but with the right perspective, the shoot turned into a cultural commentary rather than a standard advertisement. Since I wanted to convey something aggressive and explosive, that still retained a sense of refinement and stillness, I relied heavily on the model's expression, the makeup and the lighting. In terms of physically capturing the image, I took advantage of a sunset's glow, but neutralized the warmth with post processing. For others trying to capture something like this, I would say not to be afraid of post-processing, especially because the color balance is essential in creating this image.
