Floofie Outdoors I - Country Road (Colour)
Oct, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on one of the back lanes between Sevenoaks and Sevenoaks Weald, in Kent, in the South East of the UK only about 25 miles from Central London.Time
This part of the day I spent shooting with Floofie was the early afternoon, directly after lunch. We spent the whole day shooting together, the morning in a small photographic studio in Kemsing, just north of Sevenoaks, and then we did outdoor shots in the quiet parts of the local countryside.Lighting
I specifically chose this spot, knowing that the early afternoon light would be broken up and dappled by the tree canopy overhead, while still providing plenty of light. I was shooting with the lens cranked right open to maximise the bokeh effect in the background, and picked a spot where Floofie would be well lit, but the soft background would have the ethereal quality of the bokeh with a greater level of exposure.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 30D with a L-f2.8 70-200mm IS, handheld.Inspiration
I have been an avid follower of several other photographers, who like me shoot nude studies in nature, and I particularly love the shots that Scott Church has done on the back country roads in Pennsylvania. I can remember planning this shot thinking that I would create my take on his "road shots", which are very different to this one, but have some common ground in terms of the idea / setting.Editing
I barely touched this photo, I was very happy with it straight off the card. I don't retouch skin very often and on this occasion there was no need whatsoever, Floofie has incredible skin and skin-tone, and I think that is clear from the result. I almost certainly made very small adjustments to the mid-contrast as the sensor on the 30D tends to wash out contrast a little without some adjustment back afterwards.In my camera bag
These days I shoot with three cameras; a Canon 5D MkIII, for which I carry the same 70-200mm as well as an L f1.2 50mm prime and a L f2.8 16-35 variable wide angle lens. I also carry a Leica M10 with a Summilux f1.4 35mm and a Leica M3 with an old Leitz 50mm lens. I do tend to carry a tripod, as I have a very compact Peak Design carbon fibre travel tripod, and so I carry a cable release for the Canon and the Leicas.Feedback
The trick to taking this kind of photograph is a mixture of planning and agility. You need to know where you are going to take your model, and what time of day is going to give you the light and setting that you want. On top of that, obviously there are external pressures about posing a model in the nude in a public place. The secret is to really know your gear / camera and work fast. Floofie stayed in the car, in a long coat while I figured out the light and the framing and then she was only out in the open for about 90 seconds, during which time we did 3 poses and I was able to get images that we were both pleased with, without hanging about in the open waiting to be surprised by unsuspecting members of the public.
