Blue
Dec, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
It's actually a funny story! We wanted to take some photos on bleachers so we went to our old high school's football field and I fell in love with the lighting. We ended up using the field as a location for a ton of photos that day, this one included! I'm sure the custodians very much appreciated the fact we got powder everywhere, but we tried our best to clean up the trash and mess we created.Time
This was towards the tail end of the shoot and we were incredibly exhausted by this point, but I really wanted to throw some color onto Madison's face before we turned in for the day. This was taken around 6pm & I had to awkwardly sprinkle this blue powder onto her face- barely missing her eyes- and just hope it turned out so we could all go eat dinner. Thankfully, it did not take very long to get the right shot.Lighting
I wanted this image to show the feeling you get when you're running around all summer long with no care in the world, while also bringing in what feelings the color blue usually brings along with it. This, to me, meant fierce and dark, yet using the lighting to create that bright and happy feel to it. The lighting was already pretty great that day, but I used a reflector to add the brightness I needed to create the shot I had in my head.Equipment
I was doing a lot of walking that day so carrying around a tripod would've been much too strenuous. Luckily, it was not necessary for most of the shots that I took. For the brightness I wanted, I was avoiding using a flash and instead opted for a reflector and the wonderful sun. I bought my camera seven years ago, so it's an oldie but a goodie. My Cannon T1i is probably my one true love. Something I would consider equipment/a prop for this specific photo would be the blue powder. Ever run or hear of those 5k runs in which people throw tons of colored powder on you as you run through the course? Yeah, I volunteer for those twice a year so I have a ton of access to that wonderful colored powder. Incorporating it into photographs is one of my favorite things to do.Inspiration
As I mentioned above, I volunteer for those 5k runs with the colorful powder. As a portraiture photographer, I am always looking for new and innovative ways to put a spin on my photographs. While throwing color at some 7 year old kid, I couldn't help but wonder how the color would photograph and think about all of the possibilities. One of my favorite parts about the summer is how carefree you feel while living the life you want to... basking in the sun, swimming, grilling and hanging out with friends and family are all staples in my summer. So by throwing the color onto this model's face, I was trying to capture that feeling of bright and happy I get in the summer months.Editing
As a portraiture photographer, my photos tend to be all about capturing the exact shot I need and planning for that shot to a T. After all the planning and packing up of the props and equipment I need, I try to take photographs that need very little to no post-processing. In this particular photograph, I only sharpened her eyes and hair a little bit, but even that was more of a 'Hey, what could make this photo even better?' rather than a necessary post.In my camera bag
Well first of all, I don't carry a typical camera bag. Never have, never will. Instead I try to carry a vintage suitcase that I can use as a prop as well so that I'm carrying as little as possible. If I'm not on a planned out shoot then I throw all my equipment into one of my obnoxiously large purses... which I own specifically so that I don't have to carry a camera bag. As for what is in my suitcase, I always carry my Cannon Rebel T1i, my trusty (basic) 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens, and my absolutely gorgeous 50mm 1:1.8 lens. The latter is my all time favorite lens. It embodies perfection. Anyways, the rest of my bag is filled with more colored powder (just in case!), tape, my camera charger, wall to car adapter so that I can charge my camera battery in my car if necessary, mascara with extra wands, my 'cheat sheet' that my wonderful high school Photography teacher made to save our lives when it comes to f/stops (Shout-out to Casper), gum, glitter confetti, water, hair ties, and snacks. My reflector usually does't fit into my purses but I always throw that in when I'm using a suitcase.Feedback
Golden hour is my first piece of advice, the right time of day is necessary for any photograph to go from decent to phenomenal. For this photo, it's obvious you would need some colored powder as well. If you do not have direct access to any color throw 5k runs... there are plenty of recipes online so that you can create your own! Also, don't be afraid to put your lens a few inches away from your model's face. Sometimes it is necessary to get the shot you want, even if a couple of awkward laughs ensue. Good luck!
