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Mar, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on the terrace of my friend's house in Lucknow, India. She was quite hesitant in getting clicked and I have to pursue her a lot every time I want to take any picture of hers. It's one of the first portraits I had shot while experimenting with off camera lighting.Time
It was just after sunset, quite early in the evening as it was winters and I wanted to wait it out to use only the flash light for this portrait. I wanted to see the effects of it without any distractions.Lighting
I used to take myself as a photographer until I read some photographer's interview who took a dig at the ones who call themselves 'available light photographers' He offered them his speedlite which was 'available'. I felt offended and ashamed about it and started to learn about lighting through Zack Arias' One light tutorials. He is such an amazing and humble teacher. The 600D already had built in optical trigger, I bought a Canon 430exii and started with it. It is one of the first tries with it with a small flash softbox on a 430exii placed to the left of the subject.Equipment
It was my first DSLR, Canon 600D ( T3i in some parts of the world) and the 50mm f/1.8ii lens and a Canon 430exii speedlite triggered with optical triggering function of the 600D.Inspiration
People, their environment and their interaction with it is the core of my photography. I am always hooked to portraits which, without any setting or props just engages you with the subject, it could be because of it's beauty, expression, emotional state, whatever. You just know when you like one but can't pinpoint why, so the feeling of mystery is an add on. I like to take portraits of such kind. I think here I knew the subject very well and though she is very reluctant to be clicked, I feel she is great to work around that mystery.Editing
The post processing on this photo is minimal, with some contrast added and shadows darkened and faded.In my camera bag
These days when I go out of my house I always carry my 5D markIII with a 24-105 and a 50mm f1.8 for when it turns dark. If it's an assignment like a wedding or a commercial shoot, I take my two Canon speedlites, Yongnou triggers, an 85mm, a 100mm macro and a 70-200mm lens. I rarely use a 70-200mm as opposed to be considered a staple for wedding photographers as its too far a distance from the subject and too fast a shutter speed to keep where you are always struggling with low light. I have recently bought an Olympus TG-4 for my rain rides in monsoons and am eagerly waiting for my L16 that I won last year in an EyEm contest and hope to use just that for street photography once it arrives.Feedback
Technically, it is a very simple off camera light setup. But the beauty lies in the content; for portraits, you should keep an open eye for an interesting person, or a very unique and engaging thing about him. try to get them interested in a conversation which could lead different responses and see where it goes. For this picture I hadn't pre planned, we were talking and when she started playing with her shawl, I asked her to look away and it happened. There are many variations from the same session with her smiling and looking into the camera but I think this one stands out because of the mystery element.
