Tracy
Apr, 2015Views
743
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Emotions
Impressed
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at the home of a guy who rents out his pool area for photoshoots. I had photographed Tracy at a park and at a beach and wanted to use a swimming pool setting, but didn't have one of my own.Time
I met Tracy at the pool at 9:00 am to get the photos before the sun was too high overhead. I always do outdoors photos either in the morning or early evening for the best sun light. I use the sun to light the environment, but don't want it to be the main light on my subject. I want a diffused light source on my model's face and avoid the shadows that the sun usually creates.Lighting
I lit Tracy with two speedlights on a light stand above and slightly to my left. The speedlights shot through a translucent umbrella. That is my most often used lighting setup. I usually position the light stand at about a 45 degree angle from the subject, but in this shot the pool stairs were in the way. I think it turned out well.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7000 with the 18-105 zoom handheld, and two Yongnuo flashes on a light stand with radio triggers. I made a bracket to hold two flashes. I use two so I can keep them below full power to keep the recycle time between shots shorter without having to work with less light.Inspiration
I usually do these shoots at the beach, but I wanted to use a swimming pool to do the same kinds of shots in a totally different setting. This was only the second time I had shot a model in a pool and I've always liked that look. With this shot I had Tracy lower herself backwards under the water to get her hair wet but keep the water mostly off her face. Then we just did some feminine looking poses. This is the one I liked the most. It looks like she's nude here, but she is actually wearing a blue bikini.Editing
I did the same post-processing that I usually do. Frequency separation to soften the skin, the "clarify" preset in Topaz Labs's Topaz Adjust to bring out the detail in her hair, the pavers and the water drops on her skin, and finally some eye enhancements to bring out the colors. I enhanced the eyes using Photoshop's Smart Sharpen filter on a layer mask with the opacity pulled down to about 25%.In my camera bag
I pack my Nikon D7000, the 18-105 3.5-5.6 zoom, the 50mm 1.8, and depending on the situation I might bring the 55-300 5-5.6 zoom. I don't have any really expensive glass. I also bring two Yongnuo flashes with Eneloop rechargable batteries, a Cowboy Studio radio trigger and receivers, and a Black Rapid camera strap. I recently got a Godox flash but haven't used it in a model photoshoot yet.Feedback
If you haven't photographed models much, spend some time researching how to pose. Using a model that knows how to pose, or being able to direct them into poses will make a huge difference. The other important thing is lighting. If the natural light isn't close to perfect, and it usually isn't, you have to be able to create the light that you want. Also pay attention to what's in the background. At a swimming pool or beach there is usually furniture or other items, and often other people, in the background. If you can't find an angle that has an uncluttered background, be prepared to move some things out of your way. You don't want to have to Photoshop distracting things out of your images. I considered using Photoshop to remove the screen enclosure frame out of this image, but decided it's not enough of a distraction to worry about. But imagine this image with a chair and some child's toys behind the model. It's worth doing whatever you have to do to avoid that.
