15509016148_af7339f10c_o
Apr, 2015Views
23
Likes
Awards
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Remarkable
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank
Top 20 rank week 2Top 20 rank week 1Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in my hometown of Bellingham, WA. The downtown area is mostly contained to a few blocks, which are lined with bars (a handful of which we had just visited). Although it's a pretty small town, this area is really lively and I've always loved how it feels like a "classic" downtown area; a handful of tattoo parlors mixed in with the dive bars and a consistent glow from the neon beer signs.Time
This was taken late at night, maybe 2:30 or 3:00 AM; definitely after all of the bars had stopped serving. I liked how the tone of the photo mimicked the time it was taken: dark, eerie, and intense.Lighting
The lighting is strictly from neon signs in the window just outside of the frame. I always love walking past neon signs when it's dark outside; the lighting is so naturally wonderful and dramatic.Equipment
Just my Canon 70D with a 50mm 1.8.Inspiration
I don't remember if it was Halloween or another occasion that called for costume, but I know that we were all dressed up. You can barely see, but the man in the photo has a slightly painted face and beard. I'm not even sure what his costume was, but the remaining paint left him looking very aged and tough; maybe even a little bit creepy. We were walking in a big group, and I remember stopping because of the great, green, neon light beaming out of the tattoo shop. I grabbed my camera to take a photo of someone, and especially with the "Tattoo" sign, he was an obvious choice. He looks exactly like someone I'd expect to see hanging outside of a tattoo shop at 3:00 in the morning.Editing
I usually post-process my digital photos a bit, but this shot required almost none. There's no better feeling than getting a photo straight out of the camera that looks just the way you want it to!In my camera bag
I used to carry this setup with me at all times - Canon 70D with a 50mm 1.8. It's a relatively compact setup, and a fixed 50mm lens is my favorite to shoot on. I've recently become a huge fan of shooting on compact, 35mm cameras. I have a couple; Nikon L35AD, Olympus Mju II, and Leica Z2X, all of which can fit in a pocket. I try to have a camera on me at all times, so these 3 cameras make that a lot easier. I'll grab one of these when I leave the house (no matter what), and bring my 70D when I'm going out specifically to shoot.Feedback
Nighttime portraits are great! Go out at night and find a business with a neon light in the window. They're everywhere, and can create some really great results.
