After the storm
Apr, 2015Views
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stschultze
August 25, 2015
love it, just perfect + natural, love how you painted with the light just to let her be without any heav retouching - go omn with the good work - THIS is a masterpiece, actually 3 - the landscape, the lady - the photo :)
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, in some hills not far from home.Time
I took the photo during the golden hour, moments before the sun set. It was the end of January, and we were shooting in the hills when we got hit by a storm. We took shelter from the snowy rain and waited. And it was worth the wait!Lighting
When the storm passed I got captivated by the light: I had to take a photo! I looked around, and decided for that location: the overcast sky was a huge softbox and the sun rays peeking through the clouds were perfect for the rim lighting.Equipment
I used my trusty Canon EOS 600D and an EF50mm f/1.8 II. Nothing else.Inspiration
The vibe was just amazing when the rain stopped and the clouds lifted. I really wanted to give that feel with the photo, so I needed the environment, the far hills, to be the frame of the model. And props to her for that smile while posing: the wind was freezing cold!Editing
I cropped the image a bit to get the composition as I wanted; cleaned up some distracting objects on the field, corrected the white balance. Then I worked with highlights and shadow to expose correctly both the sky and the model. I finished with some color toning to have the image look exactly as I remembered.In my camera bag
I love taking portrait outdoors, and since there's some trekking to be done, I try to go as lightweight as possible. My first choice is always the Canon EF100mm f/2.8 Macro, maybe because it's my first lens and I grew fond of it. Then I usually pack a Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8, and the small 50mm f/1.8 that I used for this photo. Depending on where I'm shooting I also carry a sturdy tripod, a flash with remote triggers, a collapsible reflector and a small umbrella whose stand promptly gets toppled by the wind.Feedback
Go outside! Even if you can't travel the world, there's always a chance to find something interesting not far from home. When you find it, shoot! If you don't like your photo, scout the location and shoot at different angles to see if you like it better. If you are not inspired, try to think how would the lighting be at different times of the day (too bad we cant control the sun - yet).Think of what (or who) to add then return and shoot again! When you are finally happy with your photo...it's time to start again!
