Viking Princess
Jul, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in my home studio in Wisconsin. I am a self-taught photographer and this was one of the first conceptual shoots I ever did -- It may have even been the first!Time
This picture was taken on a cold spring afternoon - the snow had just melted and we started our shoot outside amid the bones of trees and fallen leaves that I had originally modeled the head piece after. After about 10 minutes my model was chilled to the bone, and I'm sure it was a big relief to her when we moved it in to the studio, where we captured this terrific shot.Lighting
This was the first image I took using the new studio lights I had just purchased! 3 constant lights, one from above, and one on each side. The subject matter and costume were dark, and I really wanted to show off the detail in the head piece, and the models milky skin and delicate curls, so I wanted lots of even light!Equipment
I used my Sony a65 camera, with a 18-55 mm f3.5/5.6 lens and 3 Constant Studio lights. With the amount of lighting I used, tripod and flash were not necessary.Inspiration
I have always been a fan of the look of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, since I was little, but wanted to put my own spin on it. I liked the general darkness of Maleficent against the contrast of her milky skin, so I started there when choosing my model and costume. The spirals of the crown and the thick stalks they sprout from around the horns were supposed to mirror the bare trees of winter.Editing
This Photo was originally taken against a white background (as that was all I had at the time), but I wanted it to be dark to match the feeling of the photo, so I used the fill tool and burn tool to darken the background. I also lightened and darkened certain areas of her face and hair so that her features really popped and she had high and defined cheekbones, like Maleficent.In my camera bag
I typically carry around, besides my camera of course, a 18-65mm and a 55-300mm lens. If I am doing and outdoor shoot, I always be sure to carry my reflector. I also carry around a flash from time to time, if it's dark or shadowy outside, or I am trying to create a more dramatically lit photo in studio.Feedback
This shot definitely didn't use the most dramatic of lighting that I've ever done, but I used what I had at the time, and I think it really worked for this shoot, with my ultimate goal showing off her milky skin, dramatic make-up, dark costume, and delicate details of the head piece. I was also sure to make her make-up bold and dark around the eyes and cheekbones, so that it was sure to show up and she wouldn't be washed out with the large amount of lighting I was using.
