Cultured
Based on Downton Abbey, this image was created for a model client to show versatility
Based on Downton Abbey, this image was created for a model client to show versatility
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Nov, 2015Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
Moderator Award
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Superior Skill
Genius
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 2Top 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankSame photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I own Station House Photography, a full service photography studio located in Maryville Tennessee. I am a Portrait Artist, a Master Photographer lucky enough to have been working with some of the best of portrait photography in the world. Many mentors along with a passion for creating something different that tell the story of the moment is the basis for my business.Time
Great question...when I am in the studio, I can make it anytime, anyplace, any subject or any environment,fantasy or real.....but this was done late on the last shoot of the day, a Saturday night.Lighting
It was lit with one silver lined beauty dish/Alien Bee 400 with diffusion and a white foam core reflector near the back shoulder...Equipment
I used a Nikon D4 with a 28-70mm F2.8, an Alien Bee/Foam Core. I made the background out of an old canvas I found at a thrift store and paint from a craft store.....Inspiration
I love doing time period/fantasy/cosplay portraits....it's all about telling a story. I knew I really wanted to do something that meant a crossing of genres but wanted a Downton Abbey meets the Great Gatsby feel with a bit of naughtiness. I have worked with this model before and she is completely in the moment when she models. I also KNEW I had to take the mat and framing in a different direction if I wanted to create a piece that was entirely it's own. When I created the canvas, I knew it had to have a old master/edge to it and the colors were just perfect. It's actually one of my best selling backgrounds once everyone saw it!Editing
The model has great, pearlescent skin, pale and luminescent.....so very little touch up was needed. A bit of skin softening and hand painting in Photoshop was really all that I needed. I dropped the copy of the backdrop over, layered out the middle and was left with this. I bumped up the contrast a bit and added a bit of Gaussian Blur to the "frame" and it was ready to go.In my camera bag
I always run two camera...both Nikon. A 28-70mm F2.8 and a 70-200mm F2.8.....as well as having a studio, I also run a full studio on location if needed, light camera...action! Pocket Wizards, Alien Bees, softboxes, everything you can think up but my best work is always the simplest form of portrait work with studio or ambient lighting...simple, elegant, crazy or exotic, everything is about creating a story!Feedback
Be patient....look at every image you enjoy, decipher the lighting and direction...work on still subjects like fruit, etc until you nail it. Then, hire, borrow or steal (wink) a model and make it work. I find that most of the time, the ideas come to me, I write them down and then try to decide what feeling I am going for, mood of lighting etc...then create, buy or re-use old props and clothes to create the feel I am trying to achieve. My hubby calls me a hoarder but when I see something that might be something else for later, I grab it and store it until I use it....like it's meant to be but I don't know what....
