Nadia
Photography & Retouching | Michelle Stapelberg
Styling | Michelle Stapelberg
Model | Nadia de Jager
MUA | Annamarie Smit @ MUD Make-up Des...
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Photography & Retouching | Michelle Stapelberg
Styling | Michelle Stapelberg
Model | Nadia de Jager
MUA | Annamarie Smit @ MUD Make-up Designory Bloemfontein
Jewelry | The Jewel Box
www.michellestapelberg.com
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Styling | Michelle Stapelberg
Model | Nadia de Jager
MUA | Annamarie Smit @ MUD Make-up Designory Bloemfontein
Jewelry | The Jewel Box
www.michellestapelberg.com
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Feb, 2016Views
3933
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Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Legendary Award
Top Shot Award
Member Selection Award
Featured
Spring Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 7
Judge Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Love it
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken on the top floor of a parking garage in Bloemfontein, South Africa. I fell in love with the raw concrete texture with a monotone color while leaving the garage one day. When I imagined the concept for this shoot, I knew this location would provide a cold background contrast to the powerful pose of the model.Time
This is one of my favorite images of that shoot. The idea for this shoot came to me while reviewing the new inventory at one of my collaborator's jewelry collection. My vision for this shoot required none other than the natural beauty of Nadia De Jager. Nadia traveled from Cape Town to Bloemfontein and had limited availability for the shoot, so I worked quickly with the team to get all of the pieces in place. It was our intention to begin shooting around noon, but the clear forecast skies quickly turned overcast. The unpredictable weather would cause a two-hour delay until the right amount of light came into the garage. It was at this point we leaped into action and captured this image. This image was taken at 02:03 pm.Lighting
As a natural light photographer, you always have to be aware of the type and quality of light you want in your images. For this shoot, I wanted a bright, yet soft light to compliment Nadia's striking looks and subtle curves while highlighting the beauty of the jewelry. I chose a high parking level which had the perfect combination of soothing texture with horizontal slats letting in natural light. Although a clear day was forecasted, the skies quickly became overcast which required me to push my ISO to 800 and adjust Nadia's position closer to the horizontal openings. The combination of the overcast skies and adjustment of Nadia's position delivered a soft light which was complimented by my silver reflector.Equipment
I am a Nikon girl; I captured this shot with my trusty Nikon D90 and an 18-105mm zoom lens with a silver reflector.Inspiration
This shoot was created after I reviewed the new inventory of Chrisoula Kartali Tsangarakis' jewelry collection of The Jewel Box located in Bloemfontein, South Africa. For this shoot, I knew I would need to partner with a model that could provide that fierce natural beauty with a body that would highlight the jewelry. I looked no further than Nadia De Jager, who is an incredible person as well as a professional. Nadia's naturally powerful looks and subtle curves provided a powerful image, which I knew would capture my concept. The combination of a sexy body suit and strap draped over Nadia's shoulders, with an improvised pose provided the powerful shot which captured perfectly the abstract concept that was inspired by Chrisoula's The Jewel Box and Annamarie Smit from MUD Make-up Designory's creativity.Editing
Annamarie Smit from MUD Make-up Designory in Bloemfontein, South Africa can only be compared to a master artist when she has a makeup brush in her hand. The application of her makeup techniques coupled with a powerful performance by Nadia truly limited the need for post-processing. Having the blessing of a strong support team limited my post processing to the addition of a B&W filter and minimal dodge and burn effects.In my camera bag
A Nikon D90 coupled with a 50mm 1.8 and 18-105mm zoom lens, 5 in 1 reflector and a cold Red Bull.Feedback
Always be prepared and willing to accept changes to your shoot. It is important to integrate these changes to provide a product for your initial concept. Harness the creative power you have to use these circumstances to your advantage. The overcast skies required me to improvise and move the model, which led to this powerful performance by Nadia. Never settle for a mediocre performance, push yourself out of your comfort zone and capture the concept in the moment you are given.
