Splash in the Water
Feb, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken next to the River Tyne on Newcastle Quayside. I am a self taught photographer, and this photo was very much a result of me learning on the job, every shoot I try something new and spontaneous, and this was very much a spontaneous shot.Time
I was supposed to be doing a shoot with a friend, a local girl who played the bass guitar, Claire, aka Rogue DeVille. We were going to get her some images for her portfolio, and had arranged to shoot at 2pm. However, come the day, it was raining heavily. Not ones to give up, we met up and used the cover of the High Level Bridge to do a shoot. Come 3pm the rain finally stopped, and we made our way down to the Quayside. That was when I saw the puddle, the water was motionless, I've never seen such a perfect reflection as was showing in this puddle, so I decided to try to capture her reflection in it. Thought it could be quite cool. The rest is history, we just started playing about and ended up with the great shot above.Lighting
The lighting on this shot was fate. It was winter at the time so the days were short, which meant come 3pm sunset was close, and with it, twilight hour. It turned out to be a brilliant twilight hour, the air so still, the light absolutely perfect. It beggared belief that the world had been so dark and dreary all day, then come twilight hour this glorious golden light shows itself, bringing such a richness of colour to the images.Equipment
This was shot with a Sony Alfa A350, with an A-mount 50mm f1.8 lens. No other equipment was used.Inspiration
I had planned to just do some basic portfolio style shots with Claire, real simple stuff. However, one of my favourite things about photography is getting spontaneous, just looking at the environment, trying to find that unique image, the one you couldn't plan for. I always leave time on shoots for doing just that, and was during that time this image came about. Like I said above, we saw the puddle, the reflection in it was the best I've ever seen, so we started taking images, just having fun. But every time Claire or myself moved, the motion in the water ruined the reflection. I first decided to try to use this, see if the motion would make an interesting image. To this end, Claire started kicking the water about, trying to stir up some motion. having great fun while doing so. I took a picture, just for fun, while she was doing this, it looked good so I showed it to Claire. She loved it, and said we should try that again, could be awesome. I agreed, she kicked the water in my direction, we ended up with the above image. So I guess you could say, the inspiration for this photo truly was just a desire to have fun, which is what the image is all about.Editing
Just basic things, bringing up the colours a little, things like that, but the image you see is near enough how it came out of the camera. The lighting was just so perfect at the time, it was like it was already edited. A blessing. If only I could always have that light.In my camera bag
My mirrorless Sony A7s is the first thing in my bag, along with my three favourite lens, all e-mounts. A 16mm f2.8 prime, 50mm f1.8 prime, and a 28-70mm zoom (full frame). I also bring my trusty tripod, which I cannot tell you the name of. When I was first starting out, I needed a tripod, so bought a cheapy from PC World. It has proven nigh on indestructible (touch wood), it has battled the sand, the sea, rain, lakes, forests, giant moths... monster midges and black flies, and yet still stands strong. Me on the other hand... For my second camera, I carry a Sony A350, which is the camera I used to take the above image. Though at the time of taking the images, it was not my second camera, but main. With it, I carry two lens, a Sigma 10mm f2.8 and an A-mount 50mm f1.8. And even though I don't often use it, for likely nostalgia reasons (it was my first camera) I do very much love it.Feedback
You know, I would say two things, one, don't give up. With the rain on the day I took this image, I could so easily have cancelled, and said let's do this another time. But I didn't, I took a chance, I said let's see what happens. And it's funny how many of my greatest shots have come from a similar scenario, with the unique weather conditions that have followed the bad weather bringing about a type of lighting or situation you just could never plan for. The second thing, I would also say don't be afraid to have fun and get spontaneous on a shoot. Amazing how you can get lost in the planning process, and then totally forget that photography is about having fun. Fun truly can lead to the best shots, take in where you are, look around you, embrace the location, and what you're doing. Photography is about finding those things that are right in front of us, yet we can't see. So really open your eyes to where you are, who you're with, and what it about you. I just find it amazing how letting loose, and just having fun can lead to finding that perfect shot.
