A Russian Portrait
I wanted to do a portrait in the style of all the famous Russian photographers ;)
I wanted to do a portrait in the style of all the famous Russian photographers ;)
Read less
Read less
Apr, 2016Views
712
Likes
Awards
Featured
Judge Favorite
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken in a Studio in Salzburg, Austria.Time
It was shot during the final session early afternoon after a long shooting day already. As we eliminated daylight not to disturb the light setting, we completely lost track of time of the day.Lighting
In this picture I tried a very simple light setting to get the accentuated portrait light I wanted to achieve. Just a large softbox camera left and a spot to illuminate the background.Equipment
I shoot with a Nikon D7000 and for studio portraits I really like to use my "old lady" the Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 ED AF f2.8. Although a heavy weight, the optics are still superior and I love its reliability.Inspiration
The photo was inspired by all the famous and very popular Russian portrait photographers who developed a very unique portrait style. A very classic look which reflects the great Russian culture and its aristocratic history. I was studying and experimenting with different light set-ups until I was able to achieve the desired outcome.Editing
As the out-of cam was already close to what I wanted, the post processing was rather limited. During the RAW development in LR I adjusted highlights, boosted the shadows a bit and sharpened the picture. In photoshop I applied some minor corrections on skin and hair and with the liquifier I enlarged the eyes a bit to get to emphasize the "child-women" look which is in my view very typical for these kind of portraits.In my camera bag
Usually I do not carry a lot of stuff around. I try to limit everything to the necessary and to anticipate the light and shooting situation. I use a Nikon D7000 which I found is the best camera for me as it is a very good compromise of good picture quality and professional handling without having a bulky body. My favorite lenses in the studio are the Nikkor 80-200 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. Outdoors and on events I use a Sigma 17-50mm /f2.8. In addition I have studio and portable flash lights and reflectors.Feedback
For these kind of shootings it is very important to understand the light. But even more important is to work with an excellent team: model, make-up and hair are essential to achieve good results.
