Henna V
This was a concept for Bollywood Strings, a classical string group that plays Bollywood music
This was a concept for Bollywood Strings, a classical string group that plays Bollywood music
Read less
Read less
Jun, 2016Views
2951
Likes
Awards
Contest Finalist in Musical Instruments Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in Studio Fun Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Happy
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
johnnysimmons
October 01, 2016
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
Platinum
Ultimate
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
A friend of mine has a company that plays Indian music on strings, hence the name Bollywood Strings. He wanted a striking image that portrayed his company and I was free to do whatever I wanted.So we got a recently married Indian girl (Henna, I also shot the wedding) and a violin and shot it one afternoon in my studio in Dallas, Tx. I used a 7.5 foot Octobox as my main with a white reflector (4 x 8 foot foam core) on the opposite side. I have literally been shooting since I was 7 and made the career decision at 11, number 1 photojournalist in the state in high school, attended Rochester Institute of Technology and got my BS degree. Pretty much sounds like everyone else right? Started at an early age.... and so on. While it may be the truth, don't say it because then you are like everyone else, you do not stand out. People today want to relate on a human level, personal things that you like or do. So anytime you post remember that!Time
It was afternoon and in studio. I have blackout shades on all the windows so I can really shoot anytime and control the light any way I want. It seems to me that this is becoming a lost art (lighting). I read an article that stated there were 47 million photographers in the world (people with cameras) not so much professionals and most of these are, can you guess it? Another common catch phrase, "natural light photographers" which there is nothing wrong with but yet again you become part of the many and do not stand out.Lighting
So I am not saying that if you learn lighting that you will stand out, I am saying why limit yourself?b I have been shooting 47 years and am constantly experimenting with light and techniques. If you all (I'm from Texas) notice there seem to be trends that tend to repeat over the years. B&W was really big but the people that grew up with it wanted color, then as their kids got older , they wanted B&W again. Then there was the all B&W image with one thing in color, way overdone and dated but every once in awhile, you will see an image that actually works, most do not. But who am I to judge, my new life motto is "to each their own", in short, do what makes you happy, what moves you. If you are just starting out, try everything, soon you will be attracted to what you personally like. In college, I was taught about lighting, the professor posed the question "how many suns does earth have"? We all said one. He said exactly, so if you want the most natural looking image, use 1 light source. Then my portrait instructor said that to make a classic portrait, you had to use 4 lights. There is no right answer! Evaluate your subject, what do you want to feature? How do you want the light to define your subject then experiment until you get what you want. (advice - experiment BEFORE you shoot paying clients unless they agree to spend extra time with you)Equipment
I use Nikon, love their products, extremely well made and as an NPS member, get support wherever I go worldwide. (that's important) However in the end, a camera, no matter who makes it, is just a tool. It is You, the photographer that creates the image (with a tool / camera). Everyone starts somewhere, don't laugh, my very first camera was solid plastic and cost $1. It probably cost more to process the film with prints! Then my father gave me an Argus C-3, a rangefinder 35mm, that he had when he was in the army. My first SLR was an Olympus OM-1 (the shiny new gadget) and was my pride and joy for years to come. Assisting years (yes, you had to pay your dues) I bought a Nikon F3 HP for $400 and sold it 10 years later for the same price. 2003 was when I thought digital was almost good enough to replace film and went through a lot of really expensive bodies. I love digital, isn't it funny how some people are going back to film?Inspiration
I wanted to combine the human element and the musical instrument (violin) into one entity in order to convey Bollywood + stringed instruments. I literally just played around with angles until I found what I wanted. I found lighting to be confusing at first, in studio and on location for a long time and then one day it just clicked (no pun intended) I could see light and understood it, so until that moment happens to you, practice, try different things and then, do it again.Editing
I spend way too much time behind the computer when I would rather be shooting but sometimes (most) you want to take your image to the end and say that it was all you! Workflow - Photo Mechanic to cull images - Lightroom to make lighting, contrast and color adjustments - Photoshop for retouching and in this case Imagenomic - Portraiture for finishing touches on the skin. BTW no filters. Filters are so over used today (thank Instagram) that all the post starts to look the same, join the crowd, don't stand out. I use filters sometimes, so I am not saying "do not use filters", I am saying use them when you feel that it will give your image the look that makes you happy, not because it is what everyone else is doing. Be a trailblazer, create your own path, create a style that is uniquely you!In my camera bag
Nikon D800 - Nikon D750 - 4 SB-910 Speedlites - 14 to 24mm Nikon 2.8 - 24 to 70mm 2.8 - 70 to 200mm VR 2.8 - 105mm Micro VR 2.8 - 60mm Micro 2.8 - Pixel King radio slaves - cards compact and SD - assorted filters - lens cleaner - sensor cleaner and swabs and lots of batteries. Always list what you need for a shoot and make sure everything is in your bag and do not forget to check your camera setting before you start shooting.Feedback
I say have fun! If you want to copy an image to learn how it was done then go for it. However, that is like plagiarism, you have learned how to do it, now make it your own. Add something, build on it, use it as a stepping stone to create something that is unique to you, never copy! Viewbug is an amazing platform for any photographer at any stage of their career. You can see amazing work, get ideas, learn and win cool prizes! So I want to thank Viewbug for everything they do and for creating such an amazing platform for photographers around the world. (helpful hint - nothing is more annoying than seeing an image in a contest that in no way relates to the theme (in any way) So please, please be respectful of others and take the time to READ before you enter any contest or challenge to make sure that your image is in the right category! Keep on shooting!
