Sports Portrait
Model: Matthew De Haan
Model: Matthew De Haan
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Dec, 2016Views
520
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Awards
Action Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Top Shot Award 22
Fall Award 2020
Top Choice
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
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Top 10 rank
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Behind The Lens
Location
This shot was taken in my lounge at home. I convert it into a studio when I do portraits, so have to take out most of the furniture to give me the most amount of space possible. The floor was covered in a waterproff tarpaulin as I wanted to do a wet hair shot, so had to pour a couple of jugs of warm water over him to get the look I was after.Time
If I remember corretcly this was an afternoon session - but being in the studio environment, it's so easy to lose track of time!Lighting
For this shot I wanted to use just one light, and no softbox - wanted specular highlights to pick up the water. Just used a simple 55deg reflectorEquipment
Canon 60D, tripod, 200W studio flash head, 55 deg reflectorInspiration
I really wanted to try an advertorial looking B&W image, something that was very masculine, and wanted a wet hair shot - something that could imply that the subject had just finished a work out, or got out of a pool, or had just worked damn hard and was heavily sweating. I wanted there to be a feeling of strength, but also an element of vulnerability, and I think I achieved both of those things - through the close cropping and pose - the subject had to be looking down and not into the camera. And to cap it off, the water drop at the end of the hair was caught dead centre and tack sharp, just before it dripped. Perfect! Very, very happy with this shot - certainly one of my favourites.Editing
This was always going to be a black and white shot, so I focussed on the contrast, clarity, highlights, shadows and black point.In my camera bag
When this was taken I always ahd my Canon 60D and a small range of L series lensdes. I've now upgraded to a 5dmkIV a still learning it!Feedback
Pose and crop is everything to get this type of shot.
