Evening of Solitude
One of my favorite compositions from my first bodyscapes shoot.
One of my favorite compositions from my first bodyscapes shoot.
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Apr, 2017Views
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Awards
Chatter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Contest Finalist in Elegant Fine Art Nudes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Creative Bodyscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Fine Nudes In Black And White Photo Contest
Peer Choice Award
People's Choice in The Human Form Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Human Form Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Virtuoso
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in a hotel room with a traveling model. She was one of the first models that I'd hired for any sort of risqué shoot. I didn't want my work to look like all of the terrible hotel photos you see on various photo sharing websites, so I chose to go with my first attempt at bodyscapes style photos.Time
This was done later in the evening so that daylight creeping in through the windows wouldn't have an undesirable effect on lighting. As an extra precaution, heavy black sheets were draped over the curtains.Lighting
As this was my first time shooting bodyscapes, and I didn't have a lot of decent equipment at the time, I kind of played by ear. I used a single strobe from a chinese knock-off ebay brand, plugged into an extension cord and mounted with a strip softbox. I had an assistant hold the strobe head for me, and I would direct her with how and where to hold it. For this particular shot, she was standing behind the model and holding the strip box horizontally and facing the camera just above the model's body outline and out of frame.Equipment
I used a Nikon D600 and 50mm f/1.4 set to manual exposure at f/13 and 1/160 shutter speed. A knock-off brand studio strobe was handheld by an assistant with a 6" by 48" strip softbox. Remote triggering was done with a knock-off brand wireless trigger.Inspiration
I've always been enamored with bodyscape photos and subtle erotica, but spent many years avoiding the concept because I was afraid that I wouldn't achieve the quality I desired and would come across as a creepy guy with a camera. After some significant life changes in 2013, I decided that it was time to put up or shut up, and give it a try. I started out by hiring professional models so that I could concentrate on the photographic end of the equation rather than trying to learn to direct posing at the same time. This shoot was my first time working with a model that required more detailed direction, and I couldn't have been happier with how the shoot turned out.Editing
Post processing was pretty straightforward with simple adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw and black and white conversion with Nik SilverFX.In my camera bag
I've tuned my style a lot since this shoot, and much of my equipment has changed to that end. What I carry depends a lot on what I'm shooting. For portraits, I'll carry a primary and backup body (Nikon D850 and D750, respectively), Nikon's F/2.8 zoom trifecta (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) as well as an 85mm F/1.4. I now use Impact LiteTrek 4.0 portable strobes (three strobes and two batteries) triggered with Pocket Wizard TT5 and MiniTT1 to achieve a hypersync effect and wring the most usage out of my battery powered strobes in any lighting environment.Feedback
Don't be afraid to try. Don't be afraid to make bad photos, so long as you can learn from them. Be honest with yourself and anyone you're working with about your abilities and experience. Learn from your mistakes, and spend lots of time analyzing photos from others. Compare things you like to your own work and figure out how to get where you want to be. And certainly never hesitate to ask advice from those with more experience on either side of the lens. Each time you push the shutter release button is an opportunity to learn, but you'll never grow as an artist unless you constantly step out of your comfort zone.
