In Thought 3M
Jenny O'Sullivan at sunset from the Dunes at Crosby Coastal Park - Out with the Monday Club from Hope Photographic Centre...
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Jenny O'Sullivan at sunset from the Dunes at Crosby Coastal Park - Out with the Monday Club from Hope Photographic Centre
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Jun, 2017Views
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Awards
People's Choice in Natural light portrait Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Genius
Outstanding Creativity
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rankCategories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
Taken on Formby beach in the sand dunesTime
Taken in the golden hour just before sunset, a sunny day, the warm diffused light at this time transformed this photo. The good news is that you can try to them in winter and there are two everyday. Your camera will try to compromise for the warm golden tones it's perceiving, so switch out of auto White Balance and pick 'cloudy' instead to keep the colours true remember. Plus a model like Jenny who is prepared to wait wait wait for that moment and deliver in the moment.Lighting
The sun is directly behind Jenny a colleague is holding a large gold reflector to the side of me to illuminate Jenny's face. Pick a location to shoot at beforehand, and then calculate precisely when the golden hour occurs by checking when the sun will rise and or set (in this case set) using an calendar. As always I got into position 15 to 20 minutes before the hour began. As you've got a small window to shoot in, and the weather can change quickly, I get snapping as soon as the conditions are right. I always keep taking shots throughout the hour - also the light will change dramatically as the sun moves so you cannot quite be sure which one will have just the right light.Equipment
Olympus OM1 using a pro lens on which I had increased the dreamy golden feeling of portrait as I do at first and last light by switching down to a wide aperture of f/5.6. This will keep the focus firmly on your subject and help you create a bokeh effect in the background with any pinpoints of light.The light was not as strong as in the middle of the day, though, so you'll need a tripod to ensure everything stays sharp I use a Manfrotto tripod.Inspiration
Portraits taken during the golden hours – that magic time just before sunset and after sunrise – have an incredibly powerful light to them. The dramatic back-lighting from the sun and the golden tones that flood your viewfinder give you an incredible images. Not only that, the mood of your photo is vastly different from portraits taken with overhead or flat lighting – there's a warm, carefree feel to this time, and I feel artistic flexibility is truly unlimited in these moments. Portrait photography is all about capturing the essence of the person you’re photographing and I spend many happy hours in the company of Jenny creating some brilliant images - she is a joy to work with and a real talent.Editing
Composed in camera just a crop in photoshop - It's all about planning for these shotsIn my camera bag
Olympus OMD-1, Olympus OMD-5 Mk2, Designed to meet the needs of both professional photographers and enthusiasts, Olympus Zuiko lenses are born of an uncompromising commitment to clear image quality and precision. Their compact, lightweight design lets you expand your shooting capabilities while ensuring top-grade optical performance.I have over the years acquired a good collection plus 2 Manfrotto tripods and two reflectors - Plus for an emergency a Olympus Flash gun.Feedback
Keep the ISO low ideally below 800 above and you risk static and grain. Shoot in raw – shooting in raw is a must do for great sunset photos since you will need all the extra dynamic range and color tonality that shooting in the raw format will give you. If you are prepared to give time the result is a portrait that can’t be replicated in a studio and many times the memory and moment can be captured. Also be prepared if at first you don't succeed - try try again.
