close iframe icon
approved icon grahamgall avatar
grahamgall
Banner

Hand Safe



behind the lens badge

Sanitising our hands is an imperative during the Covid19 Pandemic.

Sanitising our hands is an imperative during the Covid19 Pandemic.
Read less

Views

1242

Likes

Awards

Runner Up in Self Care Photo Contest
Runner Up in Staying Safe Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Staying Safe Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
LiloDizdarevic chayart_ threestreet wyatthumphreys jinhojang RexWANG cold-coyote +5
Outstanding Creativity
elizabethc1 barun_24th benjieocampopascua bogdanleoca nicolekolder_6502 bobhills vianeyconde +3
Top Choice
trishapotazo 5704_7867 karan dorkwithacamera02 danorangemeca markbroomfield_9457 Haya7 +2
Absolute Masterpiece
r3leasedakraken jeann4850 Hughieb AnnieStratter18 agustinguzman_0731 color_smart Mazzaa78 +1
All Star
estercastillo08 dannyboyfraser jhogan
Magnificent Capture
OBRonTyan

Emotions

Impressed
RLoyal Edgargo TARPAPERHAVEN2020 jorgealbertopealozapealoza
Happy
DansLaLune

Top Ranks

Show Me Your Hands Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Creative Boundaries Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Quarantine Chronicles Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Quarantine Chronicles Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Staying Safe Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Staying Safe Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

Categories


See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in my kitchen at home in Canberra Australia. The hand model is my wife. We live in a modern apartment which has many great locations for photography. I have a small home studio here as well where I do actors and models headshots, portraits and fashion. There are also many great exterior locations in our complex which I use for fashion and product shots as needed.

Time

It was taken at noon.

Lighting

I wanted this image to be high key in that typical product photography style that I really love. So to get my whites as white as possible I lit with available light from a large window and then filled from above with daylight down lights in the kitchen. Then I exposed to the right without blowing the highlights to get the look I knew I wanted. I wanted it to look clean and fresh to tell the sanitiser story. So I went for the pastel colours you see here.

Equipment

I used my Olympus EM1 Mk2 with Olympus 12-40mm 2.8 Pro lens - on my Manfrotto D55 tripod with 410 head.

Inspiration

I was actually inspired to take the shot by the Viewbug call for this 'Staying Safe' Contest. It was taken specifically for this contest. So I asked my self what we do to stay safe during Covid 19 and the big one was to keep our hands sanitised.

Editing

My editing work flow was to open in Camera Raw change to Adobe Portrait Mode ( I like it for skin tones) - adjust black (-20) and white (+44) reduce highlights (-100) Then open in Photoshop. Denoise (I use NEAT), sharpen and then create a white vignette with a curves brush and add a second vignette over this with a full colour white brush to get the edges to the look I wanted - washed out but not blown out and as white as possible..

In my camera bag

I shoot exclusively Olympus and what I have in my bag depends on what I am shooting. When I am at home as I was for this shot of course I have the full array of my kit available to me which includes a full lighting kit and almost every lens Olympus has produced.. But when I travel typically in my Manfrotto Messenger Blue Bag 2 EM1 Mk2 bodies with the Olympus 12-100 Tele and the Panasonic 100-400 Tele. For macro I will usually carry my Olympus 60mm as well. I will also carry a few filters - ND and Polar, spare cards, spare batteries, headlamp, cleaning cloths etc.

Feedback

For any product photography like this select your location to suit the topic and product. Be careful about everything in the frame and remove anything not relevant. Expose to the right as far as possible but keep your ISO a low as possible which means using plenty of light. If a model is involved choose the wardrobe carefully. For this high key style light complimentary pastel colours. Keep your aperture as wide as you can to blur the background. Here is my EXIF data so you can see what I used: f/3.2 1/60s ISO500

See more amazing photos, follow grahamgall

It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.