Kate
Sep, 2021Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This Photo was taken in a studio in Edmonton, Alberta. I'd love to take all the credit but I believe the subject's amazing beauty had a lot to do with it !Time
The shot is actually very simple and basic. I chose a high key white back ground to match her bra and earings so that the attention stays mostly with the subjects eyes, and lips. If your model is wearing black then a black back ground will keep the viewer focused on the things that are standing out with colour, another good example is when one sees a black and white image but the eyes and/or lips remain in colour, it tends to direct the viewers attention.Lighting
Again the lighting is there to direct the viewer. Contrasty lighting shows texture and creates a mood, this lighting is absolutely flat which best brings out colour and nothing can be hidden in the shadows. I chose a two umbrella lighting set up as can be seen by examining the "catch lights" mirrored in the eyes. Instead of an umbrella on each side like the so common portrait style, I stacked them on top of each other and kept them close to the subject for a flat glamour effect. The closeness of the lights makes the light source much larger thereby eliminating shadows or keeping them very soft, the lower light was about 1/2 to 1 F-stop less than the upper one just so as to allow the neck to be slightly darker than the face but not enough to produce a noticeable shadow, I chose white umbrellas so as not to create specular highlights on the skin which would distract from colour by adding more tones and glare but they still produced bright highlights in the eyes for sparkle and a shimmer on the lips. This lighting lends itself to a subject that can take the scrutiny and if there were to be flaws they would be eliminated with good make up or the use of "frequency seperation" photoshop retouching that is the glamour photographers best tool to clean face shots with no softening gimmicks, Just ultra sharp flawless images.Equipment
For this creation I used a pentax 645 medium format film camera so as to produce a negative that could be enlarged to very big print sizes with out losing the sharpness and detail that sets a true professional image apart from the competition.Inspiration
Well this girl was the kind of subject that in my opinion, and by the popularity, also many of your opinions, one of the most beautifuly pleasing subjects that made my job simple. It took very little effort to finish this image because of course she had all of the rules of symetry of the face, the gap between the eyes, the size of the facial features the skin texture, eye colour hair all naturally fell into the rules of what the human eye finds attractive. Yes there is a guide book! But for those who don't quite make the cut, as photographers we either make the flaw the best and most appealing part of the subject, or we use the tools of photoshop to perfect, or as I like to call it "enhance" the image.Editing
Well like I already mentioned this subject took very little enhancing. The enhancements on this subject were basically only required to cover up my imperfections, such as some hair grooming, adjustment of the garments and tweaking of make up colour.In my camera bag
I generally use my nikon currently the D800, I have owned many nikons from the original D1, the D2 and D3 to the D200, D600 as well as the Pentax 645, Rolleiflex Mamiya RB67 and yes my late mothers Hasselbladt which I hope to someday be able to afford a digital back. I always bring along a telephoto lens such as the 80 or 70 to 200 zoom lens known for their quality of glass and if I am able to relax at a studio I will choose to use a tripod or at least monopod every time. Todays digital equipment has allowed us to do away with gimmicks such as soft focus filters, vignettes and even colour filters, but a good neutral density and polarizing filter are always excellent tools for that little extra "during the shoot" effect that is not quite the same when using digital art later.Feedback
The key to being a pro and standing out is easy. I have been a photographer for many years and I know I am good at what I do, but sadly I don't always take my own advice! Some of the work I have even her on Viewbug is below my own standards, the reason being I have lost many of my original negatives or got them stolen with a computer. I have as artists do fallen in love with some of my creations and because I am so passionate about sharing I have some sub standard images in my portfolio. This is not saying that I produced the original as sub standard, but unfortunately with out the orinal work on, negative or the digital file I have shared images that were copies of the original such as jpg files I found in my emails or other media. I am so impressed with some master photographers here on viewbug, and you will find the best only show quality work. I am not seeking big contracts and am no longer a new upcoming, but if I was I would never compromise on what I put out there. Do not rely on photoshop or other post-processing to make something that is not your best work to turn that work into what represents who you are or what you know you can do! There's an old saying, Garbage in is garbage out! A camera is a tool to produce a product, if that product is your lively hood, business card or passion then it can only be produced using a camera that gives you a large file, usually Raw image with out having it digitally enlarged or using some gimmick software to hide something that any professional can spot instantly. The lens quality is worth it's weight in gold! You will never be a pro product photographer using your cel phone as a camera, but you could start a new fad or trend with it, such as during covid taking front door portrait family shots to send to relatives when that is the only way to get connected, but in the long run keep the utmost standards, gain a reputation for quality and ethics and fair but not cheap pricing, if you are cheap you're work is cheap and it will have no real value, those who want the best know that they will need to pay for the best and all those cheap hamburgers allow us to sit down and feel good about what we spend on a great steak and good company plus service. You can work your butt off every day all day barely surviving and hate going to work. Or you can pick what you want to do create a wonderful product that you are proud of and has an impact on people, is worth more than money, sometimes invaluable, is cherished and on display always (the best advertising!) to those who will seek you out for your talent and you go to play (work) with pride and confidence. as photographers who needs to work!!!
