btdean

Emerald

Canon EOS 60D

settings

Aperture f/5.0 ISO 800 Shutter 1/50

upload_date

Oct, 2014

Views

3483

Likes

+422

Awards

Zenith Award

Contest Finalist in Capture The Eye Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Green Eyes Photo Contest

Top Shot Award

Runner Up in Stunning POV Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Stunning POV Photo Contest

Contest Finalist in Point Of View Photo Contest

Featured

Peer Award

+386

Superb Composition

+48

Top Choice

+39

Outstanding Creativity

+23

Absolute Masterpiece

+14

Superior Skill

All Star

Magnificent Capture

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this at my home. I cleared away the living room, moving the furniture to the other side of the room and set up a reasonably cheap photo studio kit with some old curtains as the background. I set it up with the windows behind so the light would let the curtains light up and glow, of course this was not demonstrated in this photo. Looking back, it really was a sorry excuse for a temporary studio, but it served it's purpose. I take that back, it didn't work at all, I'm shocked I got anything from it. Glad I did this pro-bono. I mean, who would pay for that?

Time

I opted for early morning. My subject and myself were both in college at the time but usually afternoon classes. It was sometime in the winter and quite cloudy I recall, so the l the light that came through the windows was a bit muted and soft, which did it's job but not as bright as I hoped.

Lighting

I also used very cheap soft boxes as well as the windows. The light from the windows was white and cold by the time photos were taken place and the soft boxes (with halogen lights) did it's job. Also I was lucky these pictures came out. With me, I never know.

Equipment

Canon EOS 60D with a 135mm kit lens. It's almost the only lens I use apart from a 50mm. I'm not made of money, glass is expensive! Also some off-brand studio kits.

Inspiration

This photo was never intended, I'll say that up front. It's a happy accident that was an unexpected surprise. It's my favorite photo of the 800 I took that day (low by my standards) and doesn't even show why she was even there that day (she wanted photos of her pregnancy.) I think she was helping repair the curtains (she will help even if you don't ask for, I mean...who does that?) by reapplying the scotch tape (it's as bad or worse as it sounds) and being my annoying self, I continued the take pictures through this sad process. This picture was a result.

Editing

I applied very, very, very, very slight detail enhancements to the facial features and adjusted the brightness. I remember thinking I really didn't have to do anything with her hair or eyes in terms of color. They were already damn bright. If anything, I had to tone it down. Also, the eyes bothered me as they looked disfigured and they still do when I look at it now. I'm sure it's glare but I was afraid to do anymore editing around the eyes as I lacked the proper training compared to a fully licensed optometrist.

In my camera bag

Canon 60D with a 135mm lens, lots of memory cards and a spare battery. Sometimes I don't use a bag at all. I travel light and live on the edge with hand-rails.

Feedback

I'll tell you guys what I always tell other people who ask me the same question: don't ask me. This goes for nearly everything photography related, not just this photo. Luck has been on my side more than I care to admit (for the record, I just admitted it) and I am in no position to give advice to others on the matter. My professor in college kicked me out of the fine arts department and for good reason: I'm bad at it. Like everything in the world, there are rules in art, including photography, that keep level headed people on the right path to create truly wonderful and beautiful things that can be shared with humanity. I don't follow the rules, and sometimes thats ok, but it's not because I'm a rebel attempting to give the middle finger to the establishment with speech full of colorful expletives. I'm just terrible at following rules, directions or advice. I have been extremely lucky to know people who give wonderful advice, and when I follow it, the results I get are Prom Night II, which is my proudest moment in photography. I'm the kid who got the math question correct without showing my work, not because I did it my head with the adequate knowledge required to help solve the problem, but because my convoluted thoughts on the subject came up with the answer against all logic or reasoning. This photo is the result of not following advice that has cultivated for over a century. which finally leads me to my conclusion to the question: I can't give you advice because I don't know how I did it.

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btdean

btdean

Emerald

Behind The Lens

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