RussieDenay
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Behind The Lens
Location
Monterey County has always been one of my favorite places to spend my time. This image was taken Carmel Valley, California. One of my secret trails I found while romping around the river. I could never give the exact location away.Time
My favorite time to shoot is in the evening. I remember placing the jewels on her face when the sun was just too high for the right light. We hiked around the river trail in Carmel Valley for about half an hour, waiting for the perfect time to start shooting.Lighting
This image is all natural. The beautiful golden hour while the fog is rolling in.Equipment
I was using my first real camera! It was taken in 2011, with my Nikon D5000. Although that camera is now retired, I will never give it away. Its how I found my creativity. There was no tripod, flash or reflector used, just the perfect location at the perfect time of day.Inspiration
After graduating with a BA in Visual and Public art, I was finally feeling my creativity come to life. At the time, women had started decorating their phone cases, shoes, computers and any other accessory you can think of with these jewels. I had to challenge the "Bedazzled" idea a bit, mostly because I found it tacky and annoying. Using a woman as the subject instead of your favorite electronic, and strategically placed, bedazzled tears pared with bright, vibrant flowers were meant to represent the struggle to be beautiful. While in reality, all women are beautiful.Editing
Of course. Lets be real here, there is always post-processing. In this particular photo, I attempted to keep it as real, and organic as possible. Just a bit of color correcting and sharpening in the eyes. I had a great model, and as I mentioned previously, the perfect light can do magic.In my camera bag
Although the camera I used in this image was great at the time, it could not keep up with my freelance schedule. I have now switched teams and use a Cannon 5D Mark ii. Which never leaves my side. There are obviously different lenses for different looks, but the two I love the most is my 1.8 and my fish eye. Great for any editorial adventure.Feedback
HAVE FUN! Don't be afraid to try something new. To be honest, the weirder the better!