2lfoto

The Celebration of Venus

Model: Klaudia Photographed for Black Label Magazine https:--blacklabelmag.com

Model: Klaudia Photographed for Black Label Magazine https:--blacklabelmag.com
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Jul, 2015

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6317

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+704

Awards

Chatter Award

Zenith Award

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Top Shot Award 21

Contest Finalist in The Emerging Talent Awards

Member Selection Award

Featured

Outstanding Creativity

+108

Peer Award

+105

Superb Composition

+78

Absolute Masterpiece

+58

Top Choice

+38

Superior Skill

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Virtuoso

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at my previous studio, which was comprised of several elaborate sets like this. My current studio is just as ornate; I believe that the setting of a photograph is just as important as its subject. Plain backdrops have their place, but limit your ability to truly create a "scene."

Time

In a studio setting, time of day doesn't matter, which is why I prefer it. I like being able to have full control of my lighting; it is both challenging and rewarding.

Lighting

I try to think outside the box with lighting. The key light here was simply an AlienBee with a medium softbox, angled appropriately. The lights on the set are simply ambient "can" uplights. I often will mix lighting types in a shoot, whether ambients and strobes, ambients and continuous, or continuous and strobes. I feel that mixing lighting sources and techniques make for more dynamic photographs. Sometimes I break the "rules" and push the camera to its limits, but the results are always quite pleasing.

Equipment

I'm a Canon baby. I have a trusty 5D MK II (I'll get the III when it gets cheaper) and my go to lens is the 24-70 2.8L (version 1) for glamour photography. That's what shot this. For a shot like this I put the aperture around 7.1.

Inspiration

The initial shot was of her standing in front of the set, a large seashell in the foreground...the inspiration was of course Boticelli. Usually when I shoot I'm never looking for "one shot". I'm looking for a series...a story. This shot came out of the progression of the series. It was coined "The Celebration of Venus" and so what better way to celebrate than by throwing rose petals!

Editing

To me, what you do in post is almost more important than what you capture in the camera. In this particular photo, I really wanted her to pop from the background. In addition to dodging and burning the contours and features of her body, I also did a color balance adjustment on just her, which made her "pop" even more from what could otherwise have been a distracting background.

In my camera bag

My gear setup is the MKII body, 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L and the 50 1.8. I have a couple of speedlights too, but I rarely use them. I use AlienBees for my strobes due to their ease of use, or for a truly cinematic look my continuous lighting, which varies depending on the needs of the shoot. Typically I use 1000 watt tungsten "hot" lights, but I'm starting to explore LEDs, especially as I delve into video.

Feedback

Think outside of the box! Go beyond seamless paper or outdoor locations...everyone else is doing that. Bend or break the "rules"...because in true art, there are no "rules." In this over-saturated market of photographers, do something that really stands out! Just make sure you make it about the subject. Think of cinematography: get your master shot, but then move in for the details!

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2lfoto

2lfoto

The Celebration of Venus

Model: Klaudia Photographed for Black Label Magazine https:--blacklabelmag.com

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow 2lfoto

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