About technique and more.

Expressions

/in , /by

I always try to scout my models not only on looks (also pretty important) but also on the ability to express themselves, both in their poses but also in their facial expressions of course. Having a very good expression in a shot, which actually can be very subtle, can literally make your image go from boring to WOW.

 

Now this next example is a bit extreme (:D) but I hope you get the point. It’s not the idea of course to make all your models shout and scream or make funny faces, it actually can be a very “stiff” or “Emotionless” expression that works for the shot, and those last few words actually are the key…. it has to fit the mood and look/feel of the series you’re shooting, for example check out the work of two of my heroes Erwin Olaf and David Lachapelle bit totally different style of photographers but both work A LOT with expression, in fact when you check out almost all great photographers you will see that 99% of them will use this, and it’s logical of course, emotion is what drives us humans, still in many of the shots of aspiring photographers or starters this is a key element that is highly over looked.

 

Model : Anna

Anna May 4 2015 1310

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Finding the right angles

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Making a photo work is part of many many elements, light, storytelling, poses, composition, tinting, “retouch” and so much more.
But one of the key elements is also finding the right angles.

 

There are always books/videos/sites that will tell you HOW to shoot something or how NOT to shoot something, if you would follow ALL the NOTs you would probably not make a picture anymore and if you follow all the HOWs you will probably shoot images that don’t work. I strongly believe that making a good shot is very personal, not only depending on the photographer but most of all the situation, model etc.
Today some attention to finding the right angles.
According to some a wide angle is not really used in model photography (and according to some it’s cool, I’m in that category) so today some images and tips for shooting images a bit differently.

 

In this shot we used a mirror on the floor and I shot it with a 24 from slightly above the model (It helps to be tall, or a ladder also).
Twiga May 2 2015 0141

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The Elinchrom FS30 as a prop

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During the small workshop from last week we did one setup where I used the Elinchrom FS30 as a prop.
We lit Manon with the modeling light of an ELC 1000 strobe.
To give accent to the side of the FS30 I used one Lastolite Switch box II Large fitted with a Phottix Mitros+ strobe.
To light the smoke a bare strobe was used, also a Phottix Mitros+.

Both strobes were balanced with a Rogue CTO gel to balance them towards the modeling light of the ELC.

In post I tinted the images with a blue tint.

Manon April 25 2015 0073

Manon April 25 2015 0087

Workshop 0553 1

Workshop 0553

Manon April 25 2015 0090

 

Video review Sony 24-240 Lens and loads of travel and street photography tips

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Today the final part of my review of the Sony E-mount 24-240 lens.
During the review period Annewiek took some video of me shooting and sharing tips on Texel.
You can see some of the shots and the tips in this episode of Quite Frankly.
Feel free to share the video.

 

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