Subtle Tones

This portrait was made using my studio as a daylight space.I set up a large 6 foot by four foot diffusion panel infront of the large window and placed a reflector to the left of my subject.

I visualised the completed end result as it is here.I knew it was to be soft tones with a very gentle calm feel to it.Mid blue backdrop and black and white selected I made a range of exposures.This one is 125th of a second at f4.Only the eyes are really sharp.

I then created the final look in photoshop using a totally rad action that I then tweaked to get the look I wanted.

Fashion Makeover Photography

Today I was trying out my new triflector and beauty dish.I placed the beauty dish above the reflectors on my wall mounted light stand.Leung was sat down on a stool in the middle of the reflectors.I lit the background with one honeycombed head to give the white bleed on the grey background.I love the quality of light in this photo and I am very happy with my new purchase.I finished the image in portrait professional.Using it subtly as always not overdoing the retouching.Hope you like it.Enjoy your photogaphy.Alex

Artist Joseph Portrait

I was commisioned last week to photograph paintings and make a portrait of Joseph the artist who is selling some of his beautiful industrial canvases.I first set about photographhing the paintings.I really wanted to do them justice so I decided upon heavily diffused natural light.Thankfully the canvases are framed but not mounted behind glass.This made my job so much easier as I did not have to deal with reflected light on glass.I used window light from 3 directions and a very large diffuser panel.I mounted my Nikon D7OO on a tripod and set to work on the exposure.I was getting a little highlight from one window on the canvases so I shut the blind 70% and that worked.I shot the paintings at 1/4 second at f.11 on 200 ISO.We are all happy with the results.Joseph is especially happy with the fact that the photographs look exactly like the paintings in colour density and tone.
A few days later Joseph came to the studio for his portrait sitting.We had previously discussed the ideas look feel and props of the shoot.I wanted Joseph to use his walking stick in the pportrait and he chose his hat and clothing.A real collaboration like all good effective creative portrait photographs.Again I used natural light and a huge full length diffuser panel.I bounced some light back into the shadows with a huge full length gold reflector panel placed opposite the window on Josephs right side.I sat him down on a stool infront of a black paper backdrop and then founfd my exposure.I was working at 1/125 and f.8 at 400.I moved around working away ocasionally chatting with and directing Joseph.We chose is image as our favourite.Jo has used it in colour for his catalogue I prefer my black and white version.I have gone for a riity old reportage looking black and white.It is from a set of actions I use for black and white coversion.

Patience

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Creative photography relies on many elements ,some of which are not specifically photographic disciplines.

Once you have found a location or subject that interests you be sure to 'work your subject '. This means photograph your subject from as many different angles as possible. Use a variety of focal lengths and try different compositions.

One subject offers countless interpretations, some of these will have impact others will not. With practice you will intuitively know the best approach for each subject.

Slow shutter speed and windy landscapes

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Walking amongst these poppies in Andalucia I was looking for the most densly covered part of the field.

I wanted to make a photograph juxtaposing the red and green of the field against the blue sky.

I set up my tripod and added a circular polariser to the lens to deepen the blue sky and enhance the white clouds.

After bagging a few great frames of this field and skyscape I noticed the wheat grass near me blowing and bending in the wind amongst the poppies and other grasses.