Dance and theatrical performances are a subject I really love. It is a all a question of ryhtm and anticipation.
Please forget bracketing and tune in to the show. Unless the performers are in a long pose, the timing is so tight that bracketing would most likely make you miss the moment. And it is so rewarding to capture the right moment: it is a bit like being part of it.
Of course, if you have the chance to see the spectacle a few times, you know you will get killer shots as you will already have spotted the crucial moments. However, I personally take a lot of pleasure getting it right on a unique performance....
I had another shoot with my favorite model Anna, and the session was as explosive with ideas than ever. We have decided to meet again soon to explore some ideas and concept more deeply.
All the shots are taken on location, not in a studio. We were blessed with a raging sun, a very rare occurrence in Manchester.
Our sessions seem to always take the best of the day, until we are exhausted, but we did have so much fun!
I shall praise natural light again...This shot was taken with solely the light from a window. It was a very sunny day, but the light was not direct. I find natural light to get not only the atmosphere, but also and mainly the character out of a person.
I'll have to destroy a myth for you though: This person is not a musician, but a fellow photographer....
In wedding photography, the backgrounds are very important, and it is good to exploit the location as much as possible. In the photo above, I matched the wallpaper in the bride's room with her dress, associating the colours and shapes.
Observing the environment is crucial, whether for light or elements, layouts , objects... Scouting is the best way to make the most of the places available. Don't skip scouting: you'd be unprepared...
Another year, another fashion show for the Textile design, fashion and retail course of Manchester University. The students are the models, and one part of the garments are created by the students, the other part is bought items associated to represent the year's fashion. Quite interesting to see that the 80's return is not over, unfortunately with bright and fluorescent colours. The themes these year were tribal, Candy floss, bling, and underwear over. It was the 10th Fashion show, and all the proceeds like every year are going to a charity. The amphitheatre was full to bursting once again, excellent news for the charity...
We encountered a lot of derelict and decaying buildings, walls and oddities, like that filthy bearded mannequin head that we found on a chair, on a wild car park, or the old milk float, rubbles, rubbish and lots of empty alcohool bottles.
The shoot was very fruitful and inspiring and sprouted further ideas for future work.
A good rapport with a model decuples the opportunities during the shoots, and working several times with a model allows further exploration of ideas.
I worked with the available light as we were lucky enough to get a soft winter sun; to me, the world around us will always be the best studio...
If you are not going onto an faraway safari, You can still pay a visit to the zoo. Take it as a challenge to use the existing backgrounds, and use the proximity of the animals to your advantage. Change your perspective and try to be creative. It is a good exercise, and a great challenge.
And your entry ticket will help towards feeding the animals, because as much as we'd all like to see them free, zoo animals cannot be released in the wild...
Two essentials for portraits: good light, and a good model. But one needs both at once.
Models? Good modelling is something innate that can be worked on to improve, but if the spark is not there in the fist place, there will be limitations.
Light? Natural is best in my opinion, but if it's not available, a good light set up is the next best thing. the current cameras are pushing the boundaries and will do so even more in the future to capture what ambiance light is.
There is one more element, the catalyst: The rapport between the model and the photographer...
These are the ingredients, now the cooking...!
For this project with ana, I had access to alocation with two full wall of natural diffuse light (yes naturally diffuse in Manchester: we have the clouds for that...lucky if we get a ray of sun), and one of the walls was raw concrete.
Ana, although not a professionnal model, is very at ease, natural and let's face it, has a knack for it.
I also happen to know Ana well enough as a friend. Great for insight, trust, complicity, and confidence.
We all enjoyed the shoot, it was very relaxed and friendly, and so the atmosphere totally conducive.
