Colorful youth

[texxter]

So after watching Argentina-Mexico on TV I went for a shoot with this lovely young woman. Man, it was HOT! Regardless, we shot indoors and I used only ambient light to avoid having to carry lights around.

I used color to convey a feeling of youth and joy.

Images are straight from the camera, except for white balance and minor adjustments. I didn't touch her skin. Images are intended for my stock library.

C&C welcome!

1. Large windows in front and to camera left. Background was a wall.


2. Light coming for two large windows to camera left, one in front of the girl, and another one behind, nice wraparound.



3. At a small ice cream place, background was the wall next to the restroom and light was coming from a large window in front and to the right of her.


4. Light coming from a huge window in front of her, with light wrapping all around the model. I would have liked a background with less texture, but that's all I had, the wall.

[texxter]

Well, I am not ready to conclude that the images are so awesome or awful as to leave you speechless!

So I'll bump myself by adding one more image.

The feedback I love to get is about whether or not the image connects with you, does it seem genuine and well constructed? Is this a portrait that makes you curious about the person and not just her looks? Is there a story here that suggests something to you?

For me I like the pastel tones that I think go well with intimacy of a personal moment, the simple geometric shapes framing her, and mostly her expression that seems to interrogate you as if knowing what you're thinking.

This one below was also lit by a window, but because I didn't have a reflector with me to deal with the shadows I had to do a bit of postprocessing magic to get the contrast to be acceptable to me - so this one has digital enhancements, but hopefully they are not obvious!

Thanks

[reader0428]

Paco, I was just thinking it strange that no one had commented on this thread yet! :) Since I clearly can't offer you technical critique that would be new to you (haha!) my comments will be about the overall image and impact...

#1 - this is my favorite. Those eyes! I love her expression here too.

#2 - probably my least favorite, although I'm having a hard time putting my finger on why. I think it just doesn't feel as genuine as the others. The lighting on her face is beautiful though.

#3 - Cute and playful! I wish she was turned a tad more toward the camera though.

#4 - This one is very nice as well. She seems to be having way too much fun to be studying or working!

#5 - probaly my 2nd favorite. I really like the added depth that the shadows give the image. I also find her expression very pleasing.

What locations did you use besides an ice cream shop? I'm guessing coffee shop or library...

By the way - when you shoot indoor locations like this, do you call ahead and get permission or just show up and shoot? I need to find some good indoor locations for these miserable summer months.

[Lexie]

What I think.....for what it's worth! I agree the colors "convey a feeling of youth and joy", but also I see a confident young woman . Her eyes in the first one just draw you in. Makes me wonder what's she thinking? Most of all, I love the use of natural light here!! Makes me want to toss the flash/strobes and use natural light only! Thanks for posting these. I love'em!

[reader0428]

Paco - I also meant to ask, if you don't mind telling, how old is she? Just curious...

[texxter]

Amanda, thank you for taking the time to share your preferences and the reasons for them. I agree with you that #2 feels a bit posey - also when I was photographing her here I felt that I was getting more blue than I'd like and I needed a red or orange that I didn't have. I also like the first one, it's simple and her eyes show well. BTW, she's 19 and very mature for her age, in my opinion.

I am constantly looking for light and what light looks like in different places. Sometimes I run into places and add them to my notebook, and sometimes I go scouting on weekends to find them. I tend to favor indoor locations with large windows over outdoors, and I have used everything: churches, libraries, bookshops, restaurants, bars, train depots, universities, coffee shops, malls, cigar stores, metal recycling plants, barbershops, tire repair shops, even an ironsmith shop. My approach depends on whether I am bringing someone to the location or I am photographing someone that lives or works in that location. I rarely call ahead, I go ahead and ask for permission with my best smile, or just shoot hoping nobody will mind, and I make it quick. I make a point of not photographing obvious copyrighted material, and if there are people around that may be uncomfortable, I tell them what I am doing and why. I just use common sense.

For example, if I want to shoot in a hotel lobby I ask for permission. If I want to shoot in the public library I read the service policy, and if photography is not mentioned, I just shoot. If someone questions me I apologize, state that I read the regulations and thought it was ok, and I leave right away with a smile. When I photographed a bartender, I chatted with him ahead of time, and we picked a day and time - he took care of asking the boss. Every place and situation is different.

Debbie, thanks for the kind words. I have always believe that light is light and there is nothing special about diffused sunlight over flash - but actually, it would be really difficult to recreate some of these lighting setups with strobes, mostly because the softboxes would need to be huge. For the first image, taken at the entrance of Cafe Express on Legacy, a ver small area, the windows in front and to the side are 12 ft. high or so. Similarly with #5, the source of illumination is huge and she's very close to it, and light is sneaking behind her...this was gorgeous northern-looking window light.

[Darkman]

I *REALLY* love how you used the Mac to reflect the blue from the table. Genius!

[hollandg]

Originally Posted by Darkman

I *REALLY* love how you used the Mac to reflect the blue from the table. Genius!

I think that was PSed in, If you look at the reflection of the Mac on the table it's white. I way missed that the first time I looked. It was not till Darkman said something that I saw it. Still looks really good.

[texxter]

Nope, no Photoshop on that blue. Thanks for the comments everyone!

[ukneeq]

I like #4 the best. That is how I picture most of today's youth. Just chillin and having fun on the computer! Nice work as always!

[FireHeart Photography]

Fabulously wonderful - love them - my only comment is #4 camera right eye looks a little weird? just love them... and your work in general is beautiful!

[J Eddington]

I see each one of them being used in ads. Great Job

[texxter]

Fedil, Francie, Janice, I very much appreciate your taking time to comment, and thank you for the kind words! Francie, her face is not totally symmetric, and in this shot it shows more, I think. Good catch.

Here are some the model picked for herself.

#6. Large window in front of the model. This was a staircase at the library, I used the large blue pillar to frame her and emphasize the complementary light hair



#7. Same light as #5, but she's positioned further away from the window, so I didn't have to do any postprocessing, straight out of the camera minus custom WB. I like the overall warm tonality here, contributed to by the yellow armchairs.



#8. Window light as well, debated whether to straighten the image or not, and decided to leave it a bit tilted to make look more casual. I peeled off the label off the water bottle and included it as a counterpoint in the composition, and to add some life to it.

[peeker]

Hi Paco,

These images are great... again. I think #2 suffers from too much blue in the photo that is also reflecting to her face making the image seem a bit flat and cool in color. It doesn't have the same warmness that the others have using bright and contrasting colors.

Your angles are great and I'm assuming you used an 85mm prime lens for all of these which is a great lesson to zoom with your feet.

Bravo!

[texxter]

Scott, thank you for your comments! I agree that #2 is weaker because of color overload.

I used both the 85mm prime and the 60mm f/2.8 Micro lens, which is great for portraits, and it can focus very close. Whenever I do these location shots I like to use primes, I dont like the bulk of the large zooms. I have to say that the 70-200mm is an exceptional lens and the VR feature is great - just so large!

[Jusselin]

I love viewing your posts

[tml]

Paco, my favorites are #3 and #5. In #3, her sweet expression is complemented nicely by the yummy ice cream. In #5, the light is so beautiful with the shadows giving the shot so much more life, mystery, and depth. #7 would have been so nice with a less busy background, or shallower depth of field. Thanks for sharing such wonderful works. Tri

[texxter]

Jusselin, very kind of you to say that, glad you enjoy the images.

Tri, thanks! Yes, northern window light is hard to beat, especially when the window is very large! On #7 I wanted it to be an environmental portrait where the place is an important component of the image. On #6 the background is just a background with enough interest to make the viewer know she's not in a studio against seamless paper; on #7 the background is a quiet place of study, so hopefully this comes across - I did include both a blurred foreground, another yellow armchair, and the background, with the main subject sandwiched between the two. I shot at f/2.8 as I needed to get most of her in focus from about 10 ft and still blur the foreground and the background. Thanks again for the kind words!

[lenron]

The wall notwithstanding, I like #4 a LOT. Sure, its a bit "normal" and all, but really it just flows right.

Still, all these are fantastic. #1 speaks the most to me, emotionally, and I like the composition especially.

Nice!

[e.bphoto]

WOW! Beautiful and calming...she does have a great confidence about her in these photos, that's part of what makes them pleasant and sweet. #1 is my fave for sure and I love how you captured every detail of her face and her eyes stand out so bright and bold...very pretty girl :D

I'm like you, all about natural settings and lighting. I find myself wanting to take more photos like this, rather than using flash..it can be too harsh on the face and takes away from the natural coloring of the skin...Grrr!

[texxter]

Nino, thank you so much for your comment. I agree that #4, and hopefully the rest too, look unpretentious and simple, as this was the intent, and what's needed for commercial purposes. The more like a well done snapshot it looks, the more value it has as a commercial lifestyle image. It's nearly always the case the new models have no idea how to pose naturally, and then tend to pose in cliche ways, so it takes some discussion ahead of time and an explanation of what we're doing and why to get the results I need. With more or less effort we get there.

Erica, I really appreciate your kind comments! I constantly flip-flop between ambient light (sometimes with some touches of flash) and pure flash, and this going back and forth is one of the things that I find fun an challenging in photography! Now, flash only produces bad results when used in certain ways, just like the sun produces bad results when used in certain ways. Flash illumination, when channeled, diffused, focused, positioned, reflected, blended... with some understanding of light principles, will give you extremely natural, beautiful results! It wasn't until I understood that flash is not a strange little light that sits on top of your camera that I "saw the light" - pardon the bad pun! Don't give up on it, master it!

Here are two pictures I have posted on TPF before, one with flash and the other without. Can you tell which is which? Here is #1 and #2.

[e.bphoto]

Originally Posted by texxter

Erica, I really appreciate your kind comments! I constantly flip-flop between ambient light (sometimes with some touches of flash) and pure flash, and this going back and forth is one of the things that I find fun an challenging in photography! Now, flash only produces bad results when used in certain ways, just like the sun produces bad results when used in certain ways. Flash illumination, when channeled, diffused, focused, positioned, reflected, blended... with some understanding of light principles, will give you extremely natural, beautiful results! It wasn't until I understood that flash is not a strange little light that sits on top of your camera that I "saw the light" - pardon the bad pun! Don't give up on it, master it!

Wow! those are also very beautiful shots! And nope I couldn't guess which one you used the flash for. I would love to learn how to use my flash like that! here's one I took of my friend the other day and had to edit this one a lot. I didn't have good lighting at the time so I had to use my flash. I hate using it inside but in this case I had to :( I don't like the harsh shadow behind her head either, I just keep practicing! any pointers?



Thanks!

[e.bphoto]

Ps. When I try to take photos inside without my flash, my shutter wants to stay open longer; thus producing a blurry photo. Is there any way (on my Nikon) to get it to snap the photo quickly? Even without flash?

[texxter]

Erica, three key things: move the flash off the camera, make it bigger with respect to the subject, and position it such that you add dimensionality and volume. There are resources on the internet to teach you how to do these things, a good one is http://strobist.com.

The camera does a good job with TTL when the flash is mounted on the hot shoe. I dont have a D40 or use TTL with on-camera flash, so I am probably not the best person to give you advice on your second question.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by Landen's Mommy

Ps. When I try to take photos inside without my flash, my shutter wants to stay open longer; thus producing a blurry photo. Is there any way (on my Nikon) to get it to snap the photo quickly? Even without flash?

Sorry, misunderstood your question. You would need to raise ISO, which can be done automatically using auto ISO, check your manual. It's important to understand what contributes to exposure, i.e., aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and how each changes the attributes of an image, e.g., motion, depth of field, noise, etc.

[reader0428]

Paco I am going to venture a guess that you used the flash on #1. (The tiny catchlight in the left eye is my clue...but that may be something else.) Am I right?

[texxter]

Amanda, you won the prize!! The first one uses flash and ambient mixed together. Good catch!

[e.bphoto]

Originally Posted by texxter

Sorry, misunderstood your question. You would need to raise ISO, which can be done automatically using auto ISO, check your manual. It's important to understand what contributes to exposure, i.e., aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and how each changes the attributes of an image, e.g., motion, depth of field, noise, etc.

LOL, I know...it was kind of hard to explain :D

My ISO in that photo was 200, so that would make a lot of sense. I just made my own studio lighting but haven't got to try it out yet. I'm hoping it will help me out a bit seeing as my house's lights aren't good for portraits.
I have been practicing a lot and can't wait to improve more and more each day. I know the photo I posted is a beginner picture, but it's actually better than my first ones, so I'm very happy :) (minus the flash harshness) But that's why we practice!!

Thanks so much for you're advice! I can't wait to see more of your work in the future...

[L Stegall]

Erica, Paco is an excellent source to learn from. Not only does he post beautiful work, but he is incredibly generous in providing explanations for what he is doing.

[texxter]

Lisa, it's too nice of you to say that, thank you.

Erica, I appreciate your kind words too. The technical aspects of photography are not very difficult, but there are many many different things to pay attention to when making an exposure, and it's easy to get one or more than one of those things off. Do spend time getting to know how things work, and you'll eventually be able to do some of those things without thinking. My inspiration for photography is music - to be able to convey a feeling with a piece, without having to think about each finger and each chord - to be able to bypass the mechanics of it, and let intuition and experience guide the image making process. It may take a long time, but with perseverance and some help you'll get better. Even the most experienced pianists need to spend many hours practicing in order to achieve that amazing ease and grace to convey emotion seemingly effortlessly. We photographers need to practice, learn from things that work and don't work, and build our "photographic muscle memory" or intuition.