Tell us a bit about the image? This image is a part of a series/project that I am doing called “Coffee Break”. It as a series where I take photos of models/people whom I have worked with before and new faces who reached out to me at some point for a collaboration. What inspired you to take the shot? I started doing this series last year when I wanted to do something new with my photography. Normally I create fantasy themed images, where a lot of planning and a creative team is involved, in contrast to “Coffee Break”, where it only takes around 15 minutes per session to take and the rest of the time, I get to spend with the model/person that I have taken photos of. I get to know them in a more personal level and for the ones I have worked with before, I get to catch up with them and plan future photoshoots as well. What gear did you use for the shot including lighting? This photo along with the other images from my “Coffee Break” series was taken with ambient light. I used my Canon 5D MIV + Canon 50mm 1.4 lens. Tell us about the editing process? For editing. I always start with cleaning the skin. I use frequency separation to clean the skin followed with dodging and burning. Afterwards, I move on to adjustments. I used curves, hue/saturation and colour balance a lot to tone the image. Since the name of the series is “Coffee Break”, I wanted the toning to reflect that title. Therefore, I opted for brown and caramel tones. The colour of Latte, which the model was drinking. How does this piece reflect you as an artist As I have mentioned earlier, I started creating this kind of image because I wanted to try something different. Normally, when I shoot editorials or fine art images, I do not really get to spend a lot of time talking or getting to know the models that I am taking photos of. This way I am not only trying something new, I am also getting to know new people and hear their stories. Social Media: Personal Website: https://www.gracealmera.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracealmeraphotography/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/gracealmeraphotography/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gracealmeraphotography Twitter: https://twitter.com/gracealmeradk Read More

The Autumn Sisters

 

Question

Tell us about the image

Answer

The image was created from a concept that I had.  At the time I was exploring imagery involving textures and I came up with a concept, the Spring and Autumn Sisters.  The image I wanted to create was of two Forest Spirits, sisters but opposites.  Amber is Autumn and her sister, Lace who is blonde and blue eyed, is Spring.  I wanted to portray them as ethereal, almost alien beauties, a little step away from our reality.

 

Question

What Inspired you to take the shot

Answer

It was a shot I crafted from an image in my mind.  I put together a wonderful team of artists who shared the vision and we all love the imagery that we created.

 

Question

What Equipment did you use?

Answer

I shoot with a Sony a7rii and was using my favourite lens, my Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM which stays on my camera 98% of the time.

Lighting based on two Godox AD600BM strobes.  One was attached to a 60” octobox above and left and the second one below and left on a 32”.  I positioned Amber a few meters away from the white wall on the left, just enough for the slightest bit of kick back….. I love shadows!

EXIF:  f/13 at 1/250^th and ISO 100

 

Question

Tell us about the editing process?

Answer

my workflow involves balancing light and colours in Lightroom. I then move on to Photoshop to retouch. This involves frequency separation for skin smoothing and dodging and burning where appropriate. This image was shot in studio against a white background so I added a textured background also in Photoshop as the finishing touch

 

Question

How does this piece reflect you as an artist?

Answer

This piece says a lot of what I aim to express.  As the question suggests, I aim to create art.  An image that isn’t just about a beautiful person, but creates a story and emotions, not just in the setting and props but also in the models eyes.  I want to challenge, so that the viewer wonders what is happening in the scene, and also, separately, what is happening in the models mind, what is she thinking or feeling.  I love this image.

Follow Paul on Instagram @emaginephotographie

 

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Question:

 Tell us a bit about the image

Answer:

This image is a composite image I created for my client who had spent six months getting in shape. He booked the shoot to capture and document all of his hard work and as he seen some of my other composites, he wanted to create something different to your regular fitness and physique shots.

 

Question:

What inspired you to take the shot?

 Answer:

He loved the idea of dressing up like a Spartan and so, he had the costume custom made and bought other bits for the shoot. We decided to do the shoot at his apartment as we’d spoken about the shoot beforehand and he sent me images of his place. All I needed was a plain background so I could cut him out quite easily. We ended up taking a lot of photos during our shoot, this is just one of many. After the shoot we discussed what I would do for each image, i.e would it be dark and moody, what kind of back ground, what story does he want to tell etc and we settled for an “after the battle” feel as he looked like he was returning from battle. My edit was inspired by fantasy artwork feeds I’d seen on Instagram and movie and TV posters. I work exclusively in Photoshop when I edited and spent about 6 hours to create this work. Using brushes and other elements, I added all the blood and scratches manually, I used a a moody cloud and field stock shot from Shutterstock as my main back drop, added smoke, embers, swords, debris and a vignette. I added some motion blur to give it a sense of motion and action. As to his body, I did nothing to enhance his physique, he was that ripped! I simply lifted the shadows and boosted the clarity and gave the overall image a look.

 

Question:

What gear did you use for the shot including lighting?

 Answer: 

The kit I used on the shoot was all budget kit. I used a Sony a77 Mk1, a Sony 35mm 1.8 lens, two Yongnuo YN560ii speedlights, a 10ft stand and boom and a 20 by 20 softbox. My triggers are cheap £8 ones off Amazon/Ebay. And I filmed the shoot with a Canon Legria Mini X. Here’s a link to the video: https://youtu.be/iuI71KcNybY I love this sort of work. It’s challenging but it gives me a lot of creative freedom to create something different. None of his friends have a work of art like this, they all have gym based photos.

 

Question:

Tell us about the editing process?

Answer:

I shoot in gyms a lot, which can bring it’s own challenges as to how to make one shoot look different to another, so by doing composites, it sets my work out a different to your average physique photographer, as I am also a digital artist. It also helps my work to get seen by other audiences, such as Cosplay, which is huge. So, you never know who is watching and who knows, perhaps one day some big Hollywood producer may think my work is good enough for a movie! (I actually ended up doing a shoot for a BBC Sci-fi show called “Class” off the back of this shoot.)

 

Question:

How does this piece reflect you as an artist

Answer:

So my concluding thoughts are, if you are a photographer who shoots pretty much the same thing day in day out, go and do something different and show people just how good you are. Doors will open! I also film Behind the Scenes videos of every shoot I do, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/c/sugarboxstudiosuk My social media links are: www.facebook.com/SugarBoxStudiosUK/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/sugarboxstudios/ Twitter: @SugarBoxStudios I’d really appreciate a follow or a subscribe. 🙂

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