Today’s image is all about playing with light. I placed my newly acquired YungNuo YN-560 III flash (quite a bargain by the way) behind the glass ball. It was triggered by a built in optical slave when the main flash (my Nikon SB-600 with a Lightsphere) fired. Finally, a cross star filter provided the star effect, when things were lined up precisely.
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm lens
Post work done with Nik Efex and Lightroom
I call this post About Face for multiple reasons. Firstly, after months of shooting black and white, or colours muted by a seemingly endless winter, I wanted to do an about face and shoot some bold, vibrant, highly saturated, over the top colour. Secondly while I still shoot a lot of film, I felt like doing something shamelessly digital, not trying to emulate a film look at all.
Lastly, this post is called About Face as a tribute to the model Jennifer Bettencourt, who consistently delivers great facial expressions, whenever we work together! (Jennifer is multi-talented: she is also the singer on the demo version of a song from my Blitzed musical I am writing. )
Nikon D7100, 18-200 lens, Illumination via Nikon SB600 flash and Lightsphere Diffuser.
Post work done in Adobe Lightroom and Nik Color Efex 4
Today I had the pleasure of working with my friend Cate again. It was very cold and rather windy afternoon in a downtown Toronto cemetery, the kind of day that make its seem like winter will never end. Cate cool-toned hair and make-up was perfect for the weather!
Nikon D7100, 18-200 Nikkor lens
Post production in Adobe Lightroom and Nik Color Efex 4
Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with Jessica; this was her first time in front of the camera in a portrait session setting. While admitting to feeling a bit self-conscious, Jessica did quite well, and has a natural camera presence. She also has a knack for very subtle, tiny smiles, and I thought an extreme close-up (tighter than most portraits are shot) would help capture this.
Nikon D7100, Nkkor 18-200/3.5-5.6 VR II lens
Postwork done in Adobe Lightroom and Nik Efex software
I mentioned some time ago that I got to do my first cover photo for the new EP titled Leap by the incredibly talented Angela Saini and with her recording now released in Europe and about to be launched here in North America I can finally take the wraps off and show you a scan of the cover.
Angela is an artist who understands the importance of story; every song of hers has a story, and the concept that evolved for the cover definitely was definitely story-centric as well. The concept of the Leap cover was to show a mix of emotions surrounding taking the next step, taking the risk, “going for it.” That mix of nerves, fear, thrills and excitement you feel when you realize you are about to do something significant; the knowledge that when you go through the door, and take that leap, things will be different and that there will be no going back.
When going through the images there were a lot of very subtle differences in facial expressions, and the image that was finally picked I think has the perfect expression, full of the subtlety and complexity that Angela can muster so effectively.
The launch party for Leap will be held on November 14th at the Rivoli here in Toronto . I cannot go as I will be in 17th century New England that evening (as part of my role in The Crucible, being put on by Alexander Showcase Theatre), but that doesn’t mean you can’t go! The evening is sure to be a lot of fun!
In the meantime, check out some videos of her music!
I had the pleasure of shooting Andrea Gauster playing at the Freetimes Cafe in Toronto this past Saturday night. This talented singer/songwriter does an amazing job of connecting with her audience: just look at all the smiles. 🙂
(Nikon D7100 camera, 18-105mm Nikon lens)
Early evening light through a large picture window, the light of candles, and a soft overhead light.
(Nikon D7100, 18-105mm Nikkor lens, post work done with Color Efex Pro)
Another image from England, inside what my be England’s oldest church, St. Martin’s in Canterbury (portions dating from the 600’s CE). A warm morning light was coming through a window, and illuminated wooden pews and cloth seat cushions.
England has a lot of amazing buildings that make for great images, but it’s important to resist the temptation to stand back for the big picture, and pay attention to details, texture etc. I found this door on an otherwise nondescript old building in Canterbury.
I have had the privilege of working with model/musician Jennifer Bettencourt on a number of occasions, so when she contacted me recently about a project I was naturally interested. A friend of hers named Ashley, who is a new graduate of a program in special effects needed to document her final school project, and needed a model and photographer and I was lucky enough to get the call.
The project was steam punk themed, and involved the creation and application of many. many gears to Jennifer’s skin, and we aren’t talking just make-up; Ashley made the gears using moulds she made herself to create three-dimensional pieces applied like tattoos. Preparation took many hours (see a “behind the scenes” prep shot at the end of this post), but the results were worth it! It was also fascinating to watch the whoe process; I certainly learned a lot!.
I shot both colour digital and black and white film; I am starting off with a digital image to show the great colours; in my next post I will show one of the black and white film images.
Model: Jennifer Bettencourt
Special FX/Make-up Artist Ashley Vieira
Here’s a behind the scenes image
My Third Eye 