The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Shari rehearses for the KDH Dance Company.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2.8
- ISO: 3200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
- Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (at 115mm)
Composition and Processing
- This shot is part of a series I did just after getting the Canon 1D4. I wanted to see if I could get crisp, quality shots at ISO 3200 and above because I wanted to use the 70-200mm lens more with this subject. It seems to have worked ok with this shot, but over time I’ve found that the drop in image quality from ISO 1600 to 3200 isn’t worth it (I’d rather shoot at f/2 and ISO 1600).
- I probably should have gone back and lightened Shari’s face a little in this image. You can see how it’s slightly red and darker than her skin and the background (due to the exertion of the rehearsal). The color is really just fine, it only stands out because the rest of her skin is paler.
- I’m also beginning to wonder about the right backgrounds to process images against. I usually use a medium gray in Lightroom, but that makes image backgrounds like this look white by comparison, only to appear light gray against a whiter background (like on flickr, facebook or this blog). The right lesson here is to check it against multiple backgrounds to make sure the appearance is what’s intended.
- I’m getting a bit of a catchlight in Shari’s eyes from the windows behind me; that’s keeping the eyes from turning into black dots at this distance.
Original:
May 16 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Lisa stretches after a KDH Dance Company rehearsal.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 1600
- Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
Composition and Processing
- Lot of great explicit lines in this shot leading directly to Lisa. Normally I wouldn’t want to crop a subject so far right when they’re leaning heavily that way, but the right wall creates such a strong blocking force there’s no way the eye is traveling off that edge (the lines from the bar even bring you back to Lisa).
- I’ll often rotate a shot like this too, but with the lines from the bar coming directly out of the upper right corner I thought it was best to leave this horizontally aligned.
Original:
May 08 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Claire rehearses for the KDH Dance Company.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 1600
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
- Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Composition and Processing
- I rotated the image counter-clockwise to reinforce the image of Claire pushing up and against something. Had I tilted it the other way, it would have felt more like she was falling and off balance (and would have taken the eye quickly off the right edge without a lot of space for her to move into).
- Since she’s moving parallel to the back wall, the bars and floor/ceiling joint reinforce her movement and posture.
- It’s a shame about the sweater since it breaks up otherwise great form and lines. I’ve been shooting the KDH Dance Company for five years now and while most of the dancers are accustomed to my presence at rehearsals and like the resulting images, this was the first time I’d shot Claire. Hence the self-conscious use of the sweater (I’m assuming). That’s something to always be aware of with new subjects, even in familiar environments.
Original:
May 02 2012 | Photography | No Comments »