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.
Roxy rehearses for KDH Dance Company’s 2011 end of year production.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 1600
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D4 Mark IV
- Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Composition and Processing
- With the arms and legs in near perfect symmetry, I chose to center Roxy in the frame and keep things aligned horizontally and vertically (particularly with the rail and edge of the floor in the background reinforcing that). It probably could have worked off-center or rotated at an angle, but since everything in this shot is about careful balance and control, a center crop made the most sense. The window frame throws that off a bit and I probably should have removed it.
- I originally thought this would be best in black and white. But the processing necessary to deal with the mix of incandescent, florescent and natural light gave the floor a bluish cast, and I thought that matched nicely with Roxy’s clothing.
Original:
February 14 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Daily Photo 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.
Roxy and Erica rehearse for the KDH Dance Company.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2
- ISO: 800
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Composition and Processing
- Unlike sports, where motion and direction can often be anticipated, movement in dance can change on a dime and without warning. Unless I’ve shot a piece several times, I usually have no idea what’s happening next. To compensate for that, I’ll use the center AF point (instead of one of the outer ones) and try to allow a little breathing room on both sides to re-crop later.
- On the flip side, shooting early rehearsals does make it easier to capture a specific image, because dancers work on short segments of a piece repeatedly until they get it right. Later rehearsals involve longer, less frequent run throughs. Once I saw the expressions of Roxy and Erica at this point in the piece, I focused on it and shot it as many times as they rehearsed it.
- As an added bonus, the lines in this image run right through the faces, leading your eye there regardless of where you start in the frame.
Original:
April 20 2009 | Photography | No Comments »