Monday, September 20, 2010

two photographers get together...

How many photographers does it take to make a decent photograph?  What happens when two photographers get together for a photo shoot?  There must be at least two or three jokes you could tell.

But what really does happen when photographers meet for practice sessions?  Steve and I got together last week, using his garage set up as a studio for an exercise in portraiture and lighting.  It was definitely a learning experience.  Anyone who works with electronics and computers knows that the possibilities for complications and equipment failure are huge and there were moments of confusion.  But overall, it was very educational and because of that, we both will think about shooting slightly differently.  There are things any photographer needs to keep in mind.  Know your camera and equipment.  Be aware of light.  Make your subject comfortable.  (Steve is a great model but I don't particularly care for being  photographed.  I prefer my place of comfort behind the camera.)

During a roughly three hour session, we both posed using his soft box, back drop, light meter and flash.  We also chose several natural light environments, both inside and outside, making it possible to compare and contrast.

Steve 2010
The two images included here are very different as a result of two controlled lighting situations.  The results are apparent.  One is not better than the other.  They are both effective but for different reasons.  The black and white feels like a timeless portrait taken in the desert in the 1903s or 1940s, while the picture of Steve with the guitar is obviously a product of electronics and the beautiful soft, even light brought about with a single soft box.

By the end of the session, I think we were both feeling more comfortable being photographed, allowing ourselves to use props and just sit before the camera.  During the past when I shot environmental portraits and weddings, I always tried to make the model or person involved feel comfortable.  Because of this photo session, I am once again aware of being photographed and how unsettling it can be.  It will make me work at my art that much harder.
Steve 2010




Until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image
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2 comments:

  1. Steve ImmelSeptember 20, 2010 at 10:11 AM

    It's fun to see these, Daryl. I especially like the one with the guitar. Could the B&W one be made a little lighter? Don't want to hide those wrinkles. I'll post one of you later in the day once I've completed my framing task. S

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  2. bob silverSeptember 24, 2010 at 6:53 AM

    Wonderful shots of Steve & great narrative. Your words counter a variation on an old Frank Zappa line ("Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."), since you effectively demonstrate that writing about photography is not necessarily like dancing about architecture. Thanks for the images and for the words.
    Bob Silver

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