Simple Yet Elegant = a winner everytime
So last Sunday at 2pm one of my assistants calls to tell me he just got a tip from a make up artist that a model friend of his from Spain is in town for 3 days and asked if I would like to test her. As soon as I saw a few photos that he emailed me I jumped on it. This is one of the shots that I converted to B&W in post.
Ok so why the title of the post ? Because the ONLY light I used was the natural light coming in from the bedroom window. I metered with my handheld meter and shot my ass off. It is a little blurry on purpose. I was hand held standing above her on a matress. Lens was my 85mm. Settings were ISO 800, 1/15th shutter speed, F/2.2. You guys like ? *QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WELCOME*
natural lighting for fashion or beauty
Tags: beautiful, beauty, elegant, fashion, model, natural light, simple, Spain
August 17th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Jason, I love how easy you make it all look. Your work really is amazing and I think many could learn from your talents and know you don’t need mass equipment to take amazing photos.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am
beautiful as always. Love it!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I agree with Dan’s comment and would add that you don’t need masses of post-processing work to create great images either.
This is an area I’m struggling with, simply because I find myself spending too much time looking at my images on a monitor trying to decide should I do it this way or that way when in fact it’s quite alright to just leave it as it is and only perform the bare essentials such as levels, sharpening and perhaps BW conversion.
I want to try and get out of the mindset that every image has to have extensive post-processing work done to it and seeing your work is helping me achieve this.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Elaine thank you !
August 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Thorsten thank you !
In some ways the whole Photoshop thing has not been a good thing and in some ways it has been a great thing.
This is why I ENCOURAGE all of you to GET IT RIGHT IN THE CAMERA FIRST ! Photoshop is good for adding effects, or adding some bells and whistles depending on the output intention. If any of you have not shot film before PLEASE start to shoot it. I started shooting on film because there was no digital. I also shot slide film because there is no latitude. So that is how I learned from my mistakes and learned the fundamentals. I STILL shoot on my Rolleiflex occasionaly to keep my chops up.
remember you all can email me or even call me at anytime if you need help or advice for anything. I am an open book !
August 19th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hello Jason Christopher
I have a question:
If you have a body crop 1.6X, you will buy 85 1.2 L or 135 2.0 L ?
I am very like porttrait and like fix lens. But i don’nt khow waht lens for studio portrait and what lens for street portrait. Iam using 400D
Thank you.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:15 am
So beautiful and pure! you have such a variety of styles in your portfolio!
Can you tell what you did in Photoshop, cq how you get that b/w style? my black & white conversions never turn out like the picture you posted.
Very curious!
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Excellent Shot…
1/15th shutter speed….? My shot would have looked like I used a lensbaby.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Very beautiful work!.
If I used 1/15th my shot would look like I used a lensbaby.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 am
jason you’re so nice.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Thank you very much Joseph !
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Thank you MoJo. I actually am not familiar with a lensbaby. I have heard of it though.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Thank you Jay !
Actually I just use the black and white conversion built into CS3. I do this on a new adjustment layer. I fiddle with it until I like what I see. But also to remember that when you PRINT the photo to convert the color profile from RGB to sRGB.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Hi Binh,
To figure out what size the lens will be equal to if you did not have the 1.6 crop factor, you just multiply 1.6 by the lens you are using. So for example, 1.6 x 85 = 136mm lens. That’s a long lens and not very suitable for portrait shooting. Your 135mm lens x1.6 = 216 mm ! Waaaayyyy too long of a lens. I recommend buying a 50mm and then you will have an equivalent lens of 80mm.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Very nice, there’s something very classic in her look as well. I would have jumped at the opportunity too.
Question: Was there any diffusion of the light streaming in? And, how far was the window approximately from your subject?
September 8th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hi Ivan,
Thank you for the compliment.
No there was no diffusion on the window. I would say the window was about 10 feet from her.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jason u are amazing dude, and i love how u share your knowledge and not really hide anything like some photographers do.
I am 24 years old out of Waterloo,Ontario Canada and your photography is so inspiring. I would love to shoot like u one day. Hopefully i can attend your workshop one day.
Sincerely,
Poyan
November 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Hi Poyan,
Thank you very much ! Anytime you have questions or just want to talk shop gimme a shout.
– Jason