Daniela and the Trent Engine

After the difficulties I encountered with my lighting when I photographed Matilda, I compulsively listened to way too many online tutorials studied a bit more before heading to Daniela’s place for her portrait session.

My efforts were definitively rewarded; the indoor session did go noticeably better than last time around.   I even managed some shots using “classic” lighting techniques, some of them producing rather nice results.  The outdoor shots were also nice although I humbly admit that I should put some work to improve my use of natural light.  I should not be too hard on myself though; some of them are still nice.

What’s the link with the Trent Engine, you may ask?

At the beginning of 2011, I revived my old Flickr account and started to post more pictures as they became available.  This includes all sorts of pictures, including some from a visit at Duxford Imperial War Museum.  For inexplicable reason, my picture of a Trent Engine has been hugely popular on Flickr.  It is a nice picture but I am still puzzled at the fact that it was my most seen pictures for a rather long time.

That was before Daniela.  The first picture shown below had more views in its first 24 hours on Flickr than the Trent Engine ever had.  Daniela blushed a little bit when I told her about this; I am not sure she expected so much attention!  Anyhow, here are some of my favourite pictures from this session... as well as the picture of the Trent Engine.

Happy Easter!

I do know there are much more than chocolate eggs (and chicks, bunny, sheep, etc.) to Easter but I thought this was not the appropriate forum to discuss that sort of things.  Furthermore, I find it difficult to get a better subject than mini eggs when comes time to practice lighting and close up photography.

One always ends up taking photographs of what they like…! ;)

Enjoy your weekend and wish you English weather, for once. (It’s absolutely gorgeous in London, and pretty much for the entire 4 days!)

Matilda

A clearly targeted Facebook status is all it took to recruit my first model.  Matilda and I work at the same place and know each other since quite a while now.  We set up a date for a portrait session in the middle of March.  I learned later on that it wasn’t the first time she’d casually modeled for friends so it’s no surprise she was quite comfortable with the camera! ;)

Only days after acquiring a brand new Speedlight softbox, I dragged my stuff across town to her place and we started shooting.  I suppose I should have practiced a bit more before trying to achieve classical portrait lighting on location; watching online tutorials is good but it does not replace practice!  I must give myself some credit though; some shots came out quite nice.  

The pictures we took on our walkabout in the neibourghood were just better tough.  I’ll take some time to practice before next session but this first experience was very nice and extremely useful.  I also quite liked the format of the afternoon: “mini-studio” portraits at her home, walkabout the neighbourhood (with less equipment) then a beer at the pub.  Thanks Matilda!

How did I get here?

I always loved taking pictures.  For all sorts of reasons, I have not been able to explore photography properly while growing up.  You know, these things get costly quite rapidly…

Then came digital photography.  Thanks to my day job, I had a computer and intermediate Photoshop skills.  Santa bought me a nice "point and shoot" camera.  Oh joy!

Then I met that guy…  Among the wonderful things about him was a passion for photography, complete with a DSLR camera.  Soon I had one too.  Of the same brand than his so I could steal borrow all his stuff… 

Curiously, we don’t photograph the same things at all.  He likes landscapes and highly technical photographs.  I deeply loathe getting up at 5 AM to take pictures…  I love portraiture.  He hates it.  In some ways it’s actually a good thing.  We admire and give each other advices, but we don't/can't compare.

You want to know a big dirty secret?  These days, I shoot much more with his camera than with my own.  I am saving my pennies to buy a better one in few months but for now this is my best option.  I keep asking if he minds.  He keeps saying that he doesn’t.  I think it was a pretty good idea to marry him.

I am getting fairly good at grasping opportunity to take pictures.  A baby to entertain for an hour?  Get the camera out.  Christmas party to attend and not in the mood at all?  Just bring the camera.   You see the picture…

(None of them are very recent, FYI.)

My Resolution for 2011?

I am not usually the sort of person who takes New Year Resolutions.  Even less so the sort of person who keeps them.  I do think being too predictable is boring though, and that one should do things boldly or not bother at all…  That is how I ended up making a “Resolution Plan for 2011” at the end of last year. 

1- Take time to develop my photography skills.

2- Focus my efforts on my newly found love: photographing people.

3- Test the waters to see if there were any chance of doing this professionally.

That is how I ended up at the SWPP for 2 days last January.  I spent two 12-hours days attending master classes and exploring all things wedding/portrait photography.  I got so excited that I forgot to feel tired.

I invested my pocket money in a new professional lens and in some rather good lighting accessories.  I took a class on multiple Speedlights (flash) photography.  Then I started to recruit volunteers amongst my friends and acquaintances.  Some even said yes!!!

I spent a little less time than I should tidying up the flat and exercising at the gym.  But on the whole, it’s been a long time since I felt this excited about a project.

I think this is going to be the easiest resolution to keep EVER!