Just as the flash of the studio lights went off taking this photograph I had a huge ah-ha moment in my head. Yes, this Saturday I came another step closer to understanding why I’ve struggled so much with my photography class this year.
Although I was the photographer of this shot there was an “art director” setting the direction of the shot who had a clear view about what this picture should look like. We spent a long time setting up the lights and fiddling with poses to get the final result. We probably could have done with longer but people’s arms were aching from holding up the myriad of deflectors that help us sculpt the light exactly where we wanted it. I’m pretty sure Dan, our model, was in need of some refreshment too.
I’m much more opportunist when it comes to my photography – taking rather than making photographs. Naturally the challenge for me now is to shift my thinking further to the end point (my vision) and work backwards from there. I can imagine how much more pain I have to endure before this approach becomes more natural.
With two portrait assignments this module I don’t have long to get my head straight and point the camera in the right direction.
