People Photography

cafe friends.jpg (61218 bytes)

This black and white photo was among my first attempts at photographing people. Rachelle, Stephanie and Alison asked me to take some photos for them. The look I had in mind was observing a meeting of friends in a Parisian cafe. This is why I shot it through the bars.  B&W really brings out the textures in the bricks and statue.

 

After seeing the above photos, another colleague at work asked me to photograph her family. We took a roll of B&W and colour print film: Fuji NPC 16. It renders medium tones really well. Here I wanted to capture the highlights in their hair as the sun lit them from the front.

family beach 1.jpg (123426 bytes)

 

girls africa 1.jpg (190869 bytes)

 I call this 'Girls in Africa'. We shot it on location... in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria. But doesn't it look like the Sahara?! This wide-angle picture places Lindsey and Elizabeth in a much larger context. It show us where they are.

 

By contrast, this zoom shot focuses us much more on them and makes the girls the most powerful part on the picture.

girls africa 2.jpg (174607 bytes)

 

girls sky.jpg (46167 bytes)

 I wanted to capture their youth and energy so I asked that they flail their arms about and laugh into the lens. They stood on a park bench and I choose a wide-angle (28mm) to exaggerate their movement. Voila !

 

Finishing off a roll of the similar Fuji NPS 160 ISO print film, Rachelle indulged my request for practice. This is in the Cadboro Bay Park near Victoria. The idea in mind for these next two photos was a lioness waiting in the tall grass for prey.

rachelle grass 1.jpg (149135 bytes)

 

rachelle grass 2.jpg (157532 bytes)

 Again, medium tones are what I was after here. Not too much contrast since Rachelle's dark pants are hidden.

 

The setting sun may have been too bright here. A diffuser might have softened the lighting. Much more contrast is evident as her black pants outline her figure and stand against the tomes of the grass.

rachelle grass 3.jpg (155424 bytes)

 

rachelle softgrass.jpg (152503 bytes)

 This grass was sooo soft. I feel the texture comes through in the film. The sun had set behind the trees at this point.

 

And here, I said to my very cooperative model: "Walk away, then turn back as if I said something childish. Scowl." I love it! Too funny. Makes me laugh every time how I asked for this look. Great pose Rachelle !

rachelle tall.jpg (108618 bytes)

 

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