Now for something completely different.

I thought I would work with some equipment I had not used in a while.

Here is a shot of my youngest daughter taken in style I haven’t worked with for about 20 years.

I used a 20” beauty dish and a Big Ol Reflector (BOR) and popped the background to blow it out. I did some work in Photoshop to create a silky, high-contrast look.

I like this style and look, unfortunately, this makes my 5 year old look like a teenager.

Talk about a departure from my usual style!

jh

The essence of “Natural”

I have done a lot of thinking lately about what makes an image seem “Natural”.

I will keep coming back to this theme from time to time. I haven’t defined all of the “Rules of Natural Photography” but I have a good start. I will share them now and expand upon them further as we go along.

What are the visual cues that a picture is “Natural”:
     • Complex backgrounds
     • Light is often coming from unusual directions
           Slightly too low or too high
     • One main light source
     • Complex ambient lighting
     • Complex catch lights in eyes
     • Tiny catch lights in eyes
     • Broad light source creating hair light (the sky)
     • Light source is visible (window)
     • Apparent depth creates light falloff
     • Identifiable background
     • Background dark on bottom, light on top
     • Lighting Harmony
           Continuity of lighting direction and intensity (especially hard lighting)
     • Lighting of background compliments subject lighting (direction, character)
     • Atmospheric lighting
     • Messiness
           Blown out highlights
           Windblown hair
           Clutter
           Texture
           Environment

The “tells” of “artificial” photography
     • Light character and fall off that scream “light box!” or “Umbrella!”
     • Painted backdrops
     • Props of any kind
     • Black turtlenecks
     • White turtlenecks
     • Perfect hair
     • Hair lights (rim light, kicker)
     • Light coming from too many directions
     • Light that is either too even or too direct

Adhering to a Natural Aesthetic

My little photography business is mostly about portraiture of kids. (and by extension, family group shots and dogs!)

Because I built the business as an outgrowth of making pictures for pleasure rather than pursuing the general portrait market, my style has been closely constrained to my personal likes and sensibilities.

natural light
outdoors
up close
black & white
kids

Now that the business has a life of it’s own, even though it is not my primary means of earning a living, I am being asked to shoot year round. Which is all well and good but for the fact that the natural aesthetic is little hard to pursue in the winter in Chicago.

That leaves me with a dilemma.

Shoot by window light
Shoot out in the cold
Make studio light look like natural light

Or

Don’t get so caught up in the artistic integrity shtick, develop a studio look that I am comfortable with and celebrate my versatility!

The next couple of posts will be experiments in developing along all of these paths to see what feels right.

I welcome and appreciate any comments anyone may have.

If you want to get a feel for my existing work, visit http://www.lightcatcherphoto.com and look around.

jh

Celebrate life through taking pictures

It seems to me that the best pictures are the ones that just happen, or at least look that way.

There is something about photography that makes it want to be uncontrived, real, genuine, of the moment.

Maybe it's just me, but I think that discovering images is far more satisfying than making art.

I have a philosophy of taking and making images that focuses upon uncontrived, natural image making and deliberate, diligent and focused approach to the craft of making the final art.

I hope to use this blog as a forum for posting my ideas about this process.

jh