Rachael - Beach Shoot

[Cyrus]

I realise that this site isn't really model based but I figure it's about time I posted some of my work. I recently had the good fortune to work with Rach and I had an absolute ball. We hit the beach very early and made the best of the varying light throughout the early hours of the day.

Here are two from the shoot.

Comments always welcome!

Cyrus

[Bretski]

Nice Work...

[Alpha_7]

Cyrus,

Thanks for sharing, while the site doesn't focus on any particular form of photography certainly many of use enjoy model shoots.

I really like this too shots, love the rim lighting affect in the first, and the exposure on both are great, perhaps the pose could be a little better in the second but it's a minor niggle.

What sort of equipment were you using (if you don't mind me asking?) flash, reflectors ? Did you have an assistant ?

[gstark]

The first one is great. Good backlighting and rim effect, and great exposure on the face.

The shadows on the second are way too harsh for my tastes; the lighting here is inconsistant - look at the shadows formed by the beads on Rachel's chest, and also on the inside of her left arm - these come from the wrong side based upon the highlights on her face.

The shadows suggest that there was some form of fill lighting or a reflector in use but I don't think that this secondary source has been diffused effectively enough, and it's perhaps not been balanced correctly for this situation.

[Cyrus]

Cyrus,

Thanks for sharing, while the site doesn't focus on any particular form of photography certainly many of use enjoy model shoots.

I really like this too shots, love the rim lighting affect in the first, and the exposure on both are great, perhaps the pose could be a little better in the second but it's a minor niggle.

What sort of equipment were you using (if you don't mind me asking?) flash, reflectors ? Did you have an assistant ?

Thanks for your comments Alpha_7. IN regards to the second shot I have a few variations where Rachel is looking at the lens and in other directions but this one just seemed to hit a different note for me, very relaxed.

The gear I was using on the day was my Canon 350D with Tamron 28-75 lens and 580EX flash, at times on a tripod operating remotely. For that shot it was mounted on the camera though. I was fortunate on this ocassion that Rachel brought her boyfriend along and I was able to utilise him to hold my reflector - silver side in this case.

Cheers
Cyrus

[Cyrus]

The first one is great. Good backlighting and rim effect, and great exposure on the face.

The shadows on the second are way too harsh for my tastes; the lighting here is inconsistant - look at the shadows formed by the beads on Rachel's chest, and also on the inside of her left arm - these come from the wrong side based upon the highlights on her face.

The shadows suggest that there was some form of fill lighting or a reflector in use but I don't think that this secondary source has been diffused effectively enough, and it's perhaps not been balanced correctly for this situation.

Yeah fair comments Gary, as it turns out, the shadows were exactly what I was trying to capture, originally I had planned to convert the shot to B & W but the colours seemed too nice to lose. It's funny how some people love the shadows and others absolutely hate them, that's what I love about photography.

Thanks again for the comments

Cheers guys
Cyrus

[Glen]

The first is spectacular, great use of lighting

[avkomp]

sweet lighting on the first one.
great shot. love it

Steve

[Alex]

The first one is great, I like it a lot.

Alex

[byrt_001]

hi

i also like the first one, for the tones of colour in her face. the only thing i could have like was that, been on the beach and with a heavy jacket...maybe she could have her hands on the top part of the jacket. but... still, i really like the shot. is this the only one in this series? could be easily used as a cover shot for a magazine

the second one her face and lighting is just a bit too strong.

thanks for sharing your work, she is lovely by the way.

christian

[Steffen]

I agree, the first one is a ripper of a shot.

If at all possible, lose the black frame, unless this was shot for an obituary

Cheers
Steffen.

[bago100]

Cyrus
Your first photo is absolutely stunning. Excellent work!
I think because your first photo is so good, your second photo by comparison with the first, does not have the same visual impact.
However in saying that, your second photo is very pleasing on the eye also and is more than capable of being a good photo on it's own.
Cheers
Graham

[Slider]

Love the first shot. Absolutely stunning

[DionM]

Personally I like the second shot the best.

The first I like the concept but I think the sun backlighting is a touch too strong? Lose definition around the edge of the hood, and the lighting on her face appears just a little 'flashed'.

Still, the first is a great shot, but I like the second more.

Well done on both counts anyway!

[Neeper]

I love rim lighting and front lighting..... obviously I LOVE the first one. The hood on her jacket makes the rim light look that much better. Well done!

[Cyrus]

Thanks very much to everybody for your honest comments. I chose two very different shots to post thinking that either one should appeal to most people. It's always very interesting to hear different peoples views on why a shot works or doesn't work for them.

I might post some more shots from this shoot later.

Cheers
Cyrus

[jdear]

did you use a gold surface at all on a reflector?

Im playing around with my 5in 1 bottletop at the moment and Im curious the sort of difference the surfaces makes.

How far away was the reflector?
Holding a 95cm reflector close to people has a tendency to cause them to squint!

J

[Cyrus]

did you use a gold surface at all on a reflector?

Im playing around with my 5in 1 bottletop at the moment and Im curious the sort of difference the surfaces makes.

How far away was the reflector?
Holding a 95cm reflector close to people has a tendency to cause them to squint!

J

I used the silver side of my reflector (i only have white and silver at the moment) and it was about 150cm away from the subject.

Cyrus

[Cyrus]

Just a quick note of changing Rachel to Rachael.. the second spelling is the correct version. All of the pics have been editted to show the correct spelling now. Woops!

Cyrus