Canon 10D 40mm, f8, 1/180, ISO 100
We did have models in the Boneyard on that last day and the poor things were surrounded by about 40 photographers all clicking away. They’re an actual married couple who are clients of AltF, although they might as well have been pros they were so good. This was our big chance to see how Chenin, Doug and John each approach a shoot in their own style. Chenin and John using available light and Doug using a lighting set up. One of the things that was stressed at the workshop that stood out to me was to find light and use it in ways that might not be typical. Such as using direct sunlight or shooting into the sun, things you’re not “supposed” to do but which can have a very dramatic effect.
Canon 10D 85mm, f8, 1/180, ISO 100
Some of the other ideas was to have the subject do something, whether it be as simple as walking or playing with a necklace…or jumping of course:
Canon 10D 28mm, f11, 1/250, ISO 100
Here’s a few behind the scenes ones…Doug and Chenin:
John and the paparrazzi:
I feel like I’ve only scraped the iceberg in telling you guys about the anti-workshop, but I also don’t want to be like the annoying person showing you their hundreds of holiday slides! The workshop was everything I was hoping it would be and then some more besides. I was so inspired and humbled by what I learned from everyone…not just the Coopers and the Boutwells, but also all of the other attendees. I was the newbie photographer of the group in comparison to everyone else but nobody made me feel bad for it. I spent the whole time wanting to just slow it all down because there was so much good stuff happening and I kept feeling like it was flying by too fast. I’ve never furiously taken so many notes in my life. Just a few random lessons that I learned off the top of my head:
– Don’t separate photography from other artforms, inspiration can be found everywhere and anywhere
– Become an avid hunter and collector of ideas
– “You don’t take a photo, you make it.”
– Don’t sterilise the scene, isolating things kills the story
– Light is the first priority…not setting
– Sunlight is not the enemy
– Be yourself
…and so much more to do with business and branding and Photoshop that I have a notebook full of it…now I just have to figure out how to apply it all!
