HOW i SHOT THiS

How I Shot This
  • calm
  • Lanterns
  • Water
  • Playful
  • Ocean
  • Natural Light
  • Natural
  • Moody
  • Leading lines
  • lantern
  • Center Framed
  • Horizon Line
  • full body
  • Evening
  • Dark
  • Coast
  • Cloudy
  • cliff
  • Wide

The story behind the image

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These guys celebrated an intimate Elopement in Mauritius. They’ve had their beach ceremony at sunset and after that, the lanterns were supposed to be released. However, the weather suddenly changed and it has started to rain. We decided to do the lanterns during the “After Wedding Shoot“ that was scheduled for the day after. So the next day we went out for an adventurous location scouting just the two of us. Over and over again we found ourselves lost in a labyrinth of sugar cane fields. Our target was the cliffs of Le Souffleur. Once we made it to the cliffs we knew it was the ideal place for the shoot. Fast forward.. the couple session at the cliffs was finished and the time had come for the lanterns. From that moment we were only observing because it was something meaningful for the couple. We realized it was meant to be to have the lanterns the day after since this spot was way more private and beautiful than the beach spot the day before.
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Directions

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

We chose the best place and asked the couple to get in position to release the lantern. We told them to enjoy the moment.. to wait until the lantern has filled with hot air and to just look after the lantern.. to ignore us and to not look at the camera.

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What did you say?

„Ok guys, just enjoy the moment when you release the lantern.. just look after the lantern and enjoy! Forget about us – you don’t have to look at the camera at all. Just enjoy the moment“

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Tone of Directions

Calm

How I Shot This

Composition

Since we didn’t know how fast the lanterns would rise we decided to step back in a slightly elevated position. Also we wanted them full body in order to capture the entire scenery here. We kept the couple in the center of the image with enough space for the lantern above their heads.

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framing

Center Framed

Focusing

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

Our focus point was on the grooms head because it was more noticeable for the sensor than the brides head. We used the viewfinder.

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Focus Mode

Single Shot Autofocus

Focus POints

Single Point

Focused on

The Grooms face

Equipment &
Exif

Camera
Canon 5D Mark III
Lens
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L II
Flash
None
Filter
None
1/160 @ f/1.6 ISO1250 WB-Auto

The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:

Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.

Light & Weather

We waited until the sun had set in order to have the lighted lantern visible in the picture. The sky was overcasted so it was kind of moody without a lot of after light but dramatic blue hour sky.. The candle lighting from the lantern that shines down on the couples faces makes the picture very special. A few seconds later the lantern would have been to far away to light up their faces.

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Light Type

Natural Light

Time of day

Evening

Weather

Cloudy

Editing Workflow

How did you edit this image?

We had to bring the white balance to the very right which means 50000 Kelvin. We had to reduce the Saturation of orange a bit due to the warmer white balance. We tried to keep the moody look to stay close to the vibe of the evening. We used our CxR Preset to give the pic the color look we love and we put some noise reduction, due to the higher ISO. Also, we decided to use the brush to bring a bit more light and structure on the couple’s face and clothes.

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Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used

Challenges

The challenge was to wait for the right moment (after sunset) to release the lanterns! To be patient even though it meant there would only be a short time frame for the shot before it would have been too dark.

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Solutions

Prepare everything carefully so that you’re ready to go once the time has come.

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Location

Location Name

Le Souffleur Cliffs, Mauritius

Location aDDRESS

Le Souffleur, Mauritius

Loation Type

Beach / Coastal

Country

Mauritius

When it comes to lanterns, balloons, confetti, doves or whatever flies away, make sure you are not too close to the object. Make sure theres enough space above your couple so you’ll bee able to capture everything. If it’s going to happen very fast (like doves for example) it’s helpful to use the continuous shot function of your camera with a fast shutter. If you’re in twos you should choose different focal length and angles. One could be closer using an 50 mm and the other a 35mm or example so you have more variety.

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