- Airy
- Bright
- clean
- Colorful
- holding hands
- lower thirds
- off center
- Rule of thirds
- Shade
- Soft Light
- Street
- symmetry
- urban
- Walking
- Wide
The story behind the image
I offered them to travel to the most colorful island in the world, which is located in Italy, hoping that we could immerse ourselves in this carefree and dreamy atmosphere. Earlier, I helped the couple choose their outfit to match the architecture. Of all the colors you can find on the island, I focused on these pastels tones. In this photo, the colors of the walls perfectly match the color of the couple’s clothes. It was, of course, a deliberate choice on my part. We walked all over the island and when I saw this house I got the vision. I saw this cinematic and dreamlike scene in my head so I spontaneously guided them to get the effect of my imagination.
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I asked my couple to take a gentle dancing musical stride along the wall of the house. I was standing on the other side of the canal so I was shouting my orders from the other bank. I made a lot of shots in motion so that later, from the many less successful ones, I chose the best frame, where their bodies blend in perfectly with the lines of the building.
What did you say?
Hold your hands, one of you goes first and leads the other carelessly without looking into the lens. Feel and act like you are in a musical!
Composition
I’m quite obsessive with compositions and lines. I wanted the lines of the house, the hanging laundry and the walking couple to comply with the Rules of Thirds. Of course, planning the frame according to these lines happens intuitively after many years of work, I don’t have to think about it on the set. I thought that the couple matched well at the level of lines in composition, but also in color. So that the color of his jacket contrasts with the pink and at the same time refers to the blue on the left side of the frame.
framing
Lower Thirds
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I tried to focus on a couple, which of course was not easy, because they were in constant motion. I simply moved my single focus point over the couple and tried to track them as best as I could.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
couple
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
320 @ f/4 ISO250 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
The light was completely natural. We managed to disperse it perfectly, because the sun was already hidden behind the buildings. I chose the time close to the sunset to have these pleasant golden hour tones. Since it was a sunny day, it was possible to get enough exposure in the shade, as it reflected from the houses opposite and from the water in the canal.
Light Type
Natural Light
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
I applied my own custom preset and I kept the pastel tones as much as possible. I tweaked the white balance, brightened it a bit, and decreased the contrast. I straightened the lines, cropped according to the compositional principle of thirds, and with spot removal, I removed unnecessary objects and dirt on the walls.
Editing Software
Preset Used
Own personal Presets
Challenges
A typical challenge that I encounter when working in Italy in such locations is too harsh light and a very large number of tourists.
Solutions
To avoid too persistent light, I choose golden hour for my shootings.
I try to do scouting earlier to know where I can find less crowded gems.
But if it is really impossible to avoid the presence of casual crowds, we just wait patiently for the right moment to gain a clean background.
Location
Location Name
Burano
Location aDDRESS
Burano, 30142 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
Loation Type
City
Country
Italy
My advice for photographers: Don’t be shy to create your magic. Be stubborn in sticking to your visions, move objects if needed, and get rid of unwanted distractions to achieve clean and impactful images at the end.
