- Atmospheric
- Natural Light
- Wide
- Unposed
- Rule of thirds
- Rim Light
- Reception
- Playful
- Natural
- calm
- Moody
- Indoor
- Harsh Light
- Directional Light
- Dark
- Center Framed
- Window Light
The story behind the image
The inspiration came from a painting that I saw many years ago, I cannot remember where I saw it or who the artist was, but it’s in my mind’s eye and I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve. The challenge for this image was to create what I saw in my mind without the couple disappearing in the business of the image so I used light to isolate the couple keeping them in center frame.
The other challenge was hoping that nobody would walk up to the couple when I was taking the photo so I had to be quick.
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I was standing on a staircase which is the next level up, so I came down to the couple to ask them to stand close together and whisper to each to create that intimacy. I knew I had to give my couple the directions when I was down with them so as not to yell to cause people to look up at me.
What did you say?
Ok, I want to create a very different image where nobody is aware that you guys are being intimate in a crowded room. To achieve this we have to move quickly so nobody comes to chat with you, ok? So start talking to and whispering in each other’s ears. Make it look like you’re busy ;)
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
I had to have the couple in the centre of the frame so they could stand out and be the centre of attention in the crowded room. Otherwise, the shot would not have worked. It’s a very straightforward uncomplicated composition but a very important one to achieve what I wanted.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
The focus was on the couple, I used autofocus because it was quick and easy as I had to be fast.
Focus Mode
Continuous Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
the couple
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/400 @ f/1.4 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
This was mainly all-natural light with only small lamps being lit up in the room, but they weren’t doing much. The sun was being diffused by the large glass window and trees from outside. But the light was KEY here to make sure that the couple stood out from the crowd.
Light Type
Natural Light
Weather
Indoor
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
The aim of the edit was to make the image look like a painting. So keeping everything quite moody was key. I applied my own preset and adjusted the sliders to create this darker, moodier look to the image. Also, with the blacks crunched slightly (Tone Curve), It helped to better match my vision of a “painting”.
Editing Software
Preset Used
own preset
Challenges
The main challenge here was isolating the couple, but also trying to not have any of the people look at me or interrupt the couple. It had to be done quickly so pre-planning a shot like this is key.
Solutions
The only way to avoid the couple being interrupted or someone looking up at me, was to be quick. Speed was key.
Location
Location Name
Peppers Manor House Sutton Forest
Location aDDRESS
Kater Road, Sutton Forest NSW
Loation Type
Hotel
Country
Australia
You can create anything you picture in your mind if you are willing to try it. Initially, I wasn’t going to take this shot because I thought it would be too hard to achieve it without anyone looking at me taking the photo or interrupting the couple. It never hurts to try.
