RR21022023 – How I shot This

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Photographed by Ruan Redelinghuys

Before
the Shoot

Location Equipment

This was a surprise engagement and the shoot started much earlier in the afternoon on the beach in the Garden Route of South Africa. We started with some relaxed portraits, using the light and location, slowly moving the couple to the ideal spot to ask the question. He asked, she said yes and it was excitement all round! We shot a couple of frames after the proposal and moved to a new location, more of a rocky beach with a steep climb down. We took some portraits as the sun set and then the couple went waist-deep into the water. As we were wrapping up the last light wowed us with cotton candy colors and we set up for one final creative portrait.

Location Name

Flat Rock Wilderness

Location aDDRESS

Flat Rock, 6th Ave, Wilderness, 6560, South Africa

Country

South Africa

Location TYPE

Beach

Equipment

Camera

Canon 5DIV

Flash

Canon 600EXRT 2

Lens

Canon 35mm f/1.4 II

Lens Filter

None

Other Equipment

Light Stand

During
the Shoot

Directions Composition Focus Light & Exposure

Tone of Directions

Quiet

Action of Directions

Almost Kiss

Description

For the silhouette to work I asked them to create a space above the waist but lean in with their foreheads, just touching. From there I asked them to lean into the shot and then hold as long as needed for the exposure.

What was said

Let’s have you lean in towards each other and have your foreheads just touching. Closer! Hold!

Why I composed the way I did

I placed the couple in the center of the image to complement the symmetry and allow the motion of the blur to direct the attention straight to the couple. Naturally, this image is quite abstract and having the couple directly centered gives them the most importance and the immediate attention.

Compositional Rules

Symmetry

Compositional Framing

Center Framed Wide

Focus

Focus mode

Autofocus

Focus Technology

Single Shot

Focused on

the Couple

Focus description

I set the camera to focus on the center and let the camera lock onto the subject.

Shutter Speed

0.4

Aperture

f/7.1

ISO

100

White Balance

Shade

Other Light Sources

No additional light sources were used.

How the light was used

I used the ambient for atmosphere and creative effect and the Speedlight to accentuate the couple from the back. I placed the light stand with Speedlight behind the couple, facing the rock to create a Silhouette. I then moved back to have enough space between me and the couple. I adjusted my angle to ensure that the Speedlight doesn’t show and then asked the couple to lean in, heads touching for a romantic pose. A couple of exposures to balance the ambient and exposure on the rock and then moved the camera left and right to get the best movement of the background colors.

Type of light

Artificial Light Mixed Lighting Flash

Time of Day

Blue Hour

Quality of LIght

Backlit

Weather

Sunny

After
the Shoot

Editing & Presets

Editing &
Presets

Editing Software used

Adobe Lightroom CC

Preset Used

How I edited this image

Mostly upped the contrast and clarity lost during the long exposure and increased the vibrance. Removed the dust spots and straightened the horizon.

Conclusion

Challenges Solutions Advice

Challenges & Solutions

Events that were challenging during the shoot

Making sure that we balance the light and also the framing perfectly.

Solutions I found

Slowing things down and making sure of what I am trying to achieve.

Advice

Keep trying. It took a couple of frames and the best one was right at the end.

Photographed by

Ruan Redelinghuys

George, South Africa My old EOS1 Film Camera is still a favourite. Canon 35 1.4II

I am a South African wedding photographer based in the Garden Route and I get to experience and see some incredible moments in this beautiful country. It is amazing to have clients trust you with these important events in their lives and then to share these experiences with them. I’m married to a talented creative genius, dad to a little rock-star and most days you’ll find me and our Scotty either in the office finalising projects or in the garden chasing anything that moves. 😊

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