- Adobe Lightroom CC
- Natural Light
- Tiffen Black Pro-Mist Filter
- soft
- Single Focus Point
- Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM
- Overcast
- Normal
- None / Simple
- Nikon D750
- Movement
- afternoon
- full body
- Emotive
- Dancing
- Continuous
- City Center
- Center Framed
- Autofocus
- Austria
- Wide
The story behind the image
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
As I told you before they already moved a lot around and I think it was A who said that they can even dance. Immediately I had a vision in my mind that was the idea of a blurry photo, but with one subject being a biiiit sharper than the rest. The blur should emphasize their dancing and give the photo more energy.
What did you say?
“Yes that‘s a great idea! Just let me change my camera settings quickly… Okay, I‘m ready! You already stand in the middle of the passage that‘s perfect. I‘m ready for your swinging, spinning and dancing! Just for a few seconds, I‘ll tell you when to stop.”
Tone of Directions
Normal
Composition
The arcades are literally screaming, “Symmetry!” So I went for it in this particular photo. Not the whole photoshoot of course but it was a nice thing to have in such a passage.
Compositional Rules
None / Simple
framing
Center FramedWideFull Body
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I moved the camera with their dancing – to be more precise: I moved the camera with HER dancing. So I imitated HER movement to keep her sharper in the frame then the rest.
Focus Mode
Continuous
Focus POints
Single Focus Point
Focused on
face
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/13 @ f/5 ISO125 WB-manual
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
It was important for me that they are between the columns and not directly in front of one to keep them in the soft light and not in the shadows. Also I always tried to guide them with the face in the direction where the light was coming from.
Light Type
Natural Light
Light Quality
Soft
Time of day
Afternoon
Weather
Overcast
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
In this case I haven‘t done that much of editing. As always, for the first step I crop and turn the photo for straight lines, as I think it is more cinematic. I added my preset with blue tones in the lights and warm tones in the shadows as it supports a cinematic feeling. The brightness and lights were adjusted to the other photos that weren‘t shot with slower shutter speed. And I think that‘s it! Haven‘t done too much in this photo.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom CC
Preset Used
Emotive
Challenges
The greatest challenge was to find a good slow shutter speed without overexposing the photo. This is – at least for me – always a try and error thing as I don‘t do blurry photos very often. So don‘t be afraid to try out new things! Maybe not right away in the beginning of a photoshoot, but somewhere in the end.
Solutions
I tried to balance shutter speed, aperture and ISO. These things happen quickly and without the couple noticing that I change the settings every now and then. For blurry photos I start first with lowering the shutter speed and adjust ISO and aperture as a second step.
Location
Location Name
State Opera
Location aDDRESS
Opernring 2, 1010 Wien
Loation Type
City Center
Country
Austria
If I would have to give an advice regarding to this photo, I would recommend to try new things and don‘t always stick to the safe options. And yes, you can try new things also during a paid photoshoot! Couples pay you for your creativity and your way of seeing the world. Maybe try new things not right in the beginning of a photoshoot, because in the first step your goal is to make your couple feel comfortable. But try new creative things in the end if it feels right and if it‘s okay for the couple. I‘m aware that photographers have different opinions on this, but since you are paid for your creativity you can offer them everything you have. As long as it isn‘t a risk for the good mood of your photoshoot you can try new things in the end. Sometimes it‘s also not necessary to tell them that a specific technic is new for you.
