Raist3dwrote:it's the only way to be sure.I never saw a Duke Nukem in you...haha just kidding.

purpleraywrote:RoelI like this third and final set the best. They appear to be an unadorned direct snap of the models but still show so much - they are without artifice.That is just about the biggest compliment you can give me. I aim to let the real person shine through, even in posed shots.It does not work with everyone though : some people have one very specific expression that they use whenever a camera was pointed at them, probably because they have convinced themselves that they look best that way. Half an hour later with another attempt, the face is immediately cast in the same mold. One can think : maybe for such a person, that mask is the real person.Though the first one in red with the very pale complexion is a little bit stark without a sense of graphic drama - stiil probably revealing of the person, the costume and the mood - just dont like it.I can see what you mean. This woman was actually quite lively, but I made too few shots of her to let that be clear.

purpleraywrote:From this 2nd set, I like the shots of the model with her arm out towards the camera, the hair extension, the portrait of the woman with the fuzzy hat and the woman in black on the catwalk. I think I've got all the ones I like. There maybe another one with a beautiful model in light colours looking at the camera. They are a combination of graphic beauty and revalation of individual personal presence.Thank you.The first one in this series is also a bit of an insight into a personal presence as well but I found it a bit uncomfortable as it revealed some things maybe the person would not expect to be seen - the combination of grain and sharp record of dried out complexion.That person has real character and she knows it. She likes the photo.I found the catwalk shots from behind less graphically beautiful and less revealing of what we want to see. It's difficult to get the right angle.You are absolutely right there. There was no "traditional" catwalk (back & forth on the same straight line). Instead, the models walked a square with spectators in the middle and all around. There was one designated spot for photographers on one of the corners and it was pretty crowded. Not to my liking.So I used my "all access" status to move around and try to capture different angles (making sure I did not get between models and audience). All that running around and looking for details (like also of the audience etc) resulted in the fact that I had no one clear line of sight, so I ended up with a mixed bag of images.On some of the designs, I had already photographed the front in the backstage area, and the back of the design was interesting (like the monk-like robe with large "scales of justice" embroidered)All in all - still very interesting and all worth seeing and looking at again.Thank youCheersray

purpleraywrote:RoelI like these first three as they capture the atmosphere of the event and in particular your approach to the shoot. I like the directness of the portraits where you are looking into their eyes.For portraits I like the direct contact.Sometimes it takes some "make the person comfortable", but most often I can pull that off.CheersRay -- Purpleray

RoelJust some comments on the philosophyThe direct approachMy shoots of people tend to have an agenda where I need to find a set standard of beauty and drama - for theatre, concerts and of family and friends. There is an expectation of the result. While there are always surprises about what beauty and drama you can find, there is a filtering.Sometimes, I find the less beautiful aspect of the physical and the spirit and I usually cut these out, unless it's a villain from the theatre. Even with villains I might show some ugly spirit and physical feature but somehow I find shots with a beauty and drama. My family and friends are usually shy of photos so if I shoot I need to produce complimentary shots. Travel - again I want to capture the beauty and drama overlaying the scene. I am certainly shy of offending or taking advantage of the subject.So in someways, I am saying I'm not looking for honesty and truth - I am looking for a beautiful and dramatic version of it. I'm not sure whether this is purely because of the aims of my shoots or whether I'm shy about some of the things I might see.Capturing ideas and things of personal interestI too see things that interest me and take a photo to capture it as per your scales of justice. However, I've found that others dont understand why I've taken it without a good explanation or without a lot of other photos to make up the context. So the "special interest" often for me does not hold its own on its own.Cheersray -- Purpleray

purpleraywrote:RoelJust some comments on the philosophyThe direct approachMy shoots of people tend to have an agenda where I need to find a set standard of beauty and drama - for theatre, concerts and of family and friends. There is an expectation of the result. While there are always surprises about what beauty and drama you can find, there is a filtering.Of course there is.Unless someone really deserves it and I am feeling a bit evil, I will never ever post a picture of someone that is really embarrassing : blatantly picking their noses or scratching their a$$es, that kind of thing.I try to show people from their nice side, but I am not embellishing(or maybe only just a little bit : in exactly one of the portraits shown, I whitened the model's teeth just a little bit, because from her body language I have always assumed that this person is slightly complexed about her medicine-induced greyish teeth; but still she gave me a nice smile and I did not want to make her regret that).When an image is truthful and strong, it is often also beautiful, even if not by common standards.Sometimes, I find the less beautiful aspect of the physical and the spirit and I usually cut these out, unless it's a villain from the theatre. Even with villains I might show some ugly spirit and physical feature but somehow I find shots with a beauty and drama. My family and friends are usually shy of photos so if I shoot I need to produce complimentary shots. Travel - again I want to capture the beauty and drama overlaying the scene. I am certainly shy of offending or taking advantage of the subject.I would hate to have to feel I am offending or taking advantage.I have shown pictures of unfortunate people, handicapped persons and more, but I always tried to show them truthfully and with respect.If I would have felt I had been taking advantage, I would not have shown the picture.So in someways, I am saying I'm not looking for honesty and truth - I am looking for a beautiful and dramatic version of it. I'm not sure whether this is purely because of the aims of my shoots or whether I'm shy about some of the things I might see.I think every photographer aims to be more than just a recording device. Of course we aim for the beauty and drama, but in documentary-style shooting like I aspire to, that beauty and drama must be waiting to be found in reality.Capturing ideas and things of personal interestI too see things that interest me and take a photo to capture it as per your scales of justice. However, I've found that others dont understand why I've taken it without a good explanation or without a lot of other photos to make up the context. So the "special interest" often for me does not hold its own on its own.That is often the case. We each have our focus. Sometimes people get what I want them to see, sometimes not. Such is life. I don't worry about it anymore.Cheersray -- Purpleray

the 2nd movie in the Aliens original trilogy. That's where the phrase comes from.Update: this film-http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000617-aliens/RoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:it's the only way to be sure.I never saw a Duke Nukem in you...haha just kidding.

Raist3dwrote:the 2nd movie in the Aliens original trilogy. That's where the phrase comes from.Update: this film-http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000617-aliens/Although I think that all three first movies have something going for it.Ridley Scott's is creepy and tense (with one of the best shocker scenes ever : you know which!). James Cameron's is a pop-corn infused blastfest. David Fincher's is dark en brooding and suspenseful. I care less for the fourth installment by Jeunet.RoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:it's the only way to be sure.I never saw a Duke Nukem in you...haha just kidding.

I didn't quite like the third. I think it has its moments but some things seem a bit forced and a bit cheesy/cheap.Looking forward to the prequel coming up though!http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prometheus_2012/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/It's the same director of the firstRaistRoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:the 2nd movie in the Aliens original trilogy. That's where the phrase comes from.Update: this film-http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000617-aliens/Although I think that all three first movies have something going for it.Ridley Scott's is creepy and tense (with one of the best shocker scenes ever : you know which!). James Cameron's is a pop-corn infused blastfest. David Fincher's is dark en brooding and suspenseful. I care less for the fourth installment by Jeunet.RoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:it's the only way to be sure.I never saw a Duke Nukem in you...haha just kidding.

Raist3dwrote:I didn't quite like the third. I think it has its moments but some things seem a bit forced and a bit cheesy/cheap.Looking forward to the prequel coming up though!http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prometheus_2012/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/It's the same director of the firstRidley Scott has made a few movies recently that are still epic in style but a bit more hollywoodish in story-telling, but his mosts creative work is among the best cinema can ever offer. "The Duellists" is one of those films in which a debuting director creates a true masterpiece, right off the bat.RaistRoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:the 2nd movie in the Aliens original trilogy. That's where the phrase comes from.Update: this film-http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000617-aliens/Although I think that all three first movies have something going for it.Ridley Scott's is creepy and tense (with one of the best shocker scenes ever : you know which!). James Cameron's is a pop-corn infused blastfest. David Fincher's is dark en brooding and suspenseful. I care less for the fourth installment by Jeunet.RoelHendrickxwrote:Raist3dwrote:it's the only way to be sure.I never saw a Duke Nukem in you...haha just kidding.

You did very well, as usual, getting the shots. I'm not much of a fashion follower, and when I saw one of the pictures above I thought to myself, "Hey look! Her hair puked down the front of her dress. Awkward!" But hey, if I followed fashion I'd probably have more respect, so I fully admit my ignorance. I know good pictures when I see them though, and enjoyed the post.Cheers, Seth

Excellent backstage series. It looks like you set up lighting with a high umbrella on your left and low soft box on the right. Do you have someone hold for you or did you setup and have people come to you? Good guess or way off?Cheers, Seth

SirSethwrote:You did very well, as usual, getting the shots. I'm not much of a fashion follower, and when I saw one of the pictures above I thought to myself, "Hey look! Her hair puked down the front of her dress. Awkward!" But hey, if I followed fashion I'd probably have more respect, so I fully admit my ignorance. I know good pictures when I see them though, and enjoyed the post.Cheers, Seth

SirSethwrote:Excellent backstage series. It looks like you set up lighting with a high umbrella on your left and low soft box on the right.Indeed. More details in a previous reply:http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38556220Do you have someone hold for you or did you setup and have people come to you? Good guess or way off?I was totally on my own for this, so I set up in a designated spot and had the models that wanted their photo taken, come over to me. I made micro-adjustments to the lighting for every individual or group.

Claus Awrote:Roel,I had great fun browsing these!Great ones from your makeshift studio.One of the flock photographs others of the flock and a third one looks at them:-)Spooky!Cheers,Claus.