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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2008-06 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Location: Nauthólsvík, Iceland
Date: Jun 26, 2008
Aperture: 1.8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Emotive, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Jun 30, 2008

 This is Sonja Björk, she was in 3rd place this year in the Miss Iceland competition, I took this shot of her during a promo shoot we did of her. Makeup is done by Henný.

We were in between some trees shooting some typical (well typical for me at least) shot´s in the shade between trees, when I got this idea on lighting a shot so we went out in the open. My buddy Viktor came along and also her boyfriend Ómar and they helped me out in this shot. She faced away from the sun, it was pretty much straight behind her beneath a cloud cover. Viktor held a translucent reflector right behind her and Ómar had a white bounce reflector on my left. Well the lighting worked well, I wanted the white backlight to bleed through softly, but I felt there was something missing and there was no wind to move her hair so Ómar used his reflector to not only light her up but used it to create wind as well to blow her hair around, I had to time the shots pretty carefully to get both the wind in the hair and the light on her face just right.

This is probably the first time in years that I have not used any method in post processing to increase the contrast in a shot, I tried it at first to make the dark parts more dark but I liked it much better like it is presented now so I really disagree with those who commented on that part but hey, we can´t all have the same taste all the time, right?

One of my favorite portraits this year.

Statistics
Place: 72 out of 473
Avg (all users): 6.3289
Avg (commenters): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 6.0741
Avg (non-participants): 6.9545
Views since voting: 1873
Views during voting: 287
Votes: 152
Comments: 19
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/08/2008 10:47:04 PM
this is a beautiful shot, pretty much exactly what I was trying to attain with my free study shot, I can see why its your favorite.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2008 04:02:16 AM
very creative dude.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/07/2008 01:01:58 PM
I love the effect of the muted tones in the white and the skin coloring here! Here right eye (the one not under bangs--anatomical right) just explodes out of the shot. There is a soft sensuality here that just brings me in and makes me want to find out what secret she is playing with.

You might call this "Modern Mona Lisa."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2008 12:32:24 PM
Pretty model and I like the high key – but may have preferred a bit more contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2008 12:39:20 AM
Awesome "over"exposure. makes this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2008 03:42:45 PM
Interesting high-key approach - just a bit too high though and could do with bringing in some near black in the lowlights. Good detail and nice model with a natural look in her eye.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2008 10:15:08 PM
Nice portrait, beautiful eyes and nice processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2008 10:47:36 AM
beautiful, i love how she looks like an angel coming out of the sun. her eyes are amazing and i love how they are sharp, and everything else isnt
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2008 12:43:58 PM
great one. I love the lighting and the DOF. I would really be interested to you how you did the lighting on this one, and managed to have the background disappear in the light like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2008 02:11:10 PM
nicely focused and composed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2008 01:44:54 PM
a bit overexposed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2008 08:15:22 AM
Beautiful shot. I love the eyes. The soft touch to it makes it great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2008 07:08:41 AM
I love the white background and softness of this shot, pretty expression as well. Very artistic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2008 07:53:32 PM
I like the composition and the high key effect of this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2008 05:21:01 AM
I like the softness...but definitely needs a Levels lift.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2008 01:46:15 AM
great lighting, composition, and DOF. Very clean and professional shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2008 01:42:27 AM
Very nice. The off center composition is great. I think it would be cool with a little more contrast, but very good job. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2008 11:46:53 PM
lovely high key image...that one stray hair get my attention...beautiful eyes and face 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2008 11:17:31 PM
Stunning!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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