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Birthmark
Birthmark
lovethelight


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Portraits Without Children (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM
Date: Jul 19, 2009
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Portraiture, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Jul 19, 2009

 I struggled a little bit with finding time to think about shoot this before the challenge was over. I made it just in time, but I almost skipped this challenge.

I got the idea to have her crying and I wanted to play around with backlighting her with sun and lighting her from the front with a studio light. I am really happy with how it came out because I wanted it to look natural. She is lit from the left with a softbox and on the right with a white reflector. I love the raw emotion she exhibited in this photo, and I also wanted to showcase her birthmark.

I had a great time styling this because Em's hair is normally stick straight. For Annie Get Your Gun she has to wear it in tight curls so the night before I put her hair in 50-60 sponge rollers and that is the only way we can get her hair to keep a curl. This was taken right after a matinee performance and so her hair was awesomely curly. I styled her hair this way because I wanted to age her a little bit. The challenge specified subjects needed to be over 16, and even though Em is 20 she photographs young and I didn't want there to be any doubt.

post challenge:

I am pretty sure I titled this badly. A friend couldn't tell what her birthmark was and thought it was dirt so I thought I would specify in the title, although the tear could be caused by anything and she certainly isn't self conscious about the birthmark.

Statistics
Place: 17 out of 159
Avg (all users): 6.4286
Avg (commenters): 8.6000
Avg (participants): 6.2459
Avg (non-participants): 6.5400
Views since voting: 2155
Views during voting: 385
Votes: 161
Comments: 8
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/26/2009 03:37:52 PM
This makes me wonder what she is crying about. Is it the birthmark? Seems like such a minor thing, though I suppose that it could be enough to kill dreams of a modeling career. Great light and like the b/w work you did on it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2009 12:25:25 PM
my favorite!well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2009 10:54:22 AM
What birthmark? She's stunning!! Outstanding portrait! Hope to see this with a blue ribbon beside it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2009 06:19:23 AM
Very good!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/23/2009 10:36:28 PM
Stunning, haunting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2009 07:21:34 PM
Great emotional impact with this shot. Nice bokeh and conversion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/20/2009 04:34:52 PM
Wonderful back lighting. Nice work. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/20/2009 11:47:53 AM
This is really a beautiful portrait. Its mesmerizing! Those eyes! They could pierce a dark room. Surely, with that kind of beauty, she is crying about something else besides an almost indiscernable birthmark. Surely she must be. I hope she has plenty to smile about with the score she is getting :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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