Tuesday 25 January 2011

Sailor Sunset


On my travel blog and Facebook page you can see an image that I took of New York sunset from the top of the Empire State Building in New York in 2007.

I am really pleased that The Lonely Planet Magazine has featured both the picture and the story behind it in the February 2011 edition of the magazine.

As this is a portrait photography blog though I thought that I’d bring you another image from that time and place.  In this picture two sailors enjoy the beauty and vibrancy of the Manhattan sunset. I actually like this picture  as much as the sunset one. 

Natural Light vs Studio Light



Yesterday I did something that I haven’t done for ages – take pictures using studio lights.

It was enjoyable but I am convinced that photography using natural light brings better results. Firstly, it’s good to get out of the studio and use homes, gardens and outdoor spaces. For the person being photographed it’s much more relaxing than being stuck inside having to sit and pose under a set of warm lights.

I really like shooting outdoors, one location can throw up a huge number of backdrops and possibilities. For children especially when you get them outside you can get cracking shots of them just by keeping them busy and letting them play.

Natural light is very kind to skin and giving some very flattering results. This picture of Natalie and her mum was taken without any flash or studio lights at the end of a wet November afternoon when the last of the days light was fading. 


So this proves that you don't have to write the winter off as a bad time to take outdoor portraits.

I think that I’ll put my studio lights into the loft for a while.