michaeldavidson » Portrait

Been a while…

michael — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:58:45 +0000

Been a while since updated the blog. Over the next few days will upload some shots from recent shoots and some travelling shots as well.
In the meantime in the name of all things vain, here are a few self portraits.
Much prefer to be the one behind the camera then in front of the lens, but still can be fun to muck around a bit at times.
This was a very straightforward set-up consisting of a single Nikon SB800 shooting through a half shrouded umbrella and a solid black background. This is a great way to play with shadows. For triggering the camera I used a aputure coworker remote release. Images were shot on the D300 using the Nikon 35mm 1.8 prime lens.

Beach Shoot with Holly

michael — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:21:40 +0000

Just a few shots from a recent shoot on the beach with the talented Holly Wilson

More can be found here

Impromptu shoot in the back yard

michael — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:03:19 +0000

Just a few shots from an impulsive thrown together shoot in the back yard. Laura was kind enough to be pinned into a vintage style summer dress and straw hat.

Pretty happy with the results

Sunday night shoot with Miss Daisy

michael — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:33:21 +0000

Well what else to do on a Sunday night but go out and shoot some black and white portraits with a good friend. Initially I was planning on using a strobe, but decided to give the D700 a chance to shine instead with some high iso work. After a quick burger from jus burgers in Leederville (highly recommend), it was going to be cruising about looking for a location to use. This eventually led to a boat ramp and car park on the Swan River.
The lighting for the car-park was very high and very yellow, if I was wanting anything else but black and white shots from the shoot it would have been a nightmare. To counter the height of the lights and the shadows they cast we came up with some poses that involved the face angled a bit more up so we didn’t get the pooling of shadows around the eyes. Daisy loves her 70′s convertible beetle so decided to use that in a few of the shots just for something a little different. Was fun playing with the car, and I can see it being used again.
After getting some shots we were happy with, it was heading back indoors out of the cold wind. After playing around a bit with a few different coats we decided to use a hat that she bought from an airport somewhere and has never worn. The hat (and Daisy) turned out to work great and I am really happy with these shots in particular.
I am going to try and use black and white a bit more often, I really like the simplicity of it and how it can make other factors in the photography much more relevant to the final image. In particular I enjoy how important texture becomes to the look of the final image.

Was a good night, great food, great company and a fun shoot – what more can be asked for, certainly beats Sunday night television that is for sure. Hope you enjoy the images and take care.
~m