Melbourne March 2016 (8 photos)
This is a continuation of the previous post, Charlotte’s Web (1).
Having wandered the streets and lanes of Melbourne at night for a few hours, including being chased away from a potential riverside photography site by some drunkards, it started to rain a little. At the time, we were in a lane and spied a bar, a Scottish bar, The Highlander. It was past 11pm. Rather than end the night, one of our group walked into the bar alone and asked if we could come in and do some photography. The publican was a little hesitant but in came Charlotte and the publican became caught in Charlotte’s web. We were given free reign of the bar. Of course, we bought a few drinks in appreciation of his generosity.
By now, some of what we’d been taught had sunk in and I was a lot more confident with the low light portraiture in difficult conditions.
Charlotte has such a lovely face and manner. She was a great pleasure to photograph.
Again, whilst the group session was great as an introduction, I’d probably seek a one-on-one teaching session if I wanted to learn more. It’s like being part of the paparazzi trying to avoid the other photographers.
But when you do get that “alone” moment …
Other posts from my trip to Melbourne:
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That’s all for now, folks. I’ll be back with more in a week or two. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
Interesting, I just finished reading your first post on this as well. I would be intimidated by a group meeting like this. Most of the time as a photographer, I like to blend into the background, something you couldn’t do in a group like this. Your photos turned out well and it sounds like you found this to be worth your time.
Thanks, I agree with you. Taking my turn at the front of the group, with the rest of the group and the crowd on the street watching was not something I’m used to.
However, it was a useful experience as low light is something one encounters often, and now I can photograph in it better than I could before.
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What beautiful shots of Charlotte once again. As I mentioned in the last post, mysterious. And from these sets of photos, I get a sultry and classy vibe too. Amazing how you caught different poses of her beside the red lamp, and each of them seem to convey a different emotion and sentiment 🙂
Thank you very much. The make up artist had intended for Charlotte to have a sultry look, reminiscent of the 1950’s for the shoot. The shoot in the Highlander Bar turned out to be very fortuitous, particularly with that lamp. 🙂
You mentioned it was part of a group did you this shoot, like part of the paparazzi pack. Was it a big group? I’m guessing everyone was very nice letting each other take turns 🙂
About 12 in the group. Mostly it was one at a time, but usually whilst one was at the front was shooting, the others would get shots in as they could.
These are wonderful, Lignum.
janet
Thank you very much, Janet. 🙂
She looks so perfect, she almost doesn’t seem “real”.
Have a nice break. 🙂
The value of having your own make up artist to touch up the skin before every new location. :0
Thank you very much. See you soon.
Stunning portraits.
Thank you very much, Edith.
Just viewed Parts 1 and 2 – looks like you had great learning experience and I can see how your confidence grew. I’ve never been drawn to portraiture, but I can see how a group session with someone helping to break the ice and steer one’s thinking can assist the process of developing confidence to be handle a one-to-one shoot.
Thank you. You’re right, it was a good introduction to this style of photography. I’m not particularly interested in setting up a studio with lights for portraiture, but this environmental technique in low ambient light is something that I can use for family and friend photos.
you just nailed it with that last shot ♥ all photos are very atmospheric, the first and last one have the wow effect…a professional and beautiful model certainly helps 🙂
ps. on a sidenote, I didn’t know the word “publican” in English, just googled it wow, thanks, I learn from you not only photography :)))
Thank you very much, Alex. I was happy to get some good shots from the night and I’m glad you like those two which I thought were my best from the night. Yes, a bit of professional help can be helpful. 🙂
Glad to help out with the english lesson, too. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Excellent ! This must be fun and difficult. I guess you have used some light on the face of your model ?
Thanks, yes. Just some added light to the face without looking too unnatural.
Great job indeed !
Thank you. 🙂
These photos ought to be displayed at a gallery! We are lucky to have the privilege to view them. 🙂 I’m in love with the last one. Thank you for sharing your great photo experience with us, Dragon!
Thank you very much, Amy. I’m glad you enjoyed seeing them. It was a fun night overall. 🙂
Beautiful shots – you must be very happy with the results 😀 They have a Pulp Fiction feel to me. Enjoy your break!
I like that description. Thanks very much. Yes, I am happy with these shots. Have a good weekend.
REALLY fantastic images, Lignum.
The light is so wonderful in each one.
Thank you very much, Lisa. Learning this new (for me) photographic technique was very useful.
Oh just WOW, you have really caught Charlottes beauty. I love the pose and wistful look in her eyes in the first photo, but then in the fifth photo you have caught the light reflected from the back of her jacket and shown a little more of the out of focus background that I feel tells more of a story. I have to keep looking back at this series they are really professional . Do you “do” photography for a living or just as a hobby?
Thank you very much. It helped that Charlotte is a professional model, and is used to having photographers around.
For me, photography is purely a hobby. I don’t even have an online shop that many amateurs seem to have – too much hassle. Having said that, I do take pride in what I put on this site. I hope that shows.
Oh yes your dedication to your “hobby” shines through and also the fun you have with it.
Thank you very much. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.
A fantastic one it is Blues festival on the Gold Coast, and it is all free and the sun is shining…
Go ahead. Rub it in. I’ve been painting and washing windows. 🙂
Now you make me feel guilty, both those things are on my to do list, but right down the bottom!!!
I finally ran out of excuses. 🙂
🙂
quella luce rosso-rosato soffusa della lampada offre un’amplificazione della grazia misteriosa del volto, ogni espressione è così intensa e vera!
una tela ordita ancora magnificamente, nonostante la difficoltà di avere un intero manipolo di fotografi a fianco 🙂
Sei molto poetico. Grazie mille. Passa un buon fine settimana. 🙂
Great shots Lignum so where the ones from the previous post, nice to see you doing colour too. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Karen. The next few will be in colour, too. You probably know why. 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I’m totally with you on the paparazzi sentiment. When I’ve been on photography trips, it was great to have like-minded buddies. But the whole queue-ing for my turn, and always trooping round in a group was frustrating.
I know. You’re thinking “hurry up” to the other guys.
I’m so impressed, and of course, reminded of how much I need to learn!
Thanks. Hopefully there’s always something to learn. It keeps things fun.
Brilliant stage. The second to last one really stands out for me
Thanks, Lisa. It was a fun night.
The second from last is my favourite (I know you didn’t ask 🙂 ). On your last post Paula remarked that Charlotte reminded her of my daughter, Lisa, in some shots. I hadn’t thought about it at the time, but in the clarity of skin, bone structure and expression I can see a likeness. You’ve done a great job. Enjoy your break/business 🙂
Thanks. I was curious as to who Lisa is. 🙂 I just need a short break to catch up on other things. Back in a week or two.
That red lipstick really made it!
Yes, very vibrant. 🙂
Well, that was some good paparazzi training for you! 😀 I’d have real trouble concentrating in that kind of situation, I think you did an impressive job, these are really beautiful – love the colour of the lighting too! And what a perfect place to get practice with low light conditions. Good of the publican to let you do that, I can imagine a lot of them would want payment, even if it wasn’t an inconvenience.
Maybe you could advertise through your Instagram page for a model, someone in your area? You never know, there might be some students wanting to build up a portfolio of images but can’t afford to pay a photographer for the pictures. It seems a good place to make connections for you.
Enjoy your break! 🙂
Yes, group shooting in an enclosed area is a difficult situation. It was good experience overall.
The publican was very gracious, indeed. We were very appreciative.
Thanks for the last suggestion. For now, family members are my free models. 🙂
The lighting in shots 1, 3 and 7 . . . WOW! That’s the 50’s look. Those portraits have all that era of glamour for this time period.
Thank you. Yes, going into the bar was a stroke of luck for the moody lighting that evening.
Looking at these I would say that you have been doing this type of photography for years. This is a beautiful light in the bar, and she looks as if she is waiting for a date. Did you use a tripod?
Thank you, Paula. 🙂 It turned out to be a very moody shoot in the bar and your description is perfect. All photography was hand held only. We were told not to bring a tripod or flash.
Interesting, then I should have more questions if you don’t mind. Did you place your camera on the stool, did you up your ISO settings?
All handheld with no added stabilisation and yes, high ISO, mostly 6400.
Wonderful images Mr D .. the colours are moody and magical 🙂
Thank you, Julie. If it weren’t for the light rain, we wouldn’t have gone in. Funny how things worked out well in the end. 🙂
I love these. As I said previously — soft and mysterious. I wonder if I would be intimidated or empowered in such a group setting! LOL Anyway, you did fabulous!
Thanks again. In the end, I came out knowing than when I started, so it was definitely worth the initial nerves of shooting in public with a group.
thanks for sharing
🙂
Another excellent set of shots Lignum! I see a lot of press photographers working in crowds, tight spots etc and always great to see them working together, giving each other room etc, and always they get their distinctive shot. This is my long way round telling you that as far as I concerned these photos are all you and Charlotte. Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you very much, Patti. As the instructor noted to me, he would take an initial shot to show what we should be aiming for, yet interestingly everyone was unique in their one way.
Great experience. great lessons…good for you for challenging yourself. The portraits are intensely engaging.
Thank you very much. It was good to play with a different type of photography.
Superb portraiture work,beautiful your muse.Enjoy your break.
Thank you very much. 🙂
My pleasure!Have a nice productive day 🙂
Thank you. You too. 🙂
🙂 ※
Aside from the technical, composition is my biggest challenge in photography. It’s what I noticed first in this series of portraits..the composition is lovely. You always pull off the challenges!
Thank you very much. I have a simple plan – if in doubt, use the rule of thirds. 🙂
These are really impressive. I would find it quite difficult to work with a group…the older I get, the less well I play with others…I salute you for putting aside the awkward in order to get at what you wanted. Also…really steady work. Hard to believe these are handheld shots.
Thanks very much. I’ve been invited to shoot with others but I’ve always declined – not my style, but it was unavoidable here. I enjoyed it, though.
As cameras get better ISO ranges, shooting becomes easier in darker situations. Gone are the days when the sun went down that you’d put your (film) camera away. 🙂
Beautiful beautiful photographs! You do not cease to amaze me.
Thank you very much. I hope you’ve been well.
So cool that you’ve done this. I’m sure it was well worth the effort and time. I haven’t participated in such a course, but my SO participated a course like this and learned quite a bit more on techniques, lighting, and posing.
It’s nice as well to see more of your photos taken closer to the subject. Well done!
Thanks. Yes, I enjoyed it and learnt a lot. The practicality of it is that it helps me with doing family photos, so it was very worthwhile. 🙂