Beauty Portraits: Celestina Tiew @ Punggol

ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
edited July 29, 2009 in People
Had an opportunity to work with Celestina, our very own Singapore FHM Girls Next Door 2009 winner, on a conceptual shoot of something nobody has yet tried. I had been thinking about the concept for months and had discussed ideas and execution with Celestina way back. Only at the beginning of July 2009 then we had a chance to actualize our ideas...

We basically want something different from the norm, perhaps introducing a little fantasy into the shoot. I decided on a Goddess theme like those of the Japanese anime. Initially an fallen angel was chosen and I even bought a pair of wings for Celestina but the wings didn't fit well and looked too flimzy, so we dropped the wings and amend the theme to the Goddess...

I even spent 2 days going to the same location and made observations as to the timing of the day where the light is best. I found my spots. I am ready! Unfornately on the day of the shoot, things were not that smooth and I lost my beautiful light. Anyway, here are some shots that I managed to pull off. Not quite what I wanted but... Well... What the heck!

In case that you are not able to view the images for some reasons, you can click on my Flick link to see them all:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeckson/sets/72157621843305234/
Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
I am not a photographer.
Zeckson's Image Boulevard

Comments

  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 01:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-01.jpg


    Pic 02:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-02.jpg


    Pic 03:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-03.jpg


    Pic 04:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-04.jpg
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 05:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-05.jpg


    Pic 06:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-06.jpg


    Pic 07:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-07.jpg


    Pic 08:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-08.jpg
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 09:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-09.jpg


    Pic 10:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-10.jpg


    Pic 11:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-11.jpg


    Pic 12:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-12.jpg
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 13:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-13.jpg


    Pic 14:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-14.jpg


    Pic 15:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-15.jpg


    Pic 16:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-16.jpg
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 17:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-17.jpg


    Pic 18:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-18.jpg


    Pic 19:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-19.jpg


    Pic 20:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-20.jpg
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Pic 21:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-21.jpg


    Pic 22:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-22.jpg


    Pic 23:

    20090625-Celestina-800x536-23.jpg

    And this is where the full frame cameras will win hard edge. I am only holding onto a Nikon D80, guess I have to live with the noise... :(


    Pic 24:

    3759215980_6b29edcfd6_o.jpg

    Here is Celestina having her little "supper" with Zec! Hee hee hee...
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Thank you for viewing my images. Special thanks to the beautiful Celestina for being my photo model for this conceptual shoot. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • rwellsrwells Registered Users Posts: 6,084 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    There's a lot of images to absorb, but let me just say:

    Wow, I wish I took them thumb.gif
    Randy
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    rwells wrote:
    There's a lot of images to absorb, but let me just say:

    Wow, I wish I took them thumb.gif

    Thanks for your comments. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • Joe DukovacJoe Dukovac Registered Users Posts: 213 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Hey Zeck,

    Could you please share how you do your lighting? It just awesome and I would love to know how you achieve this.

    Thanks,
    Joe
    Joe
    North View Studio
    http://www.zoradphotography.com
    Montreal, Canada
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 27, 2009
    Joe Dukovac wrote:
    Hey Zeck,

    Could you please share how you do your lighting? It just awesome and I would love to know how you achieve this.

    Thanks,
    Joe

    The main idea is to know how to balance the light. In these images, I am balancing the ambient lights, which in this case, the sun and the clouds are my ambient lights. I balance the light with my flashes.

    I used 1 x SB-900, 1 x SB-800 and 2 x SB-600 for these images. Main light is shot using a shoot-through umbrella. Side lights are fired with light diffusers and sometimes bare flashes.
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • Andi NicoleAndi Nicole Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    Sweetness!
    These are amazing!! What a cool look and I totally love it. Thanks for sharing about your lighting because I was going to ask that too. I'm looking to buy a speedlite for my Canon but I dont know what to get! So many choices ne_nau.gif I would love to try to shoot something like this.....hopefully someday. Keep up the wonderful work!
    Andi Nicole
    www.andinicolephotography.com
    "A day is lost if one has not laughed"
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    Andi Nicole wrote:
    These are amazing!! What a cool look and I totally love it. Thanks for sharing about your lighting because I was going to ask that too. I'm looking to buy a speedlite for my Canon but I dont know what to get! So many choices ne_nau.gif I would love to try to shoot something like this.....hopefully someday. Keep up the wonderful work!

    Thank you for your comments. All the best to your choice of flashes! :D
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • narancsnarancs Registered Users Posts: 37 Big grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    jawdropping pictures clap.gif
    every one of them gave me goosebumps :D
    Peter G.

    I'm using a Nikon D40 with the kit lens.. :rolleyes
  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    I'm onboard...two thumbs up. Quite nice. Great lighting. thumb.gifthumb.gif

    Thanks for sharing.
    Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them.
    Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.

    Ed
  • custommindscustomminds Registered Users Posts: 29 Big grins
    edited July 28, 2009
    good job... please share your workflow.
    Custom Minds Photography
    Houston Wedding Photographer
    Houston Family Portrait Photographer
    Houston Event Photographer
  • VayCayMomVayCayMom Registered Users Posts: 1,870 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    Very nice, as always, I enjoy your posts.
    Trudy
    www.CottageInk.smugmug.com

    NIKON D700
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    narancs wrote:
    jawdropping pictures clap.gif
    every one of them gave me goosebumps :D

    Thanks for your comments. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    Ed911 wrote:
    I'm onboard...two thumbs up. Quite nice. Great lighting. thumb.gifthumb.gif

    Thanks for sharing.

    Thanks for your comments. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    customminds wrote:
    good job... please share your workflow.

    Thanks for writing, I'm afraid I cannot do that. Nobody would share their post process workflow with anybody or their shooting details or lighting setups.

    However, I can give you some comments on your works to help you. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    VayCayMom wrote:
    Very nice, as always, I enjoy your posts.

    Thanks for your comments. :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,986 moderator
    edited July 29, 2009
    Zeckson wrote:
    Thanks for writing, I'm afraid I cannot do that. Nobody would share their post process workflow with anybody or their shooting details or lighting setups.

    However, I can give you some comments on your works to help you. :)

    Hey Zeckson,

    This seems like a strange comment to me. Do you look at other posts on Dgrin? They are full of tips, explanations and even tutorials. That's one of the great things about this forum. If you are afraid of revealing trade secrets, that's your choice, but I think what makes photographers successful is having an original and consistent vision, not a particular set of camera settings, steps in Photoshop or light setup. headscratch.gif
    My Pics
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    Richard wrote:
    Hey Zeckson,

    This seems like a strange comment to me. Do you look at other posts on Dgrin? They are full of tips, explanations and even tutorials. That's one of the great things about this forum. If you are afraid of revealing trade secrets, that's your choice, but I think what makes photographers successful is having an original and consistent vision, not a particular set of camera settings, steps in Photoshop or light setup. headscratch.gif

    Agree with you, Richard. But you also need to look at it again, although I do not wish to reveal my trade secrets, I am willing to help whoever to improve on their levels. I am not shutting myself away.

    Post me an image and ask me a question and I will answer.

    Also, Richard, while sharing in a community is good, no photographer will be willing to entirely reveal all his/her setups and workflow to anybody. If everybody is doing the same thing as the photographer, he would have to drink water to survive. You also need to look into the situations of photographers earning a living from photography.

    AND, I am willing to help those who need help on their own images.
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • toragstorags Registered Users Posts: 4,615 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    I thought your lighting was good on all of them (except perhaps the left hand in #13)

    A good concept, beauty in the reeds... :D

    C'mon be honest with us.... Is she from outer space or they contacts....

    :D
    Rags
  • AngeloAngelo Super Moderators Posts: 8,937 moderator
    edited July 29, 2009
    When I first saw this post I was impressed with the imagery and thought to myself that I had seen this type of work before.

    I wanted to find reference to the work of other photographers before coming back to comment so I could bolster my compliment of your work.

    Your comments above however leave me a bit more than disappointed. This is a healthy, friendly, vibrant community of artists who make their visits here an exercise in learning as well as sharing.

    Amateur and professional alike display an open willingness to share tips and techniques to help others grow and evolve to be the best they can be.

    You may have every right to squirrel away your so called "trade secrets" but in a community setting such as this I fear you'll find yourself on the outskirts of the community.


    .
    www.angelo.smugmug.com

    Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    torags wrote:
    I thought your lighting was good on all of them (except perhaps the left hand in #13)

    A good concept, beauty in the reeds... :D

    C'mon be honest with us.... Is she from outer space or they contacts....

    :D

    Ha ha ha ha. Thanks for your comments.
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
  • ZecksonZeckson Registered Users Posts: 307 Major grins
    edited July 29, 2009
    Angelo wrote:
    When I first saw this post I was impressed with the imagery and thought to myself that I had seen this type of work before.

    I wanted to find reference to the work of other photographers before coming back to comment so I could bolster my compliment of your work.

    Your comments above however leave me a bit more than disappointed. This is a healthy, friendly, vibrant community of artists who make their visits here an exercise in learning as well as sharing.

    Amateur and professional alike display an open willingness to share tips and techniques to help others grow and evolve to be the best they can be.

    You may have every right to squirrel away your so called "trade secrets" but in a community setting such as this I fear you'll find yourself on the outskirts of the community.


    .

    Angelo, first, thanks for your comments about the images.

    Second, we are still onto this sharing thing? Ha ha ha ha. Thanks for writing. I think your points have been elaborated by Richard in previous postings and I had already expressed my views about it. Again, I shall repeat that I am willing to share and help members to improve on their photos. While what you said are valid, I think they do not elevate any further than what Richard had already done.

    Shall we move on with the photo appreciation and drop this little "argument" here? :)
    Speaking of ART is USELESS if one cannot FEEL anything.
    I am not a photographer.
    Zeckson's Image Boulevard
Sign In or Register to comment.