Back Outdoors (FINALLY) with Erica

Bilsen

Well the weather warmed up enough to squeeze in an outdoor shoot with one of my regulars, the gorgeous Erica. Too cold for bikinis but some nice fashion looks right on the Hudson River across from Manhattan.

Click the first image for the full Gallery.



2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8.Not exactly a headshot but who cares. LOL

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divamum

3 & &

#1 is really good as is... but I think it would have been KILLER if you had reversed her and put her IN the "couch" the rock forms! Not sure if it was practical, but it would have been really neat!

Bilsen

Thanks Diva.:D

Re # 1 (also # 7) this is a late afternoon shoot. She HAD to face west or her face would be totally in shadow and her hair blown out. That natural light can be a b**ch.

divamum

This is why we have speedlights.... (although I do take your point....)

Tinstafl

You beat me by a mile. It is still cold and cloudy and windy here.
Nice series but I agree with the speedlight comment. In fact that is going to be my theme this spring to learn how to do it better outside.

Bilsen

Thanks Diva and Tin BUT you have forgotten over the winter that my thing is NO flash, NO reflectors. Me, the camera and the meter. Done.

divamum

Bilsen wrote: »

Thanks Diva and Tin BUT you have forgotten over the winter that my thing is NO flash, NO reflectors. Me, the camera and the meter. Done.

Huh? I thought you usually used flash with your outdoor work. Mai piu?

Bilsen

Not normally although I admit that I will if absolutely forced to. It's a last resort for me.

zoomer

This is one of my favorite models that you shoot.
I really like 7 that is a great shot.

To be a natural light shooter you have to be comfortable with exposing for the face and letting whatever blows blow.....or being able to get close enough with the exposure that you can "realistically" even things out in post.

Bilsen

Thanks Zoomer.

I totally agree about the outdoor technique. In fact, my first instructor says exactly that, "if the face is right who cares about the blown background".

However, having the City in the background was a major objective of this shoot (especially in the Yakees jersey) and the reason I chose the location.

Fact is, #s 7 & 8 did have a blown background in the camera. The ability to bring it back in post is why I shoot RAW/manual at all times. Still, it felt really good to get back to my more natural habitat even though I've enjoyed the studio immensely this winter.

As far as Erica, I've said since the day I met her that if she was 5'11" instead of 5'1" she'd have been signed at 16 and I'd have never gotten near her. One of the sad ironies of life.

Bryce Wilson

Can tell you are back in your comfort zone. Enjoyed these.

Only whine I have is with number seven. Could be my monitor, but I don't see any separation with her legs in the thigh area. It looks like one big chunk of black.

Bilsen

As I look again, you are correct Bryce.

On the other hand, I have yet to figure out a non-creepy way to tell a model "Spread your legs". rofl