Lately I visited New York, and came across Adorama in which I discovered Flashpoint 14″ Fluorescent Dimmable Ring Light .
This low-cost light source was something I found worth trying out, and found space in my hand luggage. Recently, I have put this to use, both outside and in the studio, and here are some examples.
www.phokus.no
Fotograf i Trondheim
…by Rock’n Roll Bride. Interesting reading, enjoy!
Having seen the first episode of the HBO production “The Witness” (featuring Eros Hoagland) I am not only inspired but in awe of what is possible to do with your camera. I know I will never have the same opportunity or guts to follow his footsteps, although I can almost sense that maybe this was what I was meant to do… Documenting these lives and deaths and what he feels and experiences is not only frightening but also highly meaningful. Because, how often does meaning, moral and deeper level of human conflicts play a part of everyday photography in Norway?? Never, or close to…how can that be changed?
Recommended viewing!
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Having seen the movie “ONCE” (again – I have seen it a couple of times before), I am again inspired to do more of the “simple” photography that is probably more true to heart than trying to be more advanced…this might be hard to explain, but to give an analogy: I am a huge fan of the “Dark Knight” trilogy…even so, the movie “Once” captivates me in a much more personal way, grabbing hold of my soul. No effort is made trying to create an artistic light, and there is plenty of noise. Hand held of course, and from an amateurs’ viewpoint, it may look like the only act of planning when it came to the filming was the cutting of the film. And it cost virtually nothing to make!
In contrast, The Dark Knight has everything: Spectacular effects, superb light, HQ filming and so on…and, it cost quite a few times more to make. But does The Dark Knight really have a soulful presence?
What is my point?
The point is this, translated to photography: Yes, I admire Joel Grimes, Tim Tadder, Calvin Hollywood, Jens Haugen and other modern artistic photographers, blending their photography skills with post-production masterclass level. Lately, however, I am more mesmerized by the simple portraits; spotlessly aimed at finding the perfect moment, the one expression captured at the right time and can never again be reproduced.
Some examples are listed in this article….(with references to artists like Nicolas Guerin, Robert Doisneau, Steve McCurry and Irving Penn – and there are plenty of others to be inspired by of course)
Defining SOUL:
1. the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
2. the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.
3. the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.
4. the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
5. a human being; person.
One photographer who never stops amazing me is Erwin Olaf. His, at times, masterpieces evoke emotions on a higher level, and stand out as visual pleasure. His ability to create the necessary mood is exceptional, adding sentiment and story to the photos. In addition to the more serious themes, I also appreciate the more humoristic images…
My favorite is “The Classroom”, a photograph I can study for a long time, and often present at workshops as an example of story, composition, light, post-production, and all the other elements I can think of.