Simon Ridgway Photography » random shots

random shots : diversions dance

simonridgway — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:09:31 +0000

I love it when I look back through my archives and find a picture I really like and get the chance to rework it a bit on the Mac. This shot was taken during a rehearsal in 2007. The Diversions dance company were rehearsing a new show and I was sent to get some pictures. They were in the middle of rehearsals when I arrived and I wasn’t going to get an opportunity to set anything up – so no posing and no lights!

This was shot on the Canon 85mm/f1.2 at settings of 1/100s at f1.6 on ISO800. That’s really dark! And they were moving about a lot! At 1/100s the only way to get anything pin sharp was to wait for moments when the action peaked and the dancers were relatively still.

Photographing dance is not easy but its the dancers that are doing most of the work for you – its just a naturally photogenic subject. As long as you get the technical aspects right, its hard not to get great pictures.

random shots : in the studio

simonridgway — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:56 +0000

I’ve got a small studio attached to my office and, when I’m not shooting for clients, I like to try out new techniques on willing victims volunteers. Here’s a picture of my niece shot using a classic high-key lighting technique. A white paper background, lit by two lights plus one big softbox giving quite flat, soft light on her face. I like the subtle “bounce-back” of the light from the background onto her hand, which gives it a lovely three dimensional look. This has also had a bit of post production work done on it. Its been run through Color Efex Pro and Nik Sharpener Pro using my new favourite settings! This looks fantastic as a large framed print (which is currently waiting to be put up on my office wall).

sometimes equipment really does matter

simonridgway — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:44:18 +0000

I try not to concentrate too much on techy equipment subjects on this blog but sometimes the techy stuff matters, as is the case with this relatively simple picture.

This picture, taken at the Cardiff Harbour Festival, was shot using my all-time favourite lens – the Canon 85mm/f1.2. This lens, which is the fastest (i.e. widest aperture) lens which Canon make, gives the most amazing focus fall-off when used wide-open. This shot was taken at ISO 125, 1/8000s at f1.2. Shooting at such a wide aperture means you have to get the focus spot-on, which is not easy, but the effect is well worth the effort. This shot just wouldn’t work if the crowd were any sharper. The lens enables you to make things “pop” off the background, which makes it worth every penny for me.