Happy New Year and welcome to 2021, I truly hope for a a better world this year. However I still have a few photos to share from 2020… when being creative and making pictures was so important.
Being located in Oxfordshire it’s easy to find open countryside, so when I started to see a few photos appearing from a huge wildflower meadow I wanted to shoot there too. So I asked Abby if she would meet me in a small village and make photos one warm summer evening.
- EOS R
- EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
- 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 100
With strong sunlight exposure was always going to be a challenge. I used manual exposure, shot in RAW and that worked well to allow recovery of highlights and lifting of shadows. Abby just enjoyed a walk through the field trying to avoid the stinging nettles and thistles.
- EOS R
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/500s, f/2, ISO 100
I did shoot some images where I softened the harsh sunlight with a Lastolite Halo Compact Diffuser just out of the frame. In others the diffuser was moved “out of the frame” with a crop in post processing. You can see the change in light quality on Abby’s face.
- EOS R
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/1250s, f/2, ISO 100
Since the field was on the side of a hill I certainly worked with the slope, laying down on the grass to get this low angle shot with Abby against the blue sky. Her dress was absolutely ideal for this shot.
- EOS R
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/1250s, f/2, ISO 100
You have to have a laugh on shoots. Abby was soon laying on the ground mimicking my own position but the shot still worked. It’s a favourite shot for both of us.
- EOS R
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 100
As the sun got lower in the sky Abby changed outfit and wandered off through the field towards the sunset. I really loved the backlighting of the flowers and Abby but was glad I shot RAW to allow recovery of highlights and lifting of the shadows. I further added a warming tone to the shot with Lightroom.
- EOS R
- EF 135mm f/2L USM
- 1/1250s, f/2, ISO 100
Changing my position to capture the sun illuminating Abby, she was glad of the sunglasses. This shot being taken after the backlit one further up. It just goes to show how with any kind of light you need to move you and your subject in relation to the light, as it’s not always possible move the light.
See you tomorrow…