MP+35 in an intimate shoot

[amoz]

Did a short shoot with a pregnant friend of mine a week ago, in an intimate setting (her bathroom) with pretty contrasty afternoon-light. I am not used to doing such posed shots, but did want to give it a try (and thought I'd share them here). Feel free to comment.

MP + 35 'cron asph + Fuji Neopan 1600

 

[fbf]

love the last one though a bit more light to the face would make it even better.
great work.

 

[BigSteveG]

Agree. The last shot is nice.

 

[aparat]

Very nice, creative, but not overdone. I love #3 the most, even though it does not highlight her pregnancy. How does she like the photos?

 

[Frank Petronio]

The circles are great!

 

[Keith]

I really like the creativity and don't necessarily agree with the need for any more light but I guess that's a personal thing ... it was your vision and I think the results are stunning!

 

[bob338]

#3 and #5 are great, especially 5. my wife and i did this in a studio when she was very pregnant and she didn't like them. i think you've really captured her beautifully.

bob

 

[like2fiddle]

Nice work all around. There's a certain radiant beauty in a pregnant woman, and you've captured it well.

 

[Wuddy]

Extremly good!

Michael

 

[amoz]

Thanks for all your comments!

The strong contrast was what I was after; and it became simply inevitable with this combination of lens (aspherical summicron), 1600 ASA film, and natural light. There is hardly any post-processing done.

The small-rope-like blinds created the concentric pattern on her body. That came out much stronger than I anticipated.

To answer your question, aparat, she has not even seen the pictures yet. She gave birth on Monday, and I developed and scanned the film last night.

I much appreciate your comment, Bob. Such first tries can be hit-and-miss.

love the last one though a bit more light to the face would make it even better.
great work.

Thanks. I agree about the light on her face in this particular picture. I remember her asking whether to put her hair behind the ears or not... That would have made an important difference here. Ah well, you live, you learn.

When trying to direct her whilst focusing on my photography, my respect for models and model-photographers got an enormous boost --it is not an easy job!

 

[raid]

The posted images are beautiful in my eyes. Thanks.

 

[amoz]

Good shots.

I just happened to do some low light / harsh light shots the other day with an MP and a 35 (mere mortal Nokton f/1.4).

It was a spontaneous shoot and I was keen to see how the MP's meter worked in those conditions. It was bright sunlight through venetian blinds & gave a zebra effect.

I don't mean to upstage you (and the shot has nudity) so I'll simply post a link to a thumbnail of it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/3177854937_243762c1d0.jpg

(Eventually I'll delete the shot and this will become a dead link.)

That's very cool: more or less the same setting, subject, equipment... and a totally different outcome (ha, talking about contrast). Your shot is very abstract/graphic and I really really like it, but it was obviously just not what I was after.

 

[Tim Gray]

I really like 3!

 

[Trius]

I like #2 (mostly), #3, and especially #4, which I think is what Frank was referring to. #5 I don't like at all. Even if there were more light on her face, the shadow of her profile doesn't balance with her actual body at all.

 

[Nh3]

Perhaps a 28mm or even 20mm would have included more of the confined space, adding to the feel and sense of the place.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

#3 is beautiful.

 

[nzeeman]

i love 3rd and 4th - 3rd for atmosphere and 4th for light...

 

[Debusti Paolo]

very nice shots! which 35 did you used?wide open?

 

[amoz]

Perhaps a 28mm or even 20mm would have included more of the confined space, adding to the feel and sense of the place.

Yes indeed, and I often got stuck when looking for a one-step-back perspective and not quite being able to reach it. Then again, I gladly accept the limitations of a single lens shoot. I am sure that it brought me into fresh and favorable framing situations as well.

very nice shots! which 35 did you used?wide open?

Thank you, Paolo. I used the Leica Summicron-M 35 f/2 aspherical, which is the latest version (optically at least, because mine does not have the 6-bit coding). I took most at f/4; I had a fast film and the light, though filtered through windows and blinds, was still quite strong.

 

[steveohan]

images are wonderful! number 3 is incredible!! wow!