Samantha was pretty happy with the results of our last shoot together. While that shoot was dark, this new shoot with Samantha, and her friend Becky was very, very bright. Also, very, very warm. I didn't travel nearly as light for this shoot.
After a fun (and windy) (not windy!) drive through the hillside suburbs of Belair, Blackwood, and others, I arrived at the location for the shoot, The Onkaparinga National Park, Gate 12, just off a mixed dirt, gravel, and bitumen road, depending on how much dust had been thrown up by vehicles that travelled along that road before me.
The afternoon and evening sun was bright, but I was slathered in sunscreen, a hat, and a really nice linen shirt (I've taken to wearing linen shirts almost exclusively while shooting, as they breathe and feel so much ... cooler than cotton!) - but anyway, that's enough rambling about the whereabouts, why, and my personal preferences, and let me move into photographs!
I also felt the constant voice of @ryivhnn in the back of my head about "stone cold serious" model poses during this set, and I thank them for the feedback and impact - I really respect upfront, honest suggestions, and am always keen to improve the range of my work.
This image pushes my flash to its absolute limits. It's at full power in order to overcome the sunlight streaming in from behind the two girls, and it is on a stand just out of the camera's view. I might need to invest in a more powerful flash (also known as a Strobe - if I am to continue to produce portraits in the blisteringly bright Australian environment.
Anyway, again, enough technical talk, here's some more images... which followed a further hike, and a real life, real large, hopping kangaroo which crossed the path approximately five metres away from where we were walking! Truly amazing creatures, and one of the many reasons to visit Australian National Parks. I didn't get a picture because he was moving FAR too quickly for me to even notice he was coming!
Close up with a shallow depth of field.
Some laughter for @ryivhnn!
More laughter
This shoot was filled with lots of hiking (approximately 11,000 steps!) and ended with some good results. Free workout while photographing - but also, lots of free sweat. I'm certainly not up to being a landscape photographer, that's for sure.
Balancing the harsh Australian bush with some lovely human beings though, is always a welcome challenge.
I also love using flash in the daylight, its the best time to use it to your advantage as a photographer!
Follow me for more future photographic work!
My Camera Kit and Gear:
2x Nikon D750
Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC USD G2
Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 VC USD G2
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D
Nikkor 105 f/2 DC
2x Godox TT685N
1x Godox Pro X1 Trigger