Just had the okay to share this peek, my latest cover. It’s gone rather pink during the upload to flickr for some reason so you’ll just have to go see it for yourselves for the full effect.
Hits newsagents 11th October I believe.
I have a stack of new work that due to exclusivity agreements I can’t share with you at the moment. Needless to say you’ll see it when it hits but until then trust me I’ve been busy.
m. Charlotte P @ Industry People
mua. Thembi Mkandla
Super simple, super relaxed portfolio shoot with Lawson of Nemesis Agency Manchester.
Canon 1Diii
Sigma 50mm f1.4
LR3, VSCO (Portra 400+ (edit) | TriX + (edit))
Not sure why but the 1Diii is my Canon of choice at the moment. I’ve always preferred it to the 5Dii but that full frame pixel count is always alluring. The files from the 1D just seem better to me, I can get them looking exactly how I want in very (two clicks and I’m done) little time. Plus there’s always a focus point where I need one.
Take the shot on the right above for example. Super clean, super bright, skin tone bang on but everything with that soft pastel vibe I seem to dig.
So I guess the 5 can stay sat in the Peli case ready as a willing back-up.
For the folk who like to know what gear is used for photos my go to gear is currently;
Canon 1Diii
Sigma 50mm f1.4
Canon EF 35mm f2
Plus a big reflector.
Sure the bag also holds my precious but that isn’t really the money camera.
A little on VSCO at the end but now for some more photographs.
So a quick note on post production. I’m coming around to the VSCO film kit. I’m not totally happy with the preset looks but after a little reworking I’ve got them looking how I like. I think the main thing to remember is that these are subtle presets and not those make a rubbish shot look like it’s some kind of art work trash. If you have a well exposed, well lit, colour balanced shot and you want to give it a little eek towards film stock colours then VSCO is your ticket.
So thankfully the old adage still remains, get it right in camera.
I’ve tried Nik Color Efex, which for what I want it to do is large a plug in. It has “filmy” looks but to me they’re a little over done (one reader may well be nodding at this with a little smirk on his face after he stated that very same thing to me a while back). Plus I also use Silver Efex, which is real nice and if I want to go to town with a B&W conversion this is still my weapon of choice.
Melissa | NQ Manchester, originally uploaded by bang*.
More from a fun couple of hours in the rare Manchester sun last Sunday.
Just about done with my edit from Sunday so thought I’d post some more of the final selects.
I’m super happy with a number of the shots we created between us and I think that last part is an important factor in the look of these. Sometimes on a busy set it’s too easy to get caught up in the whole energy and hustle and one can easily forget one of the most important skills a portrait photographer needs. Between chatting with the make up artist, stylists, art directors, assistants and numerous other people on set, building that connection and collaborative effect between the model and myself can be hard to maintain. I like to talk and chat whilst shooting, I’ll goof around and have a laugh. This is my job and I love it, I think most people who work with me get that. I’m finally learning to control my shoots more in this respect, I’m happy for everyone to have a good time whilst shooting otherwise what’s the point but when it comes down to crunch time I must be able to create and maintain a connection with my models. I always appreciated the skill and talent required to create beautiful fashion portraits but admit to many a time thinking “yeah that’s easy, you bring me Kate Moss and some beautiful clothes and hey presto” right?!? Well if you just want to be a member of the “pretty girl, pretty photo” club then yeah to a point it’s kind of along those lines once you know some photography basics. What makes or breaks a fashion portrait (or any portrait to that matter) is a huge combination of factors but one of the strongest is this connection. It’s my ability to bring out of the model what it is I want to portray, what I want the photograph to say and how it will say it. If I want emotion then I have to bring that out. A good model will help in this by having the ability to emote but they will find it hard to do so without the photographer giving them something to work with. It’s a collaboration and if you want to do more than just document the person stood in front of you it’s one you need to work on.
“When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice.”
― Robert Frank
One day i’ll get there but for now I’m revelling in the process.
Know your hero, and make it shine.
A little busy at the moment, on the road for a few weeks so it’ll be quiet in the in-betweens. Plenty in the pipeline though so worry not.
Photographer : Mark Ivkovic
Model : Sana
Lighting :
Bowens via 70cm beauty dish with grid.
It’s the things you don’t say that mean the most.
I just figured I’d blow your eyes with some colour after all the moody black & white.
Photographer : M. Ivkovic (Me)
Model : Samio @ Nemesis Manchester
MUA / Hair : Meg Lindow
Wardrobe Stylsit : Suzze @ Urbanchique
Plus a little more of the moody B&W . . . . ..
“and if all the world was perfect I would only ever want to see your scars”
Photographer : M. Ivkovic (Me)
Model : Samio @ Nemesis Manchester wearing Tina Lobondi
MUA / Hair : Meg Lindow
Wardrobe Stylsit : Suzze @ Urbanchique
I’ll be honest the further I progress in my photographic career the more self doubt I develop. I’m plagued with more indecision now than ever before, I try to be honest in my work yet feel somehow diluted and broken down. I surround myself with a strong team in an attempt to mask my own feeling of being one step from the edge of a cliff.
Perhaps this is the price I pay for my art, I don’t ask for people to like my work, I just want to create something of worth. Without that my whole purpose is meaningless.
Then maybe understanding this is all part of the process, perhaps the doubt shows that I care.
Photographer : M. Ivkovic (Me)
Model : Samio @ Nemesis Manchester, Wearing Tina Lobondi
MUA / Hair : Meg Lindow
Wardrobe Stylsit : Suzze @ Urbanchique
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A moment of visual poetry, sometimes one image makes everything else worth the struggle.
Photographer : M. Ivkovic (Me)
Model : Samio @ Nemesis Manchester
MUA / Hair : Meg Lindow
Wardrobe Stylsit : Suzze @ Urbanchique
Very first peeks from yesterdays shoot with the team. If ever a behind the scenes video should have been made yesterday was it. We had more plot twists and emotional highs & lows than most tv dramas.
Photographer : M. Ivkovic (Me)
Model : Samio @ Nemesis Manchester
Wearing Tina Lobondi / next
MUA / Hair : Meg Lindow
Wardrobe Stylsit : Suzze @ Urbanchique
Despite the images showing otherwise, the weather was what can only be described as challenging.
See the rest of the series here – www.flickr.com/photos/bangphoto/sets/72157626960169758/
Second set of Triptychs for the Blind Swine. www.facebook.com/theblindswine
THE place to hang your hat whilst indulging in topically named cocktails & food with a little attitude.
Quick tease from this evenings second triptych session for the Blind Swine.
Getting down and dirty in one of Yorks least obvious places to make photographs.
More to come in the next few days, if you like this kind of thing.
In the mean time send them some love – www.facebook.com/theblindswine
bang | Photography 