Whenever you make a portrait, you should say to yourself, “Self, I like this picture because ____.” Then, you should use the right tools to help the picture emphasize the things you like.
When I made this portrait, I was making a whole series of photos for the beekeepers. I knew I wanted the kind of pictures that would look great in advertising and editorial which meant I needed to get close with a wide lens to create a strong sense of foreshortening. With the bees close to the camera, they appear much larger than they actually are. The wide lens also gives a strong sense of place by including a lot of the surrounding environment. The simple green, blue and yellow colors help make it strong, too.
Of course, I still wanted the photo to be dramatic and flattering. I suggested we make pictures at the end of the day so that the light would be pouring in from the side. My subject is facing toward the sun, which is a very easy instruction to follow (especially when you’re holding a hundred bees in your hands). I used Nikon’s marvelous 14-24mm f/2.8 lens on a full-frame D800. I moved around until I had the hives and the mountains framing the beekeeper and I made the shot. It’s one of my favorites from that day.
Yes, I ended up getting stung on my hand (which was swollen for 2 weeks), but I’d do it all again to have the experience and make the portraits.
Portrait Tips come out each week, and you can see them all right here.
What happened to Panasonic?
Oh, I still shoot Panasonic, but I made this picture long before I switched from Nikon.
Oh, I still shoot Panasonic, but I made this picture long before I switched from Nikon.