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After we'd finished photographing the two women in my previous image, and thanked them, we wandered around the pier for another ten minutes or so, shooting various bits of the structure. As we passed them for the second or third time, the woman on the right said, "Don't you want to photograph my tattoo then?", to which I replied, "well, if you don't mind stripping off, we certainly wouldn't mind photographing you".

This image is the result, and is probably one of my all-time favourite shots of this type. The next one is also one of my recent favourites, but it's more of a light-hearted image than a serious portrait :) I'll post it on Thursday.

And if you're interested, here's Jason's version of this shot:

http://www.escapism-online.com/blog-entry.php?pid=254

captured
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
plugins (etc)
cropped?
5.01pm on 11/4/10
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
35mm
f/2.8
1/1000
aperture priority
+2/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
Topaz Detail
minor
 
3x2 + people [portraiture] + no print + show the original
comment by Nicki at 05:31 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Amazing ... a breathtaker ... Dave this is shot of the year! really really cool, cannot drink my coffe anymore ;) ...

comment by Jonas (americanvirus) at 05:56 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

This rocks!

comment by Jacques at 06:14 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Great shot!

comment by Chris at 06:44 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

I guess she wasn't all that shy after all. Your image works great as a black and white. Well done.

comment by Justin Photis at 07:47 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

That's stunning, and probably was from the front too ;)
If I had a criticism it would be that I'd have liked her right arm slightly more forward so the shadow was less distracting..

comment by djn1 at 08:36 AM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Justin: I quite agree, and I have lots of shots where the shadow from her arm is less prominent. In all those shots though her face isn't quite as visible. In other words, this was a bit of a compromise, but it's the one that I thought worked best.

comment by Tolga at 03:31 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

I absolutely love this.
Great expression, light, background.

comment by Dan Kaufman at 03:35 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Fantastic B/W post-process. A very alluring and prominent presentation.

comment by Stephen Brewell at 05:13 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Brilliant. Was is just Topaz Detail you used and then the B&W conversion?

comment by Philip Jensen at 07:45 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

I really like the way the contrast between the sky and the model works! My only concern is that you may have portraited her in a way that makes her face look a little larger, if you see what I mean?

Otherwise I'll give you 5 stars ;).

comment by GCW at 08:48 PM (GMT) on 20 April, 2010

Great shot. Noticed that you have cloned out the thing on her pocket which is a bit distracting in Jason's version.

comment by JD at 02:20 AM (GMT) on 21 April, 2010

cool pic, love the tone and the lighting

comment by SuzyJ at 08:10 AM (GMT) on 21 April, 2010

Great photo, love it

comment by Carlos Garcia at 02:20 PM (GMT) on 21 April, 2010

Dave,

Fantastic composition! The juxtaposition of your subject and the sky gives the whole image a fascinating perspective... like she is floating. Bravo!

comment by oldshutterhand at 05:59 AM (GMT) on 22 April, 2010

What a lot of pain (t) for that art work.

comment by Tom at 10:18 PM (GMT) on 22 April, 2010

Great shot. Wish ladies would happily strip off for me to shoot their tattoos. :-)

comment by Kit at 07:32 AM (GMT) on 23 April, 2010

This is my favorite among the 3 of the set so far!
Her pose, her expression, the dramatic background, the scarf, the tattoos, the dangling ring off her neck all blend in well in a perfect form, IMO...
I guess it is a photographic opportunity that can't be asked unless well planned in advance in commercial photography. But for a casual photography of people you meet the first time this all came as a result from the spontaneity and enjoyment of the 4 of you in the whole encounter and I could tell that you all had a great time of chat in order for this lady to be so comfortable to be photographed so freely.
Great work, overall! Dave!

comment by Adrian Spencer at 08:47 AM (GMT) on 23 April, 2010

There is so much to like about this. The depth of field, the light play, the subject. Great work, well done.

comment by Thad at 05:26 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2010

Much of what I think about this photo is already expressed above by others. I'd like to add that this is very creative, judicious, and artistically appropriate use of CLONING to get to an end that strongly reflects your keen artistic vision. Well done.

Thad