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Hey everyone, i hope you all had a safe x-mas and new year period!

I had the pleasure of shooting dana, who also claims it was her first shoot. She was really nervous at the start but really relaxed towards the end and we got some amazing shots.

Comments and criticisms are more than welcome as always.

Enjoy!

Hi Matty,

I don't usually comment on your images becouse I don't think there is much I can usually add, they are always really good. But finally I have a few things on these ones

1. I don't like her bikini bottoms in this one, looks uncomfortable. Plus the old surfboard annoys me, it looks like there are ding repairs down the right hand side (this might just be the monitor or processing, I don't know!!!)

2. I love this one, well done. Was it her favorite one?

3. Again, the dirty surfboard is bothering me

4. I am distracted by her neck becouse of the lighting the left side of her neck is much lighter and it makes me wonder if you missed it whilst browning her skin? (not saying you did, just that is what it looks like)

So as you can see, I don't really have much constructive stuff to say... I still wish I was taking these shots

Cheers,

There was a surfboard in these pics??

Oh one more thing...

Being a surfer, I always hated seeing surf images on the beach when there was no surf...

or even worse when in Home and Away they would be going for a surf at Palm Beach and there was clearly no surf (wait till there is some surf before filming a surf scene!!!!)

Ok, more useless comments

matty these are very nice. lots of things done very well, horizon lines, backdrops, crop, lighting on subject is sweet!

also captured her in a happy state too, well done.

only one suggestion, the backgrounds are a little dark, slower shutter, or bump iso. just to balance the lighting on subecjt with surroundings.

oh, and the outfits are great choices, well done.

Geoff wrote:There was a surfboard in these pics??

I know, sad isn't it... whenever I see one of these shots I always look at the surfboard first

Matt these have to be my favourite model shots you've posted, #2 is a stand out but they are all good.

I have to agree about the neck in the last, and also the bit of rubbish or drift wood near her knee, its begging to be cloned out.

Your usual high standard, good fun, appealing images. Great stuff for magazine or CD covers or calanders. These images are very commercial and of a professional standard. Your challange is to take it to the next level, whatever that may be.

How you manage to concentrate while shooting this stuff is beyond me.

I agree with Woody about #1 ... Those Bikini Bottoms look uncomfortable, she should take them off

#2 my Pick of the bunch

My pick is #3.. lovley image. Classic hot surfer chick..


MATT

W00DY wrote:I know, sad isn't it... whenever I see one of these shots I always look at the surfboard first

Even worse, I look at the lighting! <sigh>

Nice shots Matty, i too didnt see the surfboard as i know where my priorities lie.

Cheers
BBJ

Matty, matty, matty.....

Nice mate, the new lighting setup is obviously working. I wonder, is it waterproof? What about your camera gear? Anything you wish to say about that.....?

I think these are your best model shots yet mate, extremely even lighting, an absence of hotspots.

I personally aint worried about the surfboard. I really like number 3 mate, I love the darker tones in the background and the tilted horizon. I also like number 2, Dana looks very comfortable and her expression is very natural.

Also, I really like the bikini bottoms in number 1, doesn't look uncomfortable to me at all....

Great shots champ!

Thanks Alan and everyone.

I must add a bit of a note to the shoot. It nearly got off to an absolute disaster of a start, as i put my camera down in the sand while i was setting up the light, when a freak wave came and was MILLIMETRES away from swamping the box with the power equipment in, and it nearly washed my d200 and 70-200 out too see. It was saved by the assistant, but it still got drenched! Lucky for the weather sealing hey?

Something to learn from that one... bring a long extension cord and don't leave your camera in the sand unattended.

I have intentionally processed the backgrounds on some of those a bit darker, because i personally loved the range of colors in the shot.

But yes i suppose it would have been nice to be able to shoot on a nice summers day, with a decent swell.... but lets face it, how many people really notice!

Thanks for the comments everyone. I have 2 more sets of pics to upload soon.

great shots matty, love #2 .... when i die i want to come back as her surfboard !!!!

cheers rob

MattyO wrote:
But yes i suppose it would have been nice to be able to shoot on a nice summers day, with a decent swell.... but lets face it, how many people really notice!

It seems everyone is focusing on my comments a bit too much , as I said they were pointless, non constructive comments!!!

I agree, it is better to shoot when you have the chance then rather waiting for the swell. In this case it does not matter, I just always laugh when I see shots where surfers (or in films/tv) are actually meant to be going for a surf and there is no swell.

My comment was "I still wish I could take these shots", they are MUCH better than anything I have taken

Cheers PS: only anal surferd liek myself notice these things, very sad

Wow, she is so dynamic especially in the second image. I hope you get to use her to model again.

MattyO wrote:

Something to learn from that one... bring a long extension cord

Hi MAtty,
can I suggest a very small backpack/sling bag for your battery and converter.

it can hold your battery, then tie is around your lightstand as a weight, like a sandbag, handy to keep it out of the water too.

Awesome shots dude!

What I really want to know is....does she actually surf?

Fantastic shots Matt.2nd and 3rd ones are excellent.Only nit pick being the water background on an angle looks a bit odd but the comp and model and everything else about it look great.