Natasha @ Paris

Winter is coming, it was time to try a few portrait / nude sessions indoors. I have been playing a lot with back light, and for editing with the Nik Software excellent and pretty cheap package (review soon):

• Silver Efex Pro to edit RAW files into B&W. 
• Color Efex Pro for well...pretty much anything color.

For a change (ran out of film and the shop was closed), this is digital work, with a Nikon D600  + Nikon 50mm f/1.2 lens.

Katia @ Paris

I decided to analyse my shots not, explain why I kept them, what I could have done better. I'll also put some that did not make the cut and explain why. This is all from a Mamiya RZ67II with TMax film and the 110m 2.8.

By the way, I learned that Neopan 400 is dead... it made me sad, it was a great film.

Thanks to the lovely Katia.

A diptych for a change: I tried to play with the change of distance on the same pose. Both shots are spot on focus, perfectly exposed (natural light) and could be self sufficient, but it's worth the attempt. I regret the dark stuff on her back on the right, I might photoshop that in the end.

Same shot as a stand alone for comparison. 

This is a pose I used a lot but not with the models hands placed like that. I wish her eyes were a little more open, and light a little more focused on her face / chest, but white wall makes the room light very even. Appart from that, it is sensual without being gross, so I kept it.

The original left picture on the diptych, uncropped.

I like this because of the 3 layers: black, skin, gray. Also it implies nudity but we don't really see it. Here also I wish I had the eyes looking up or a little more opened, but at the same time they look a little tripy like this.

A pose I used and abused: full nude with nothing showing, emphasis on the face. Nailed it technically yet I wish the room was significantly darker that the skin.

Inspiration: Radoslaw Pujan (Kinky Wednesday)

"Photographer. Born in Poznan (Poland). Then lived in Krakow, Brussels, Cannes.

Resides in Brussels. Main interest in creative Portrait, Beauty and Fashion photography."

Classic female portraits, you see a lot of this on Flickr but only few pull it really well. He uses medium and large format, which I really like too of course. Not much to say, enjoy.

His stream here.

Kinky Monday: Helmut Newton

If you are just a little bit into fashion photography, you know who he was and what he did. For the others, Helmut Newton was to fashion photographer what Senna was to Formula 1, or what James Cameron is to movie making: a big shot. 

He was famous for his provocative black and white nudes, sometimes (often?) erotic photographs. Now the convenient thing when you are in the top of greatest fashion photographers of your time, is that you don't get to shoot nudes just with anyone... If you add talent and class to the equation, you have all the greatest models and actresses undressing for you. The result: some of the most glamourous classic black and white nudes ever.

Mr. Newton was shooting for Vogue a lot, and I'd put in among that group of great classics along wilth Lindberg and Demarchelier. Well, I actually have right in front of me a pile of Vogues from the past 24 months. Hum...ok...call me a grumpy nostalgic, but if you thing James Bond was classier in the times of Sean Connery, then you probably would agree Vogue was something else back in the days when more guys like Helmut Newton were in it. Hey Vogue editors, how about  alittle less Terry Richardson (dude seriously, move on. We get it, you painted a nice white wall and you want to make it worth the time spent), and a little more best of the best classic photography Helmut Newton style?

Ruth

Mamiya RZ67 pro II, Tri X

Antonina, at home.

Shot with a Mamiya 645 + 80mm f2.8 lens, provia 400 film for color, Tri X for B&W. Edited in element 6.