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PLACES AND FACES
Photographer & Teacher shares tips & passion
Turning day to night on a Cornish beach.
A powerful portable flash unit can be used effectively to control the light ratio between the subject and the surrounding environment. Here the Elinchrom 1200 ELB has achieved just that. There is a light ratio power dynamic at work here....
Soulfully Vietnamese.
While on an extended visit to Vietnam of over two months. With assistance from her truly wonderful friend Sam, I had the privilege to photograph an enchanting women called Han. Both arrived on a gorgeous Scooter from Da Nang to...
Cornish Coast Portrait Shoot. Succeeds in challenging conditions.
The forecasted overcast and grey skies that formed the core for my ideas were instead exchanged for some initial intermittent cloud and sun, to a constant and unforgiving harsh sunlight. The forecasted strong onshore winds did materialise, however, with gusts...
Portraits of a fascinating Nordic.
I met Juan casually in a hotel in central Vietnam. Aside of his philosophical insights I found his facial features quite riveting. Juan’s curiosity got the better of him, and he agreed to a portrait shoot. Juan had found a...
Eerie Welsh Woodland.
I saw a wonderful fog descend on this hilltop woodland in Wales from a distance so rushed up there. Once there, I was captivated by its creepy and still eeriness. The colour of light to camera sensors in shaded areas...
Cornish Woodland Photography Shoot. Alina and Laurence Pang.
Taken on a training day in a Cornish woodland. Let’s look at a few points about why, in my opinion, this image succeeds. Firstly, lighting in woodlands is notoriously difficult, especially on bright, sunny days. Dappled light in portraiture can...
Incoming Cornish Rain Squall.
Developing a habit of always having a camera and tripod to hand is one most will agree can access opportunities otherwise missed. While not always practical, I do try to carry both on regular walks even though I quite infrequently...
A Vietnamese Lady.
This gracious and kind lady was the sister of a home stay owner located next to me on the outskirts of Hoi An, Vietnam. I asked if I could take this image of her sitting on her cherished motorcycle, and...
How a casual conversation led to these images.
When solo travelling, you meet lots of fascinating people who have stories of incredible journeys and adventures. Marina is one such person. A digital nomad who lives her best life travelling and experiencing our beautiful world. Marina had already discovered...
My Fuji XT3
I often get asked what camera gear I use. The XT3 was released in September 2018 and discontinued in February 2022. I purchased two bodies and four lenses of varying focal lengths around mid-2019. My system is effectively almost seven...
A contrasting element that fails to convey.
Phrases like documentary, journalistic, candid, or impromptu can and do overlap, causing confusion. Some describe the differences like this: Documentary – aims to tell a deeper story over time. Journalistic – tends to relate more to news stories. Candid and...
Abstract or not Abstract
What is or isn’t an abstract is another subject that can court debates. Some say an abstract image shouldn’t be recognisable as something that can materially be categorised, i.e. it’s a part of a bike or a tree, etc. That by...
A Stormy Cornish Coastal Shoot.
I seized an opportunity at the kind invitation of my dear friend Ruben while on a coastal portrait shoot, set out primarily for him. The stormy conditions created a beautiful fusion of atmospheric tension and romance. Alina approached the shoot...
Ruben Buhagiar comes to Cornwall.
A proud citizen of Malta, I first met Ruben around ten years ago while delivering talks in Malta for The Societies as part of a Mediterranean tour. His warm and infectious personality attracts attention immediately. When Ruben is in a...
A Swell’s Surge.
While I take a lot of images like this, each venture to these gorgeous and often raw locations feels like a new experience because it is new. Those exact conditions have never existed before and never will again. These environments...
Ocean Lifestyle.
A favourite genre of mine for many years. This specific style does require a little more knowledge and practical skill. Namely: lighting, aesthetics, storytelling, composition, and posing. Some post-processing is nearly always required to add those unique nuances that fuse a...
Will Mattos. A physical portrayal.
I’ve worked with Will countless times on numerous projects over the years, and never once has he failed to deliver anything other than perfection. Working with a consummate professional will lift your imaginary to another level. There are, of course,...
Join me at the Elinchrom Live Stage
Do join me at the Elinchrom Live Stage on Thursday, 15th January at 11.30 am. This huge convention at the Novatel in London promises to be another exciting and educational affair. I hope to see you there and please say ‘Hi’....
Please join me on my Master Classes
Please join me on either or both of my Master Classes. Both will appeal to enthusiasts and professionals alike. On Wednesday, 14th January, I will be delving into and guiding attendees through one of my favourite genres, Outdoor Environment Portraiture. On Thursday,...
The Menace in the Shadows
Technically, presenting the near cheek (closest to the camera) in darkness and devoid of detail would fail a portrait. However, the near side facial darkness in the blue-tinged image conveys a more threatening and menacing stature, which many would see...
Potential as Limited Editions
These and others similar have also been assessed as viable for limited editions with a large online platform. Whilst it is a part of what I teach, this style of photography is also one of my favourite active pleasures. This sometimes...
The impromptu Portrait
Captured at a wedding in California, this intriguing and stylised character became a focal point for me. The craft of the impromptu portrait is one of stealth, anticipation, position, and a preparedness to react quickly. I observe but never stare...
Layers
Compositional layers can add to the interest of an image as well as a feeling of dimension. This image has a foreground layer, a layer two-thirds in, and a background layer. Deciding the best placements for layers is often a compromise...
Why depersonalise the model?
Investigating online versus gallery sales. These are among several that have been assessed as suitable by a prominent online agent for limited edition sales. Commissions through online art-based photography sites have seen some steady growth in recent years. While doing...
Commercial shoots for Surf Brands
Lighting can be considered a major component not only of composition but also as a means of controlling flow, ambiance, and depth. Elinchrom portable flash was used on both images but in different ways. The flash lit solo lady looks...
An Angry Cornish Sea
It is often said that how an image looks should give way to how it feels. This image speaks of aggression and threat. Even the jagged rock as a compositional line suggests a sharp, foreboding danger. Even the hint of...
A field test with the Elinchrom Three. Portable flash unit.
I was lucky to discover that Cody, a former model for my portrait courses, was in Cornwall on a brief visit. This was my first outing with an Elinchrom Three. The light was modified with a 1m strip light (elongated...
A departure from reality and AI
Quite the opposite from the Impromptu Portrait. This is a pre-planned, structured, and posed session of two subjects wearing fantastical garments and makeup. It’s not often I embrace theatrical concepts like this, but it was a highly enjoyable session and edit....
A Cornish Coastal Scene
This is a quite typical scene around Cornwall’s coastline and one of the reasons I love it here. I live in a fishing port close to Lands’ End, so I can reach either coast very easily. Usually twice a week,...
3D verses 2D relating to position
In portrait (1) we have positioned my darling friend’s lovely daughter against a particularly interesting, craggy rock that has set out some beautiful shapes. Placing someone against a flat vertical surface and shooting them at right angles immediately causes issues...
Oli and a Cornish Cove
I live my best life doing shoots like this. A crashing swell and a strong onshore wind provided a spray mist that floated behind Oli, creating a wonderful, hazy separation from the background. The Rotalux 1-metre strip (thin, elongated soft...
The Cornish coastline is perfect for garment photography
I love teaching photography like this as much as I love producing it. Alina Le Sève wore these awesome garments from The Market Cartel in Penzance, Cornwall. The shop owner, Dani, was once a very accomplished fashion model herself and...
Waves of Adrenaline
Not many would describe photographing waves as an adrenaline activity, but it was surging through my body while capturing the silky effects on a rock formation in a Cornish gully. A smooth rocky platform that offered the best viewpoint was...
Cornish shoot gains further success
Aside of one of Laurence Pangs beautiful portraits of Demelza being exhibited in Australia as a limited-edition print (See here). It has now also made the cover of the Professional Photo Online magazine under the editorship of the highly acclaimed photographic writer,...
A review of the new Elinchrom LED 100C lights in Cornwall
I have just written a fairly, comprehensive review of the impressive Elinchrom LED 100C lights for the ProfessionalPhoto.Online magazine which will be out soon. As a photographer who loves flash, I didn’t expect to be quite so captivated by them. My...
Cornish Cove’s yield beautiful waves for Photographers
Waves don’t have to be big to be beautiful as this wave of only four to five foot high illustrates. It’s forthcoming movement with its back spray and mist from an offshore wind and its back lit luminance, gives it...
Photography in challenging Cornish conditions
A shoot with a lovely friend in challenging conditions produced an image we both like. This shoot was during the winter, but similar conditions exist in the summer with the only primary differences being temperature and lower angles of light...
A demonstration in photographic lighting with model Kiah
Kiah was extraordinary as the model for this demonstration in high-key lighting. High-key is referred to as an image that consists of tones that are overall brighter than grey. Shooting white against white requires a good to advanced lighting discipline...
Waves make landfall in a Cornish cove
I could and often do, watch waves for hours. I usually take a flask of ground coffee and a tub of tasty food. It’s my simple utopia. Understanding a little of how and where waves will create photogenic formations combined...
Shutter Speed
What shutter speed should be used to capture the motion of a sea seems to be the Marmite of topics. There is as much like for that smooth silky effect as there is dislike. There is no right or wrong...
Endearing Charm
I captured some endearing portraits of Nisha recently in her charming coastal Cornish home.Drawing on Niasha’s beauty as well as an enchanting personality combined with gestures of culture, was an absolute pleasure. The technical aspects weren’t overly complicated. I used...
Keian’s Cornish Woodland Photography Shoot
It was a pleasure to work with this riveting man in a Cornish woodland on a slightly misty day. An aperture of f2.8 was chosen on my Fuji X mount lens at a focal length of 200mm (relative to 35mm...
Freddy
This simple but engaging image of Freddy was taken using the diffused light from a large window positioned behind me and therefore falling softly onto the frontal planes of Freddy’s face. The door panel created a great frame and combined...
Cornish shoot produces image for Australian Art Gallery
Tenacious determination is proving to be a successful formula for Laurence Pang. Laurence produced some beautiful work recently while working with the inspirational Demelza at her lovely mother’s Cornish home. Work that has gained the admiration of a Melbourn based...