Saint No. 2

Just finished this image. I'm really happy with how this one turned out. I believe that this image really captures the essence of the religious glow and the halo works quite nicely with it. I've been reading a lot about the halo as a icon on wikipedia, and think I will end up doing a few picture similar in this nature.

I believe the lighting is the strongest part of this photo and I'm glad that I did light test before the shoot because it made things so much easier. The cloth that is draped around the figure also turned out well as a result of this and makes the figure more three dimensional and real. The colors are also very strong and helps to separate the image from the background. The background color also brings to mind fire, as if the figure is surrounded or baptized by a holy flame.

Color Test for The Saint

Just got done with the color test last night. I'm really happy with how it turned out and have to say that I like it better then the black and white version. I think this new process of making pictures, that I'm using with this series, is turning out really well overall. Making the black and white copy first gives me a chance to get the contrast and exposure just right. Then I'm free to experiment with the colors and get everything just right. I think the hardest part about it is giving the color depth and layers like natural colors have. The skin tones are especially hard to reproduce accurately. Hopefully with practice I can make some really amazing stuff.

Light Test for The Saint

Last night I suddenly got the urge to do a picture but the problem was the next appointment I had for any model was two weeks away. So I decided to set up the lights and do another self portrait to figure out the lighting for my next shoot. The next photo in my series is "The Saint" (working title). The idea is actually inspired by some of Jan Saudek's images.

I was really please with how the lighting turned out for this, especially when I got it right the first try. I think figuring out the lighting setup ahead of time will help a lot when I do the actual shoot two weeks from now. Now I just have to decide whether to keep it in black and white or make it color.