3 Problems and How to Overcome Them (With Phelan)

Phelan

Phelan and I have been shooting together for almost seven years. We met through Instagram. Inspired by her style and stellar Instagram feed, I commented on one of her posts asking if she’d like to shoot together. This was months before Instagram came out with direct messaging through the app, I had just purchased a camera, and hadn’t even graduated middle school.

We met up at the local recreational fields around sunset and took fun, poorly focused, backlit photos. They are some of my favorite.
Now in college, several years and hairstyles later, Phelan and I are still shooting, constantly switching up locations and styles.

These photos inspire me. Phelan is a savage, boss, of a women and the photos show it.

But no shoot comes absolutely free of dilemmas and in honor of the growth shown in this shoot, I figured I’d share some problems I, as a photographer, faced and how I handled them.

Problem 1: Lighting

This shoot wasn’t really a shoot. It was more of a “I’ll bring my camera for the hang” . Sometimes this is what produces the best photos, no stress involved.
Had I planned to shoot I would have tried my best to avoid shooting at 1pm on a bright, sunny day. Shooting under direct light can often produce a number of problems, harsh lighting and weird shadows being two examples. But, especially during busy seasons, you will eventually be faced with the dilemma of mid day lighting .

We started off shooting in a patch of woods in our town. The lighting was really harsh and seemed at first to wash everything out, making it difficult for Phelan to see. When we moved under the shade of trees, the leaves casted shadows across her face, and the bright light gave off a green hue. These are common problems I’ve faced while photographing, even during the “perfect” hours of shooting.

Here Are MY Tips:

• Move Around

  Don’t be afraid to move around to find the best lighting. Try different angles and positions. It can seem a bit intimidating to ask your model to switch sides or move around a lot but as long as you communicate well and keep it fun, it’s no big deal. They want good photos too!

  I find that having your subject back lit creates beautiful soft lighting during midday.

  It is important to note however, that some spots might not work. That’s ok too, you can move on or try to circle back around later in the shoot.

• Find Shade

  If the lighting is super harsh, I always recommend finding shade. Not super dense shade, you still want there to be light, but enough so that the sun is not casting strange shadows or fading out tones. This is especially helpful mid day.

• Bring in “Help”

  When shooting in bright light it can be beneficial to use other tools to work with the light. I personally don’t use reflectors but know they can be of great service when it comes to lighting (the only downside is that you will likely need somebody to hold it while you shoot). There are other creative ways you can “bring in help” though. My favorite trick? Nature! I love taking leaves, flower petals, rocks, etc… and shooting with them in front of the lens. It can help to manipulate the lighting and creates a unique photo.

• Shoot Lots

  This can be tricky if you are shooting on film or with limited storage (though I suggest you always bring back up memory cards) but I find that taking a good amount of shots saves my butt in the long run. Even if you don’t love the lighting, take a few more photos just incase. It’s not a great feeling going back to photos in post and realizing that you wished you’d taken more photos in one location.

• Be Creative and HAVE FUN!!!!

  When you can’t change it you gotta learn to work with it. Don’t be afraid to play around with different posses and lighting, find creative solutions to the issue of lighting. I like playing with shadows when I can’t get rid of them, creating and emphasizing contrast by using the harsh lighting to my advantage. Shoot around with it! Encourage your model to do interesting poses that will captivate viewers and work well with the lighting to create a large story. Have fun!!!!

Problem 2: Obstructions

As much as we wish it was so, the world doesn’t stop just because we are taking photos. This is especially true in cities where people crowd the sidewalks, and tourists fill the most popular areas. So how do you take photos in front of a cool wall while people scurry past, trash bins crowd the sides, and a man walks back and forth behind you? These are some of the troubles we faced.

Here Are MY Tips:

• Frame Well

  You don’t need the whole location to be clear, just where you are taking the photo. This is why framing is so important. Once you see a good spot its all about positioning. Move the model (and yourself) around so that they are framed well and with the backdrop you like. If there is something interfering with your photo you can always move to get it out of the frame or use a prop (like a leaf or cloth) to put in front of your lens and cover it.

• Move Around

  This is similar to my previous tip but it’s really important. Move around to get the best angles, often you will end up with more original photos doing this. I don’t just mean move side to side or around the location, I’m telling you to get higher and lower and diagonal and all over the place. I had Phelan stand on a bench, and I shot from below, so that you couldn’t see the garbage laying against the wall.

• Be Patient

  Sometimes you have just have to wait for somebody to pass or for an area to clear up. it’s okay to move on to another spot and come back or to wait 30 seconds for someone to move.

• Be Respectful

  I encourage people to keep shooting, even if it’s busy but it’s important to be aware that other people are trying to get through their day too. Be mindful of how much space you are taking up. While I often keep shooting and let people move around us, I also think it’s important to be aware of when this might not be appropriate. I, personally, try not to block sidewalks, and always let people pass. For instance, Phelan and I made sure to stay out of someone’s way as they moved their tools from the side of this building to his car. He was clearly just trying to do his job and I don’t want to make it any harder than it needs to be.

Problem 3: An Unwanted Audience

There’s the problems that may exist by people just scurrying by and accidentally photobombing, then there is the gross discomfort that can come from strange men (or women) stopping to watch, comment, or approach you and/or your model. This happens frequently to me, especially in cities, and can be a huge bummer. Phelan and I just ignored it and moved on but it can prove more complicated at times.

Here Are MY Tips:

• Be Safe

  This is the most important thing. Trust your gut. If someone is getting too close, too interested, or you are just getting an off feeling, walk away and try to go to a more public setting. I carry pepper spray with me, especially when shooting by myself. It shouldn’t be necessary but it is. Keep you and your models safe.

• Ignore It

  This is honestly my best tactic, especially for guys walking by. Don’t give them the satisfaction of your attention. You have a job to do, so keep doing it

• Stay Engaged With Your Model(s)

  It can be easy when faced with an uncomfortable situation to forget that you aren’t alone in it. Really, you should be doing the opposite. I find that when a shoot attracts unwanted attention it can isolate me and the model from one another. Don’t let this happen. Engage with your model, roll your eyes at the annoying men (they tend to be men from my experience), make a joke, and gage how they (your model(s) are feeling. Be supportive of one another, even as those around you are disruptive and negative.

Overview:

Have fun. That’s what this should all be about and I’m blessed to have people like Phelan in my life to remind me of it. Strive for growth and do so by really challenging yourself to make the best out of every situation (with or without a camera). The last tip I’ll leave you with is to simply click that shutter button and to keep clicking. You get better with practice, a lot of practice. Take it from me, you won’t get better if you don’t try.

Now go take some pictures!

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@aliviasobeyphoto

January 2018 Overview

January was 31 days... 31 days that felt like 360. While the majority of my new years resolutions slipped away under the pressure of school,life, and any other excuse I can scramble to find, my photography goals (for the most part) were maintained. I shot a lot and after a couple of weeks it was barely an effort to do. Yes the first 14 days of January meant skipping lunch, skipping school (sorry Mom), and many times meant skipping social events, it soon felt natural and just part of the routine.

What I learned.....                                                                                                                                  Not every photo shoot has to be super deep or conceptual but it always helps to plan in advance (some of these shoots were planned in December). Start with an idea of a photo and move forward, its totally okay to branch away from the starting inspiration as the shoot goes on. And NEVER EVER be afraid of trying new things! It's the challenges that offer opportunity for growth.

Throughout the first month of 2018 I had various ups and downs, days where I felt great about my photography and days where I felt awful. This month however was the most productive period of time I've had regarding photography. I have made several new and revised goals I hope to achieve in the upcoming year. But here's what to expect in the upcoming month...

• MORE BLOG POSTS
• one large conceptual shoot a month
• the rebirth and an explanation of my series "War Zone"
• a pretty big and likely deep shoot as well as an  explanatory blog post coming out early-mid March (MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!)
• videos?

Until then... here are some of my photos from this month

Self-Portraits; All the "Why?"s

I had this whole post written and organized in aesthetically pleasing subtopics with cute photos and memes. It took me a week to write but only a second to accidentally delete. That seems to be the way life works though, doesn't it? So here goes Take 2, and I'm going a completely different direction.

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I guess I should (re)start with the "why?". Why self-portraits? Why talk about them, why take them, why appreciate them.

First it's important to understand what a self-portrait is and how different they are from selfies. Above I have included the definition Google first provided me with. Notice that there is no "camera" mentioned. Self-portraits can be created through different mediums and with different tools and they are very different than selfies. One can take a self-portrait using a phone just as one can easily hold a camera yet only manage to capture a selfie. The difference is the "artist" part. In order for it to be a self-portrait it must be art and (though I admit this is my personal opinion) the best art, the real art, has a message, a meaning, and emotion. Raw, fleshy, emotion.

The beauty behind self-portraiture is that it's all your own, every step was bled on by you and you alone. Self-portraits requires a certain discipline and vulnerability that is not usually necessary on the photographer's part. And it can be uncomfortable. I feel safest behind a camera, when forced in front of the lens I feel stripped, bare, naked. This is the rawness mentioned above, this is what makes it art.

I'm not going to sit here and write as if my self-portraits are the best, or even close. If I give the impression of doing so then I am sincerely sorry. I don't know everything about self-portraits, I don't even know half of it, I only know as much as I've learned. But your self-portraits don't have to be good to be art. In fact they won't be at first, they might not be for a while, and they sure as hell will never always turn out right. The worst thing is when you put days, weeks, months even, devoting your time to developing one concept and shoot, just to set up your camera, click away, and not get a single shot right. It sucks but it'll happen. You live, you learn, you try again. And again. And again.

My best advice to anyone who wants to try self-portraits is to first start with a message. It doesn't have to be some huge metaphor relating red wine to the societal pressures put upon woman to be the perfect stereotypical worker while also being perfect cliche mothers. It can be small, maybe at first it should be small. But HAVE a message. At the end of the day, when you're photo is not properly focused, underexposed, and unbalanced, that message might be what saves you. I know it's what saved me. When I first started photography 2/3 of what I shot was conceptual and half of those were self portraits. I barely knew how to use manual mode, had no clue how to use tone curve, but struggling a severe battle, war even, with depression and anxiety, I was desperate to try to capture in photos, the emotions that had my tongue tied, that seemed unable to be explained. (I'll attach these photos below).

and holy shit how self-portraits can save you, they can help you feel sane, they can make your emotions tangible. It's beautiful, it's compelling. This is what captivates viewers and why you should appreciate them. Because chances are, those photos were ripped from the deepest part of the artist. That deserves to be appreciated.

I am not a patient person, I care way too much about what other people think, and (despite my many selfies) I do NOT like the way I look in photos. But I love self-portraits. They are difficult, they require time and they require thought, a lot of thought but the effort is what makes the reward so great.

If you're making excuses as to why you haven't tried taking self portraits yet, stop. Sure a tripod and fancy clicker timer thingy mabob are superrrr helpful but they aren't a necessity. A couple of books and a chair make for a great makeshift tripod and I still bring a prop half my size to stand up, focus, and throw aside just in time to get in the frame. 10 seconds is a surprisingly long amount of time to set up the perfect shot. You will take a hundred only to get one good photo but that's all you need. Yes, it is so very awkward and uncomfortable to stand in front of a camera running back and forth trying to click the timer and get back in time to still arch your back in some weird ass pose but that's okay. I've found that the most complex and successful portraits are the one's that were most awkward to set up. So no, I will not apologize to the random people just trying to walk their dogs who had to see me in the middle of a meadow, without pants, pretending to scream for ten minutes straight, because those photos were dope.

I hope this rant brought you something. I always love to hear feedback so leave a comment, never feel timid to start up a conversation with me (just prepare to hear super awkward jokes), and let me see your self-portraits by tagging @aliviasobeyphoto on Instagram.

Here are some of my recent self-portraits...

Of confusion, pain, closure, and more.