247.366 The Reoccuring Dream

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247.366 The Reoccuring Dream
247.366 The Reoccuring Dream

My experimentation with Cherry Blossom continues.

The previous shot was taken the day before, I was wearing a pink patterned dress I'd found the perfect set of Cherry Blossom trees, and got permission to use them, and then- there I was.

I can tell you the shoot itself did not just come together as I expected it would. I just couldn't get it right, it wasn't really making any sense- the location was there, I was ready, I had all my kit ready- but I was getting nothing.

I realised at the end of the hour, I needed to go back the next day and try again. My dress didn't look right, it was too garish, the pose was all wrong, I just looked clunky.

This image is as a result of the next day shooting. I'm not massively thrilled with this one either, but I did reach some conclusions- when shooting a portrait, the subject is important and the subject has to be the person (or me), if the location becomes the focus, then the subject is in direct competition with it and the whole frame becomes confusing. I've seen photographers who manage to make models look elegant in ballgowns in front of the blossom but I know this is not my aesthetic at all and could only be done in an ironic way which still wouldn't really be strong enough to work.

It's a bit like Christmas Trees, every year I consider doing a Christmas Tree shot- like people used to do back with film cameras, where I stand in front of it- but every year I don't because I just look clunky and it all feels awkward- the only one that ever worked was the ironic one where I posed as the Wicked Witch of the West.

My conclusions are- the location has to be a clear backdrop and if the subject is interacting with it, then the story needs to be clear or at least strong in terms of composition. Without that balance it's always going to be a fight within the frame.

I've gone heavy with the edit on this to try and emulate the flatness of a film image.

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Taken on: April 22, 2024
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