This editorial with Helena Ast was my first time working with Aputure continuous lighting. I wanted to explore a cinematic look through the light itself, and the resulting series was published as Elena in Beyondall Magazine.
Trying a different way to work with light
Using a light that stayed on let me observe the illumination on Helena while composing the photograph. I could look at the direction of the light, the shadows and how they changed with the angle, then adjust the frame around what I saw.
It gave this shoot a different working rhythm from a flash setup. I still needed to judge the photograph through the camera, but the light on the scene was visible between exposures.
Building the editorial look
In the opening portrait, a narrow band of light crosses Helena's eyes and the bridge of her nose, while much of her lower face remains in shadow. The light draws attention to her gaze.
The aim was a series with the atmosphere of a film still. Lighting was one part of that idea; Helena's expression, Liudmila's makeup and Olya's styling also shaped how the photographs read together.
The original magazine pages below show the results of that experiment. They keep the images in their published sequence, with the design and credits of the feature intact.
The team behind the photographs
Photography: Dmitry Bugaenko
Model: Helena Ast
Makeup: Liudmila Elkina
Styling: Olya Miller
I am grateful to the team for their work on the series and to Beyondall Magazine for publishing it. The feature is also a record of a new lighting approach I was exploring at the time.
Planning a portrait around a lighting idea
If a particular kind of light is what draws you to a photograph, that is a useful place to begin planning a shoot. Send me a few references and tell me what you notice: the shadows, colour, contrast or overall mood.
Explore my personal and creative portrait photography, or tell me about your idea. We can discuss a direction for the session and the preparation it needs.
