Underwater Dance Photo

Liz is a professional dancer with Planet Funk and is at University on a dance scholarship.

Lighting for this shot is 3 Ikelite 200 strobes. Two are on the camera, with the top one at 1/2 power and the bottom one at 1/4. There is a strobe+softbox out of the water on a boom over the pool.

F11 @ 1/125th ISO200

Hope you like it. Any and all comments/feedback welcomed.

Cheers

James

I REALLY like it, James! The brighter (although still subtle) top strobe gives the "feel" of being lit naturally from above. Beautiful shot, and I'm sure the model was ecstatic about it!

Although I personally like the tiny bubbles, you might "healing brush tool" those out -- and even the bit of reflection on the surface -- for an alternate version...so it isn't quite so apparent that she's in water, but just looks like she's floating in air. I don't mean to say you should muck up the whole shot, but after all, it IS "art" so you can do what you want with it. I just think both versions might be interesting...

Yes, I do like it.

Only comment I would make is that the lighting is not completely even, with lower body / leg lighting tending to fall off. This could be intentional, focusing the eye more on the upper body, but I suspect it is not. This is not so important for this composition, but if one wanted to emphasize the feet and legs as a dance form more, then I would add more and broader lighting.

Thanks for the feedback guys - I really appreciate it. I did in fact set my lower strobe one stop lower to do the uneven lighting, but I can see (in my mind) how it would look evenly lit. I'll have to try the grad ND filter in Lightroom and see what happens.

Bruce: re the bubbles, I have had both types of critique about them. Some people actually "need" to give the underwater feel and so they can believe it's underwater. If they are small and not covering the face, I sorta like them. I'll try healing it and post the other version when I get a chance.

Cheers

James

Here are the two re-worked images. The first uses the Lightroom ND filter to lighten the bottom. The second uses the ND filter + removal of all of the background in Photoshop.

So which is "best" - realizing that is a very subjective question :-)

Cheers

James

Interesting variations! I personally don't like the evenly lit one NEARLY as well as your original lighting. When she's evenly lit, it looks too "flat" (the photo, not the model ) - almost like she's lying down and you're shooting her from above. Your original lighting gives much more a sense of the top being "up" and the bottom "below". I think if you had the original lighting and the background stuff gone, that would be my personal favorite.

Later edit: Upon further reflection, I actually think the tiny bubbles are kind of nice, but the big tan reflection at the top is disturbing/distracting. You might try leaving the bubbles in, but just get rid of the surface reflections. If you do that, even the more fully lit bottom half one is nice, because the bubbles still give the viewer a frame of reference as to "which way is up."

I personally prefer the more evenly lit one, though it then begs a little more black space at the bottom that I might add. It is a hard call though, and I'm just being picky of course. Some of it depends what you're trying to do, are you trying to do an underwater portrait or bring out the form of the dancer.

I both agree and disagree with Bruce. I far prefer the more even lighting, but find the plain black background unappealing. I think removing everything but leaving the small bubble trail would look awesome.

Rgds

Jean.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think this is probably my favorite now - evened out the lighting, left the bubbles but smoothed out the rest, and added some room at the bottom.

The aim of this type of photo for me is to show motion and the fluidity of dance in 0 gravity, bright color, and beauty.

Cheers

James

PERFECT !!!

Lovely image James and this is defo the best one in my humble opinion...

Dive safe

DeanB

I like this, I think it is perfect. However,and this is really pickey, next time you use this mode try and get her to relax her face alittle. She appears to be holding her breath in her face, slightly puffed cheeks and tight mouth. She is beautiful and it is a great shot.

Awesome shot!

I like the bubbles personally.

I think the original edit is the best.

The top strobe looks fantastic!

Cal