• The last ray •
shot with Rolleiflex 3,5 on Ilford Delta Pro 100 film
model and make up: Eva Evian
thank you for watching, I scanned about 170 negatives this week, so there’s much more images coming (Scotland analog, and several beauty shoots analog)
see you soon,
Ludwig
A visual report of my 2017 Scotland motor trip.
As you know, I was originally much more involved with landscape photography than I do now, but I still enjoy being in wild open spaces, and I have a hard time forcing myself NOT to stop after every corner when on my motorcycle.
For those interested, this was my route: (© Routeyou)
All images taken with Canon 5Ds and Canon 17-40mm f4L, converted to black and white in Lightroom. You can click them for a better view.
for analog pictures from this trip, start here
thank you for watching, I used a small kit of extra gear on this trip, a mini tripod, next I’ll do a short review of it.
ludwig
• Lady Madonna •
shot today in a remote castle in Tournai, Belgium,
lots of thanks to the owner of the place, and to my model of course.
sometimes all falls into place and beauty is the result of it.
Model and make up: Eva Evian
styling and photography: Ludwig Desmet
shot on Canon 5Ds with Canon 135mm f2 – ISO 200 f2.8 1/250s
thank you for watching,
Ludwig
Goodlightmagazine, an online magazine specialised in photography lighting techniques has published an article by me about photographing nudes with available light. It contains a lot of examples, what to look for in a location, some basic rule explanations and very well crafted light diagrams.
make sure to check it out here: http://www.goodlightmag.c
just fill in your email address and you’ll be granted a free download of the current issue.
Personally I’m not very fond of the magazine layout, but the content is very good 😉
a sample of the first two pages of this 9 page editorial below:
best,
Ludwig
I shot this series of images in February, it took me some time to scan and develop the negatives, but here they are at last. I hope you like the story, I loved making it.
A big thank you to Rachel, for being a very patient model, on this cold and dull day. To Nathalie, for being my assistant, model hairdresser, camera-crew and guide. To Home Providentia, for giving me another opportunity to shoot at this unique location.
All images taken on Rolleiflex 3.5 camera with Kodak TMax100 and TMax400 film. Reproduced with a Canon 5Ds and Canon 100mm F2.8L IS macro, developed in Lightroom and Photoshop.
• teddybear blues or … the story of self realisation •
behind the scenes video of this shoot here: Shooting with the Rolleiflex
thank you for watching
ludwig
It is becoming a bad habit of mine, visiting an exhibit at the very last moment.
So unfortunately again, this exhibit is over (till april 30th 2017), but he will be on show again in Brussels, really soon
Last Saturday I had the immense pleasure of visiting the exhibit of Christian Coigny in Tournai, Belgium. The exhibit was hosted by Event Particulier (www.eventparticulier.com) in the wonderful location of ‘Domaine de Graux’, where the organisation runs an event and exhibit centre since about two years from now.
Although I knew the work of Christian since quite some time (to be seen at http://christiancoigny.com) It has been a very joyful experience to see his prints in real life. The size of the prints varies from I think about 30×45 cm, over some larger 40×60 cm prints to about 2 m in size. All except for the largest sizes are genuine analog prints. Some 80 works were on display, all but 2 were black and white. Editions vary from a number of 30 for the smalles works, to 10 for the largest prints.
Both his ‘nature morte’s’ and his nudes are fantastic in terms of context, composition and light, and show an absolute mastery in all aspects involved. I was very charmed with the seemingly simple contents of the artworks, and with the almost out of this world serenity they express.
I decided to buy the book, and as this was the last weekend of the exhibit and the artist was present, I had it signed by Mr. Coigny. We had a short but interesting and very enjoyable discussion about photography, about men photographing nude women, and our (especially my) doubts and motivations. Very inspiring and interesting. We laughed a lot.
One quote I will gladly share with you:
“No matter if you know where you are going or not, you will eventually get there!”
Christian Coigny.
a portrait of the master:
For a little late 20’s movie drama 😉
Model and styling: Rachel Roose
Props and light: one single square softbox and decorated glass door.
thank you for watching,
ludwig
hi there,
just a short message to let you know that I have been published with a short interview and a series of images in ‘modellenlandmagazine’. The magazine offers a platform for models, photographers, stylists and make up artists to showcase their work.
you can read, and especially watch the issue here:
http://www.modellenlandmagazine.com/issue22-4
my interview starts on page 210
it is always good to see that models bring their own ideas and clothing along on a shoot.
Next to being a source of variation and new ideas, it can also be a challenge do make something work that was not really in your mind-set when you started the shoot. We had shot early that afternoon in ‘the orphanage’, a huge former orphanage I guess, now rented as guesthouse for large groups. The weather was very dull and grey, and besides that it was raining and cold. Not really a nice environment to be in as a model. Rachel also brought some ‘Charleston inspired’ clothing and accessories, and we tried them out in my own home space. As there was very little light, and I wanted to create an evening atmosphere, I switched on the ambient lights in the hallway and staircase. These lights being very dim and not really at an ideal height for lighting a model. I rather not use flashes as they make the setup cumbersome and slow, but here I could not do otherwise, so I also installed two monobloc studioflashes. You clearly see the effect of one light (right of the model – 80cm octa) the other one is left of me, (60×60 softbox) in the room next to the hall way (there’s a triple entry door with glass inserts that filters the light softly into the hallway). The flashes are both at low power settings since I still wanted to use a rather wide aperture, for less depth of field. there’s a light setup at the bottom of this post.
the image is shot at 1/125s f2.0 ISO200. Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm Art. By using flashes I managed to dim the daylight even further, to an acceptable level that just keeps a small reminder of the structures in the window framework at the end of the hallway.
A big thank you to Rachel, for being my model on this day, and to Nathalie, my lovely assistant.
light setup:
“The sun rises not to be mediocre, but to shine; so should you.”
– Matshona Dhliwayo –
from the session with Riona.
hair and assistance: Nathalie
2,5s – f/11 ISO 200
Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG Art
… and then she started wondering, why she didn’t get these letters he promised to send her. Was he killed in battle? Had he forgotten about her, or probably he couldn’t find the time to write to her. These questions filled her with doubt and restlessness, even more because she was unable to reach to him …
Shot on a one-to-one workshop with Sacha Leyendecker in his available light studio.
Model and make up: Rubia Stri
Photography: me for sure.
shot on canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG A
settings for the main image: 1/80s f2.0 at ISO800
and then especially for Valentine’s day, complete series:
What I’ve learnt from the workshop:
Don’t be afraid to shoot at higher ISO settings if you need to to keep your shutter speeds safe. Play with light to create volume and atmosphere. Get some music into your studio to set a good mood. Create visual triangles in your images for dynamic compositions. Use props to create a setting and invite the viewer to imagine his/her way into the story.
What I didn’t agree on with Sacha (sorry Sacha, I think our styles are rather different, so the approach is different too): he told me to just have the model do whatever she likes to do, and what she feels comfortable with. I tend to interfere more with my model, and direct in certain ways (I also often work with non-professional models, maybe that’s why. Pro models are very much aware of what they look like, and how to move to get good shots).
I was very pleased with the results of the workshop. I was happy to meet Rubia, who is from Brussels by the way, and I had a very pleasant day for sure! Thank you Sacha, thank you Rubia!
thank you for watching.
• The Scream •
Canon 5Ds with Canon 135mm f2.0
1/50s f2.8 ISO320
thank you for watching,
soon two exhibit reviews and a Valentine story 🙂
best,
ludwig
suddenly her hair moved as a light veil before her eyes …
• The veil •
model and make up: Rubia
Shot on location in Köln
Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG A
1/200s f2.0 ISO800
thank you for watching,
• Pure •
Model and make up: Riona
Assistance and hair: Nathalie
shot on location in Ronse by me
Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 A DG
1/50s f2.0 ISO400
thank you for watching,
ludwig
• Summer Breeze •
flash back to those hot summer days of 2016
Model: Eva
Make up: Danitsja
Hair and assistance: Nathalie
Shot on location by me (Tournai – Belgium)
Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 A DG
1/500s f2.5 ISO100
‘mist’ is the dutch word for fog, I think i goes well together with the meaning of ‘mysterious’, hence:
• MYST •
click for bigger image,
image taken on a dull and cold 9th of January, in Flanders, Belgium.
Fujifilm x100T – between 1/8 and 1/30 s f6.3 ISO800
Thank you for watching, ludwig
• The Spirit of Ecstasy •
Model and make up: Riona
Hair and assistance: Nathalie
photography: me 🙂
thank you for watching.
with Rubia
These images were taken on a ‘available light’ workshop with Sacha Leyendecker in Köln.
He has a great available light studio, and gives plenty workshops throughout the year. Be sure to check his site here. Main goal of this one on one training day was to review my habits and to try to learn some more about light usage. I made use of the available -lockers-on-wheels for this setting and Rubia acted perfectly as a stand in worker. All images Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG A. All images f1.6 at 1000ISO, varying shutter speeds.
Model and make up: Steffi Rubia Stringsi
photography by me
thank you for watching.
ludwig
Remember ‘Pearls’ ? Wow, one and a half year ago already. Time to meet Pearls II, with beautiful Eva this time. Hope you like it.
• Pearls II •
Canon 5Ds with Sigma 50mm f1.4 A DG. 1/80s f2.0 ISO100
Shot on location in Tournai – Belgium.
Model: Eva
Make up: Danitsha
Assistance: Nathalie.
Photography: ludwig desmet
