Book "The Belgian began to save the planet"
June 10th, 2009
A post to present a finished project for Etopia editions , this is the book "The Belgian began to save the planet" Portraits of women and men went into action near us by the sponsors Christos Doulkeridis Hats and Caroline.
Text of press release
On the one hand, there have been recent years an extraordinary leap forward in awareness of issues of ecology and sustainable development. Almost no one denies we need to address the pollution, social inequality, global warming, major epidemics, the consequences of the accumulation of waste, health problems associated with some economic choices or some manipulations genetic. On the other hand, we must acknowledge that our societies are not always ready to respond to these structural challenges. The task seems enormous. The answers often seem difficult, controversial, or even nonexistent. All this often leads to the feeling that the answer will come from elsewhere or later, and causes a reaction that is not (almost) nothing. This finding is contradictory to the basis of this book. Of course, it will fail to answer all questions. His only ambition is to show that close to home, women and men began to build practical solutions in most areas, from food to energy, through fashion, finance construction to save the planet. This book portrays some of those, known or less, have paved the way, hoping that it inspires others to follow. "
My participation in this project was to make half of the portraits presented in the book is 12 portraits (another photographer Jean Louis brocade not to mention his name, was occupied with other portraits presented) so I had to organize the various events and you make the images mostly directly on their respective workplaces. The constraint was to work in b / w
The ideal would of course bring them all in a studio but for reasons of schedule, it was impossible.
My first idea was to contextualize the portraits have an element that recalls the business of the person to take photos, I quickly realized that would at first very simplistic and a second time rather grotesque, Emilie Meesen a stethoscope (Nurse Coordinator of the street) and Olivier Marquet (Director of Triodos Ethical Bank) bank notes?
In short, I abandoned the idea to concentrate on getting out of portraits that are simple, open and natural with a look into the lens.
One thing I noticed during these meetings is that for most of these "personalities" are quite behind compared to their ideas that they go much further, my portraits would be in their image.
I chose to come back three portraits and give you more information on the shooting conditions and shoot.
Thomas the lean co-founder and director of news agency Alter
I met Mr. Lemaigre, in its offices in the heart of the town of St Gilles, since we had a little time, we made some different takes.
The first in daylight, with a skylight above the subject and a piece of white cardstock to lead just right, but while remaining in values very Low Key. (For all images from the book I chose to work directly in black and white in order to have a direct insight on the record)
The second is simply the light of day filtered through a Légé curtain on the right of the subject with a piece of white cardboard to avoid plugging the left side of the body and face.
The third is a light box (with a flash tristar cobra) and another with a flash cobra Snoot enough wins to make the bottom on the table.
Finally I decided to choose my first decision that ultimately is less open but a certain mystery and a certain class.
Info: 50mm F2, 400 iso, 1 / 100
Alain Hubert, Brussels mountain guide, explorer, founder of the International Polar Foundation
I met with Mr. Henderson in the premises of the Polar Foundation, after a quick round of identification, I found a dark wall with a window on the right of the subject and another window on the left to return.
I had very little time available Mr Henderson was returning from an expedition to Antarctica and had many obligations, I have done quite a few portraits "front" to finally select the 3rd image.
As already explained earlier article, I shoot b / w directly on the case for an overview, the RAW file remains in his suit in this case I really liked the picture in color
Info: 85mm F2, 800 iso, 1 / 125
Gunter Pauli, Brussels / Founder of the Japan Research Institute ZERI
Mr. Pauli was visiting Brussels has two round trips between Tokyo, I have seen in the lobby of a society in which he was to meet with leaders to establish a lighting based on two soft box (light on site was not sufficient).
I did a first test on what was available (plant) Mr. Pauli arrived, told me that he had time for a picture, I briefly explained what I expected in terms of attitude and expression, I activated the guests arrived and he thanked me.
In these cases, it has no right to error, why a test is very important
Info: 50mm F1.8, 400 iso, 1 / 250
In the end I am very pleased to have participated in this project and have done all these meetings.
Upcoming articles, Vote!
This article has come you now have the opportunity to vote for what you want to read, it goes in the right column, you can also follow me via Twitter (yes the old thing that comes to fashion without knowing why)
June 10th, 2009 at 12:16
portraits thomas Lemaigre out of joint just right!
June 10th, 2009 at 24:18
Very dark these portraits, it surprises me a little. Not too in your habits (especially the 1st and denier)
And a preference for the second color which makes it very good (blue eyes / blue shirt)
One question, how you choose to work in 50 or 85mm? Especially for the last picture where you have very little time actually.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:20
Beautiful portraits Benjamin (things change) in all conditions. Bravo!
Jun. 10th, 2009 at 12:20
I was amazed at the shot for Gunter Pauli.
within such a short shoot, and finally we can not even call it a delay, unbelievable.
Not knowing the lighting that you find there, you load a lot of material has to overcome different difficulties?
I shoot in a studio on Thursday with only a flash cobra (rather aggressive and noisy), and from what I said premises are quite dark, what advice or tips you can me provide for proper lighting?
(Equip D700 - 50mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.8)
Hi
June 10th, 2009 at 12:25
On the first subject that you present, I prefer the second photo at first. I like the attitude, the framing, light and background.
As for your test with the plant, it seems that it is given a very nice picture.
Concerning the technique of shooting in B & W in RAW, I do exactly the same thing when I want the b & w in the end. This effectively allows a quick overview.
Question (probably dumb) that came to the end of reading your article: your two b & w (where the other photograohe and yours) they are ultimately the same record?
Very good idea to vote for the next subject. Tilt interested.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:27
It's great to participate in projects like this. However, this must be difficult to achieve very nice pictures "on the job".
I commend this work without nets
Bravo!
June 10th, 2009 at 1:19
Waoooow beautiful portraits! I'm a fan!
)
Full compliance with Ben. In addition to considering the conditions of work we can say that you've "insured grâââve"
Waooow!
(I found just the left side of Alain Hubert too bright).
June 10th, 2009 at 1:46
Hello,
It's been a while since I was not passed in the corner .... and once you have committed a great article!
Belle highlighted!
June 10th, 2009 at 2:24
Congratulations on this series, again in a new genre, and you're doing really well
My own first tear! which I think must be due to the light of the skylights. Nothing beats a beautiful natural light properly operated and worked.
I suppose that given the time for each shot you did not dare film. The would you do if you had been sufficient time with each of them?
And finally I agree with Sophie on the issue made between you and the other photographer ..
June 10th, 2009 at 3:17
just beautiful!
very pro
June 10th, 2009 at 3:23
gk: yep, a real pure face and personality, it makes me want to reshoot
Eddie: I like the dark side, for it depends focal framing I am looking for the tight framing I prefer 85, which is less deformed
Thomas C: Thanks!
WeBmaliN: Ya not really incredible Mr. Pauli is a regular media, it gave me what I cherchrais has taken the first, for the material I prefer to work in available light, so I have no light I install something to work
http://www.photob.be/2009/02/02/eclairage-nomade-portraits-statik-dancing/
For your photos, I would work up a high sensitivity objot that opens and be as unobtrusive as possible!
Sophie: It's about choice, I like a lot the first
For the work of another photographer, our images and renderings are different, but this does not shock me
Tom: I like this kind of conditions I work under pressure
Bottacchi Guido: Thanks for the side pretty clear, it goes pretty well in print, and impressive given the dynamics of a D3 RAW, I could lower the brightness a bit
Jimmy: Thank you!
Alex: Yes it was an idea, but I prefer to be at ease with the media before testing on this type of project
June 10th, 2009 at 3:42
Another publication, not least féloches, champagne and petit fours!
Superb, especially the color version of the portrait of Alain Hubert white balance a bit cold fits the bill.
It should generate quite a fright to work quickly and very well with people like these? As you say, no room for error.
(Thanks to the orchid to have served as "lining light").
What happens to an artistic point of view the collaboration with another photographer, whose "foot" (given the pictures on his site) is different from yours?
Your projects are linked and do not look alike, progress and diversification, it's all good! Bravo.
PS: it has nothing to do with your work, but personally I think that the font chosen for the cover with the picture indicates.
PS2: I voted! (This season
)
June 10th, 2009 at 5:21
Good Game!
June 10th, 2009 at 6:06
The photograph selected by Mr. Hubert fate of the lot really. His face, his features, his eyes are all full of meaning, if you have the opportunity to reshoot swings above obviously.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:42
Wow, I taped the first direct rendering not blurred ... not sharp, not blurred net ... well it has not been easy to Farie sharpness on the eyes (mouarf)
Bonne continuation
Very nice B & W
Alain Hubert makes me think of an actor ... A U.S. real face.
The latter, one feels that the pro posed. You have seized on the bonnet time.
We'll meet you in the discipline which generate the maximum visitor and fan: THE PORTRAIT!
You manage
(For voting, will insist on the objectivity of the people ... you might have the 100% everywhere else)
June 11th, 2009 at 3:36
Excellent, very good job of. The first three have something really QWhat
June 11th, 2009 at 8:15
Beautiful pictures, really!
Different from what you normally do and that is what I like best!
Bravo, Ben!
June 11th, 2009 at 8:18
A large preference for the former, thank you to share these moments of creation.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:33
They are beautiful all Belgians! Bravo, great job, as usual!
June 11th, 2009 at 9:55
I found your amazing portraits. by far the most beautiful images seen on the web long.
great job!
June 11th, 2009 at 12:49
Rahhh is superb as always, what light management! and thank you for some explanation
June 12th, 2009 at 12:23
Ralala, it's still a shame to such coverage with such potential! I understand that the book could not focus on a personality, but as a mosaic and slobbering typo .. in short, is not the issue
Otherwise, I'm still as much a fan, I expect a new album with impatience, and when I see it is published, I devoured in minutes.
My favorite photo is the one you have selected Mr. Lemaigre, the lighting is really the character.
Bonne continuation
June 12th, 2009 at 1:57
Hello,
Incredible first picture. It changes what you do normally but it's still you. This is changing and in the right direction.
Really fantastic this first picture. It almost like the illustration, I am amazed.
You should actually at the reshoot. It is more than photogenic.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:25
The second black and white may be a little too frontal, white mass, but in fact it déchiiire color. The other two are really good, my preference is still the first. Super, then the light!