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A few weeks ago I reached out to a local modeling agency to set up some test shoots. Agency test shoots are something that allowed me to experiment during shoots and I did them somewhat frequently before covid, but I haven't felt inspired to do many over the last two years, especially with agencies, mainly because the pandemic had a big impact on my mental health. A lot happened over these last two years that really shifted the coarse of my life, in some ways good but in many ways not so good. I still really miss the life I had before the pandemic and it's been a struggle just to get back a fraction of it. At the end of 2021 I started renting a room from my chosen family, and that started the process of healing and finding myself again, which eventually led me to feeling so much less worry in my life and much more energized and inspired to get people in front of my camera with the sole purpose of having a good time and making something (hopefully) beautiful at the same time. I decided to start at a run and set up four different test shoots over this last week. The reason I'm going in depth with this explanation is because I only realized today that it's been exactly two years now since I have felt this good and this optimistic about photography and life in general, before the pandemic really started affecting mine and everyone else's lives. To me that's significant because I was worried my life had gone completely off track for good, and sometimes I never thought I'd feel good again. I'm feeling much more optimistic again, and while these shoots don't necessarily visually represent that state of mind, they personally represent that shift in state of mind to me. That's all I really have to say about myself and will get to the images.
This model, Temple, was really great to work with. He brought amazing creativity to the shoot with his posing, expressiveness, and personal style. I feel like I haven't gotten this many good shots from a shoot in a really long time. All were lit using natural light and a 5-in-1 reflector disk, sometimes using the diffusion disk inside the reflector to diffuse the sun, and sometimes just using the direct sunlight for it’s sculpting effect. I edited most of these to somewhat match my favorite pair of rose-tinted sunglasses. The untied shoes, while likely going to be hated by some, was an intentional stylistic choice by the model and I really loved the playfulness/ youthful feel of it. I apologize for dumping so many images here at once.
Camera used was an original Canon 5D with a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens.
Beautiful images Daniel—energetic, optimistic and soulful as it seems you are becoming again. I am grateful that this post makes your journey a part of our journey. I love every one of these images.
Dneufarth wrote:
Beautiful images Daniel—energetic, optimistic and soulful as it seems you are becoming again. I am grateful that this post makes your journey a part of our journey. I love every one of these images.
Derek
Thank you so much Derek. I'm glad you like these and really happy to hear that some of my current feelings have translated into the photos.
These are so good bro! I really think some of your best work I have seen. Im glad you are getting back to where you want to be! Keep moving forward with passion!
I love men and women wearing hats Daniel! While all your compositions are super, I am really drawn to this person in a hat!
Women wearing hats is especially enticing!
Fine work!
Dan
J. Pow wrote:
These are so good bro! I really think some of your best work I have seen. Im glad you are getting back to where you want to be! Keep moving forward with passion!
Joel
Thank you so much Joel. Honestly I haven't felt that love towards my work like I am for my most recent shoots in a pretty long time.
Danpbphoto wrote:
Now that is one man in great shape!!!!
I love men and women wearing hats Daniel! While all your compositions are super, I am really drawn to this person in a hat!
Women wearing hats is especially enticing!
Fine work!
Dan
Thank you so much Dan. He brought a few hats, including a cowhide hate, but unfortunately we ran out of time before getting a chance to photograph him in it. Turns out this model only lives a few minutes from me, so we're already planning another shoot and I definitely want to get some with that hat.
Doc25 wrote:
Thanks for opening up Daniel, we often don't appreciate what people have gone through the last few years.
As far as the photos go, excellent set full of energy! Love the second to last one. I hope you feel recharged.
Thanks Doc. It's been really hard on all of us, but I'm glad things seem to be getting back to a fraction of "normal". I'm definitely feeling recharged.
This is magazine cover stuff. I love it! Loads of personality come through in every frame. I didn't even bother to look for technical things.
Also, I'm happy that you're happy, in an inelegant nutshell. I was similarly affected over the last three years and had my breakout happy moment last November. Sending good vibes your way.
Often times we don't get a backstory on the photographer, but it's obvious when someone is emotionally connected to the moment. The photos show confidence and the ability to trust to let one's personality show. This can only come from a photographer whose confident of an expectation. That should make us all hopeful. Nicely done.
