ErikHey guys! I'm hoping that 2017 is treating you guys well. For me, there have been a lot of work projects that are keeping me busy. Even though I'm managing those projects, I'm not feeling as stressed as before. I am taking advantage of my improved work-life balance by taking several photography courses this semester. I may have overdone it though. At the moment, I'm taking three courses: History of Photography, a software class furthering my skills in PhotoShop and Capture One, and a Portrait Photography course. I'm a little concerned that I'm going to feel overwhelmed as the semester proceeds, but I'm enjoying the classes at the moment.
Of course, I'm excited about my Portrait Photography course. It will help me with posing as well as lighting. If anything, it will give me time to actually experiment with lighting, posing, and image processing while have some instructors to critique my techniques. I'm also hoping to further develop my artistic vision this semester, but we shall see how that ends up going. Nonetheless, I'm definitely excited about having the opportunity to work in a studio on a weekly basis with access to a lot of photography equipment. That is definitely feeling like a dream!
As we roll into February, I'm definitely hoping to set up some additional shoots with some male models. I'm actually planning a trip to San Antonio next month and hoping to work with some guys from the area. So yeah, if you're in the San Antonio area and would like to shoot, send me an email and we can see about getting something set up.
Erik
Anyway, on to the reason that you guys are here - Erik. I will say that I absolutely loved working with Erik. He was a first time model, but took cues extremely well. It was definitely easy to talk with Erik throughout the shoot, including while he was completely nude. Of course, that signaled to me that he was completely comfortable with his body. Of course, he told me with a smile that his wife talked him into responding to the ad. I'm definitely glad that she sent him my way!
Street Clothes
Like with the other shoots, I began by photographing Erik in the clothing that he wore to the shoot. Yep, he wore a black t-shirt and a pair of nylon track pants. I will say that I normally find track pants to be annoying, but Erik actually made them appealing. I ended up liking the overall look as presented in the image below, but I definitely took several images of Erik shirtless while just wearing the track pants. The clothing definitely fits with his overall athletic look.
Of course, I love the pose in the image. I like the subtle curve in his body as he rest the majority of his weight on his left leg and how the illusion of a counterbalance is present in his right shoulder. I also like the natural positioning of his left hand on his hip and the angle created by his arm. Finally, I like the tilt of his head to continue the slight s-curve created by his body in this pose. Of course, I've seen and used this pose before, but I definitely like the way that Erik highlights the pose in the image.
Additionally, I like the lighting in the image. Like usual, I'm using a two light system for the shoot, as evident in the catchlights in his eyes. I will say that I like how the light falls across his body and picks up some interesting details, such as the veins on the back of his hands and up through his forearms. I also like how the light falls across his face and makes his eyes pop. And, of course, I like how the light falls on his clothing and separates it from the black background.
For those reasons, it was definitely easy to select the image below to highlight in this section.
Portrait
I will say that I'm finding myself in a unique position. As I'm working through my Portrait Photography course, I'm redefining my meaning of a portrait. What I may have once considered portraits are not necessarily true portraits. Well, portraits in the classical and accepted definition. Because of that, I'm taking a hard look at my portraits and evolving my definition. Of course, I'm hoping to have some improved portraits by the end of the semester, but I'm still going to highlight some of my favorite portraits, in my opinion, from my previous shoots.
The image below is my favorite portrait from the photo shoot with Erik. Starting with the pose, I like how his arms work to direct the viewer's eye towards Erik face as well as the framing that is created by both arms. Additionally, I love the shallow depth of field in the image and how both arms are out of focus while his face is completely sharp.
Of course, I love his serious facial expression. More importantly, I love how his eyes turned out in the image. As you can see from the catchlights, I'm still using a two light system. It definitely helped to make his eyes pop, but also created some interesting highlights, mid tones, and shadows throughout his face. It also helped to create some separation between his arms and the dark background. In the end, I loved how the lighting highlighted his features.
Underwear
I will say that I'm a fan of the Papi underwear brand. I love their bright, bold colors and patterns. More importantly, I love how those intense patterns translate into black and white. Sure, I love how certain models can do justice to the name brand briefs, but I love starting with the briefs and figuring out how well a model will look in them.
Of course, Erik pulled off the look well. I love how the pattern of the Papi boxer briefs highlighted the curves of his lower body while also highlighting his trim waist. Like I said, I was definitely happy with the way that Erik filled out and modeled the boxer briefs.
More importantly, I love the pose in the image. Starting from his lower body, I love the slight turn of his lower body. It helps to provide some depth to the image, especially as it creates some separation from the background. Moving up, I definitely lower the slightly further turn of his upper body towards the camera. It helps to create some interesting diagonals, particularly across his shoulders and collar bones. And, finally, I love that he's look start at the camera with his intense stare. Yeah, I'm definitely a fan of the pose and love how it turned out in the image.
Favorite Image from the Photo Shoot
For me, I absolutely love the image below. Starting with the composition, I like how he's off center. It creates an interesting dynamic between the positive and negative space as well as the lightness of his body and the darkness of the background. Additionally, I love how his left arm and tattoo are at the center of the image and serves to guide the viewer's eyes up to Erik's face.
In addition to the dynamics of composition, I love the pose in the image. There's definitely a sense of modesty present in the image as Erik shields his genitals from the viewer's eyes. This further accentuated with downward cast of his face and the closed eyes. Additionally, I love the slight turn of his body as evident in his thighs, stomach, and shoulders. That turn helps to create some visual depth and interest.
With all of the elements coming together, it was definitely easy for me to select the image below as my favorite image from the photo shoot.
Closing
I absolutely loved working with Erik throughout the shoot. He was a little on the quiet side, but very polite and took cues extremely well. Of course, I'm definitely happy with the images that came from the photo shoot and several of them have become my favorites from my entire catalog. Like I said, I'm extremely happy that his wife talked him into answering my ad! I'm definitely hoping to work with Erik again at some point this year! I'm definitely looking forward to creating some new impressive images with him! You can see of my work with Erik at http://www.reyjphotography.com/erik.
Again, thanks for taking the time to check out the blog entry and the images from my photo shoot with Erik. I definitely appreciate it that you guys are taking the time to scope out my work!
If you guys want, you can also check out my Instagram account at http://www.instagram.com/reyj,photography. I tend to post images daily!
If you are interested in setting up a shoot or letting me know what you think about my work, you can email me at [email protected]!
EmilianoHey guys! I'm hoping that the start of 2017 is treating all of you well! For me, there are currently some trying folks in my life, but I'm making an effort to be happy and not let things get to me. Given that, I am spending more time focusing on the positives and attempting to do right by certain folks. Nonetheless, I still have some high hopes for the upcoming year, especially when it comes to photography.
As I mentioned, I hope that 2017 is a pretty good year for me in terms of photography. As such, I'm making an effort to continue with my photography degree and hold more photo shoots throughout the year. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to be starting classes up again. Yep, I'm going to be taking a portrait photography course; a survey of photography and how it has developed; and some software classes to bump up my skills in Lightroom, PhotoShop, and Capture One. It might be a little stressful because I'm still working full-time, but I'm not in a terribly stressful position and can actually have a pretty decent work-life balance, which I have heard is very important for some.
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to the photography courses. Sure, I'm a little apprehensive about the end of the semester print show already, but I'm looking to further expand my skill sets and hone my creative vision. Either way, I'm looking forward to the courses and the photographic opportunities that 2017 potentially brings!
Emiliano
On to the reason that you guys have stopped by for - Emiliano. It was definitely fun to work with Emiliano throughout the shoot. I will say that I was definitely interested in Emiliano's overall look, especially with the general moodiness that was present in his facial expression. It was definitely easy to photograph him.
Street Clothes
As with every shoot, I photographed Emiliano in the clothes that he wore to the photo shoot. In this instance, he was wearing a black shirt and these black running shorts. Sure, it's not the most intriguing set of clothing, but I ended up liking how they looked on him and how they stood out against the black background. Yeah, I normally wouldn't photograph black on black, but I ended up liking how it looked overall.
I will say that the image below is definitely one of my favorites from the photo shoot. I love the pose in the image, even if it is one that is seen over and over. However, I like how his left arm, as it wraps around his stomach, gives the viewer a sense of his slim waist. It also helps to highlight the muscles in his forearm as well as his bicep. Additionally, I love how his head is tilted to one side to create some visual interest as well.
Of course, I love the lighting in the image. Sure, I love how the light highlights the muscles and veins his arms, but I'm partial to how the lighting highlights the muscles in his neck as well as his facial features. Yeah, I like how the light creates these beautiful highlights and soft shadows in the tendons and muscles on display near his neck. However, it's definitely the soft light gracing his face that instantly drew me to the image. Sure, it's not dramatic, but there is something about the softness that makes me pause each time that I see the image.
Portrait
Of course, as I proceed through the upcoming semester, I'm hoping to improve on my portraits. However, I'm still happy with several of the portraits that I have done in the past, including the one below. Yeah, I'm definitely partial to this portrait of Emiliano. As with the image above, I'm definitely partial to the lighting in the image. Yeah, it doesn't have the flair of split lighting, but there is a certain charm to it. Either way, I like the highlights, mid tones, and subtle shadows created as the light washes over his facial features.
Additionally, I like the details in the image. Yeah, for some reason, I like the smaller details that are on display within the image. For instance, I like the details in his eyebrows and eye lashes, which is probably weird. However, it's definitely the finer details present in his hair that definitely draws my attention. I like that you can see in the shave portion as well as the longer, wavier strands. Yeah, for some reason, my eye is always drawn to those details in a portrait. Granted, I love the expression and the pose as well, but I also love being able to see the finer details within a portrait. That's just me though....
Underwear
As with my other shoots, I photographed Emiliano in a variety of underwear. There are several images of him posing in a variety of underwear, but I ended up choosing the image below as the one to highlight. Of course, I ended up cutting a white tank top to make it shorter but maintaining the jagged edges from the quick cut. Of course, I also like how the briefs, particularly the mesh portion with the printed pattern, stand out against his tan skin. The pose definitely helps as his cocked hips adds some visual interest with one side of the briefs being higher than the other.
However, it's definitely the pose that drew me to the image. I definitely love the lines that is created from his raised arms and how those lines draws the eyes down his chest through the tank top and finally down to his hips and thighs. I also like how his arms frames his head in the image. Finally, I like how that outline of his body stands out from the dark background.
Nude
Of course, as with other models, I photographed Emiliano in the nude. Working around Emiliano's comfort level, I like how this image turned out. While he didn't have a problem with frontal nudity, he asked that we be creative when it came to his chest area. In this instance, I like the overall relaxed pose. I like how his right arm rests against his right knee as well as the lines that his raised right leg creates. Additionally, I like details in the relaxed pose of his fingers as well as the muscles and veins leading to his toes. It's definitely one of my favorite images overall, especially with the relaxed pose and the somewhat serious facial expression.
Finally, I love the lighting in the image. This is getting a little closer to my typical use of dramatic lighting, but not quite there. Nonetheless, I love how the lighting caresses his body and creates a series of highlights, mid tones, and shadows. In particular, I like how the lighting highlights his facial features. Yeah, I'm definitely in love with the lighting in this image.
Favorite Image from the Photo Shoot
As much as I loved the image above, the image below was my overall favorite from the photo shoot. As with the image above, I absolutely love the lighting in the image. I like how it highlights the muscles and tendons around his neck and collar bones, but I absolutely love how it highlights his facial features. Yeah, I definitely like the lighting in the image, especially with how it highlights individual strands of his hair.
Of course, I like the pose as well. There's definitely a sense of vulnerability in his facial expression that is appealing as well. However, I like lines that his arms create as they encircle his left leg. Additionally, I like the details from the shape of his fingers to the veins on the back of his hands to the tattoos gracing his body. Overall, the pose, the lighting, and his facial expression came together to make this image my favorite from the photo shoot and one of my favorite images from my entire catalog.
Closing
Overall, I liked working with Emiliano throughout the shoot. I'm definitely happy with the images that we created during the shoot. If you would like to check out some of the other images from the shoot, they can be found at Emiliano's Gallery. Of course, Emiliano was definitely like a siren as I ended up photographing him three different times, including one last time before he ended up moving to the West Coast.
Overall, I would definitely recommended working with Emiliano. You can find him on Instagram at The Sound of Milo or at Model Mayhem.
Again, thanks for taking the time to check out the blog entry and the images from my photo shoot with Emiliano. I definitely appreciate it that you guys are taking the time to scope out my work!
If you guys want, you can also check out my Instagram account at http://www.instagram.com/reyj.photography. I tend to post images daily!
If you are interested in setting up a shoot or letting me know what you think about my work, you can email me at [email protected]!
Rex RiderHey guys! Well, I'm embarrassed to say that it's been a while since I maintained the website - almost three months. It's been a crazy couple of months - new boss, refocusing on just one job, and the holidays. Sure, there has been some stressed reintroduced into my life with the new boss, but I did have an opportunity to take my first trip to Las Vegas! The neon lights, the Cirque Du Soleil shows, Zombie Burlesque, and the shows at the Bellagio Fountains were some of the highlights. I'm definitely hoping to return to Las Vegas at some point. Hell, I'm hoping to work with some male models while I'm in Las Vegas next time!
I haven't really had a lot of time for my photography these last couple of months, but I'm hoping to get back to it in 2017. Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to holding several photo shoots throughout 2017 starting in January. Of course, I'm wanting to work with several of the guys that I have photographed before, but I'm also looking forward to working with some new guys. Particularly, I'm planning to go on some trips in 2017 and working with some guys in those locations. It would be interesting to say the least! But yeah, I'm hoping to hold more photo shoots in 2017 and share those images with all of you!
Anyway, on to the reason that you guys are here.
Rex Rider
When Rex answered my call for models, I was definitely interested in his overall look. His boyish smile and dimples instantly charmed me. However, it was the personality that showed through his email that drew me in. Sure, I may have been reading into the email, but the text carried a sense of confidence and a hint of his sense of humor. Furthermore, from that initial communication, he was bringing forward his own ideas for the photo shoot. It definitely intrigued me and filled me with excitement about the images that we could create together.
Rex was a professional and suggested ideas and potential poses throughout the photo shoot. When he arrived at my place, he brought several changes of clothes that we had agreed upon. I definitely enjoyed photographing him dressed in his construction worker gear, including the hard hat and tool belt. I also was able to photograph him in the clothing that he used when he engaged in domination activities - black leather chaps and a cat-of-nine tail whip. It was definitely an interesting photo shoot, but I loved the images that came from it!
Street Clothes
Rex works in the construction industry around town. When he mentioned that he could pull off the "sexy construction worker", I definitely jumped at the chance to photograph him in that gear. In the Rex Rider Gallery, I have several images of him dressed in his jeans, bandana, tool belt, and even his white hard hat. I will definitely agree with him in stating that he definitely can pull off the look. However, it's the image below that turned out to be my favorite from the set.
I definitely love the pose in the image. The slight turn of his body, as evident in his shoulders and chest, gives the image some visual depth. Additionally, I love the downward tilt of his head and the relaxed facial expression. Overall, I love the simple pose because of how beautifully it displays the strength and power evident in his body. I also like how the tool belt and the large pouch seems to counter balance his body and create some visual weight on the right side of the image.
And in discussing the pose, it's also important to talk about the lighting in the image. Like in most photo shoots, I'm using a two light set-up in the image below. I do like the softness of the light and how it caresses his body. Unlike my other images, there is a soft gradual transition from the highlights to the shadows across his body. In fact, that are few true dark shadowed areas in the image. However, the light still highlights the muscles in in chest as well as his abs. I also like how the light highlights the muscles and veins in his biceps, forearms, and the tops of his hands. Overall, I'm very happy with how the lighting and pose came together to create a great image.
Portrait
As I was looking through the finished images, I had some trouble coming up with my favorite portrait from the shoot. So instead of just highlighting one image, I decided to highlight two.
The first image came from the middle of the photo shoot. I ended up choosing the image below because of the overall composition. I am a fan of profiles and seeing how the positive space interacts with the negative space. In this instance, I love how Rex's chiseled features (the shape of the back of his head, his nose, lips, and chin) stand out prominently from the dark backdrop. I also like how the bend of his arm mimics the shape of his nose to create some repetition. As with his facial features, I like how his arms clearly stands out from the dark background.
Overall, I just like the interplay of the positive and negative spaces within the image. To me, it creates a striking image that gives me pause and my eyes trace the lines of his head and upper body. It's definitely one of those images that I pause to take a few moments to look at before moving on.
The second portrait that I ended up liking from the shoot came from the end of the photo shoot. I absolutely love Rex's relaxed pose as he leans against my textured wall. It's a simple portrait, but it definitely stops me in my tracks as I try to remember what Rex was looking at. As with the previous image, I like how his body is set apartment from the background, even if the texture is visible in the highlights and shadows.
I do like the lighting in the image. Specifically, I like how the light shifts from highlights to shadows across his face. Furthermore, I like how the light makes his eyes standout in the image. Overall, I'm very happy with how the relaxed portrait turned out.
Underwear
As you guys know, I photograph my male models posing in a variety of underwear. Of course, Rex was no exception. However, the image that I ended up choosing to highlight for this portion of the photo shoot comes from the beginning of the shoot and is not your traditional male underwear model pose. Well, maybe it is. Either way, the underwear is not necessarily on full display, but it is evident in the image below.
There's a teasing element in the image as Rex is unzipping his jeans and spreading the fly apart. It's classic seduction and teasing at it's finest, and I absolutely wanted to capture it in an image. I absolutely love how the right side of his fly leads the viewer's eye up to the waistband of his boxer briefs and directly to the "Hanes" name. Finally, I love how the black cotton of his boxer briefs contrasts nicely against his pale skin and the tones of his ripped jeans.
Overall, I'm happy with the way that the image turned out. While there are several images of Rex posing in a variety of underwear that I could have chosen from, it was definitely easy to select the image below to highlight here. It's definitely one of my favorite images from the photo shoot with Rex.
Favorite Image from the Photo Shoot
I absolutely loved working with Rex throughout the photo shoot. We were able to create a variety of looks and feelings throughout the shoot. However, when I was going through the images to select my overall favorite image to highlight, I couldn't decide from two very different images. So instead of trying to decide which one to highlight, I decided to share both of them.
The first one comes from the end of the photo shoot. In some of the previous photo shoots, I had been playing with the idea of capturing lifestyle images. Of course, I'm not entirely sure if I am managing to capturing those types of images based on the true definition of the style, but I'm capturing imagined slices of life occasionally. In the image below, I wanted to capture a relaxed Rex lounging completely nude in bed.
I definitely love Rex's pose in the image. I love the implication of Rex's height in the image, but also how his body is displayed in the image. As I first look at the image, I find myself instantly drawn to his lower stomach just above the intersection of his bare right thigh and his sheet-covered left thigh. I'm not sure why eye instantly focuses on that area, but it's a good starting point to explore the rest of Rex's body. Following the line created by the ridges of abs just above his navel, I'm drawn to his slightly shadowed face and his arched arms. Yeah, I definitely love the interplay of the intersecting lines as well as the highlights and shadows crisscrossing Rex's body.
Additionally, I love the soft light that graces Rex's body in the image. While there are highlights and shadows, they are not too extreme. In fact, I love how the majority of his body, and image, is a blanket of soft gray tones. It helps to create a softness in the image as well as a sense of tranquility throughout the image. Overall, between the handling of the compositing, lighting, and editing process, it's easy to see why the image below is one of my favorites from the photo shoot with Rex.
The second image that I loved from Rex's photo shoot is below. It's a completely different from the image above. While I'm definitely fascinated with the overall look of the whip, the black bandana, and the leather riding chaps, there's also a sense of restrained strength present in the image. Moving beyond the elements of a lifestyle, my attention is definitely drawn to the overall composition of the image.
To start off, I love the lighting in the image. In particular, I love the sliver of light present on the right side of his body. For me, I love how it serves to provide some separation of his body from the background and the hanging leather straps of the whip. Additionally, I love how the light highlights the muscle definition throughout his back, shoulders, and arms.
However, I'm mostly drawn to Rex's pose in the image. As with several of the images in this collection, I'm drawn to the interplay of the positive and negative spaces in the image. Particularly, I love how the outline of the left side of his body stands out in stark contrast to the darker background. My eye easily follows that outline from the top of his hand resting on his head down to the bottom edge of the image. It's definitely a beautiful line that is also mirrored in the curve of his spine. Of course, it's that line along his spine that definitely cemented my love for the image.
Overall, it was definitely easily to select the image below as one of my favorite images from the shot. However, I love both the image below and above for completely different reasons based on similar criteria. In the end, I couldn't decide which one I liked better. So instead of choosing, I decided to highlight both of them in this blog post.
Closing
Overall, I loved working with Rex Rider throughout the photo shoot. We definitely went through several looks during the photo shoot. He was definitely a professional and came prepared to go through a variety of looks. He definitely hit all of the looks and the overall feel that I was looking for in each image. Of course, it definitely helped that I was attracted to Rex's overall look (that smile and those dimples!), but it was definitely his personality that made it a pleasure to work with Rex.
As I look forward to 2017, I'm definitely hoping to work with Rex in another photo shoot. While I don't have a specific idea for the shoot, I'm sure that we could come up with several ideas. Either way, I'm definitely looking forward to working with Rex again.
Again, thanks for taking the time to check out the blog entry and the images from my photo shoot with Rex. If you would like to check out some additional images from the shoot, please visit the Rex Rider Gallery. I definitely appreciate it that you guys are taking the time to scope out my work!
If you guys want, you can also check out my Instagram account at http://www.instagram.com/reyj.photography. I tend to post images daily!
If you are interested in setting up a shoot or letting me know what you think about my work, you can email me at [email protected]! OscarHey guys! If you're in the States, Happy Labor Day! I hope that you're enjoying the three day like I am, especially since it's letting me catch up on a few chores and errands. Either way, I hope that all of you are enjoying the holiday!
Anyway, it's been a somewhat quiet week for me, but there have been some significant changes. So yeah, I decided to drop the two photography courses for this semester. As I was sitting in my first course, I just wasn't feeling the structured feeling at the time. Going with my gut feeling, I decided to drop the course and just do my own thing with my photography. Of course, it does mean that I'm probably going to be watching a lot of YouTube videos, Lynda.com, and other photography tutorials to help me improve my skills. For some reason, I'm finding myself okay with that notion since it gives me an opportunity to play and learn through creative ventures instead of worrying about getting a good grade to pass the course. So yeah, there's a part of me that thinks this was probably the dest decision for me at the moment. Who knows, I may end up picking up the courses at some future point.
However, I did pick up two marketing courses when I dropped the others. As I mentioned, I got a new job that deals with marketing and public relations to a certain degree. So in an effort to help me with the job, I decided to pick up a couple of courses focusing on advertising and public relations. So far, the courses seem interesting and have the potential for helping me out with the job. Either way, I'm definitely feeling a little excited to be taking the two courses.
Other than those changes, it's been a quiet week. I'm definitely hoping that it continues and I can start holding some additional photo shoots in my spare time. Hopefully, I'll be able to start holding them starting this month.
Oscar
Anyway, on to the reason that you guys are here: Oscar! Oscar was the first model that I worked with in my own home. Previously, I had worked with models in studios and hotel suites since I was living with roommates. Once I got my own place, I eagerly jumped on board with setting up photo shoots in the privacy of my own home. It definitely gave me more space to maneuver around in as well as not having to worry about transporting clothing, props, and equipment around for the various photo shoots. So yeah, I was definitely happy to have a space large enough to have photo shoots in.
As I mentioned, Oscar was the first model that I photographed in my space. When he submitted his images to potentially set up a photo shoot, I instantly knew that I wanted to work with him. He definitely has a great look that I loved capturing. Furthermore, Oscar definitely knows the positions that highlight his body as well as taking direction as I shifted his body around to capture the light better. Like I said, I loved working with Oscar throughout the photo shoot as well as the images that we ended getting from it. Overall, I was definitely happy with the body of work that we created.
Street Clothes
When Oscar showed up for the photo shoot, I was definitely happy with his overall look. Like usual, I started the photo shoot by photographing him in the clothing that he wore to the shoot. In this instance, Oscar war wearing a blue and white plaid shirt and dark blue jeans. The overall look definitely suited his image. For me, I like it when the guys that I'm working with come dressed in button down shirts because it gives me some flexibility to get several different looks from that single piece of clothing. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
The image that I chose to highlight for this section comes from the end of the photo shoot. Like usual, I also like to end the photo shoot with getting several images of the model getting redressed in the clothing that he wore to the photo shoot. For me, I definitely wanted to get a couple of additional images of Oscar posing in unbuttoned button down shirt. Furthermore, I wanted to pair it with the black Emporio Armani boxer briefs that he wore beneath his dark blue jeans. I'm definitely happy with how the image turned out.
In addition to the clothing and how they highlight his body, I'm also happy with the lighting in the image. I definitely like how the light highlights his facial features, especially the highlight on his lower lip. Furthermore, I like how the light makes his eyes pop while also drawing attention to the areas around his eyes, such as his eyebrows. Every time that I look at this image, I'm constantly focusing on Oscar's face, the placement of his right hand, and the details of his stylish hair. For those reasons, it was definitely easy for me to select the image below as the one to be highlighted for this section.
Portrait
Near the start of the photo shoot, I capture an interesting portrait of Oscar. Like the majority of us, I also find myself stopping at unique portraits and taking a moment to determine whether or not I like what the artist did. Even if I do not end up liking the image at the image, it still caught my attention long enough to give some serious thought about the piece. For me, the portrait below definitely caused me to step back and evaluate whether or not I truly liked it, even though it was my own image.
In the end, I decided that I liked it for several reasons. Starting off, I like the composition of it. Yes, I like how his left arm blocks the left half of his face. Specifically, I like how it basically splits his forehead in half. But more interesting, I like how his left arm slopes towards the right side of the image and how it reveals more of his face the further down we go from his forehead. What started off as symmetrical quickly turned asymmetrical. But yes, I love how how that composition element changed the overall look of the image.
Additionally, I love the details of Oscar's facial features revealed in the image. For instance, I like the details found in his lips, including the highlight on the right side of his lower lip. Additionally, I like the highlights and shadows in the dip just beneath his nose. Finally, I like the details of his eye, eye lashes, and eyebrow. Like I said, I like how the portrait highlighted those details throughout the right side of his face.
Finally, I like the depth of field in the image. Yes, having the shallower depth of field allow me to blur out his left arm as well as the back of his head from his ear onward. Furthermore, with the selective focus, I was able to direct the viewer's attention to the right side of his face where I wanted the viewer to notice the details. Sure, I got his armpit within that plane of focus, but I'm okay with that for the most part.
In the end, it was actually easy for me to decide that I liked the unique portrait. Sure, there are some elements that I want to play with in the future in order to improve on it, but I like the portrait that Oscar and I were able to create together. So yeah, it was easy for me to select this image to highlight in the portrait section.
Underwear
Of course, like most of my photo shoots, I focused on photographing Oscar modeling a variety of underwear. As usual, I started with photographing him in the black Emporio Armani briefs that we wore to the shoot. From there, we went through a variety of briefs, boxer briefs, and some others. I was definitely happy to see that Oscar looked good in whatever underwear that I threw at him. During the shoot, he even got me laughing at a pair red briefs with yellow piping. He told me that he was going to call them the Ronald McDonald's briefs because of the color scheme. Ever since then, I laugh at them whenever I see them and can't help thinking of them as the Ronald McDonald's briefs. So yeah, I was definitely happy that we were able to laugh together throughout the shoot about random things.
Anyway, I found it hard to select my favorite image for this portion of the shoot. In the end, I decided to highlight two images of Oscar posing in two different types of underwear. The first one is of Oscar posing in a Go Softwear jockstrap. I did love the way that the jockstrap highlighted his assets in the image below. I have found out that there are some guys that cannot carry off the jockstrap look for a variety of reasons, but I'm glad that Oscar filled out the jockstrap well and owned the look.
Like usual, I love the lighting in the image below. Ever since the photo shoot with Donye, I've been trying to play around with lighting a subject with just a single light. In this instance, I like how I was able to manipulate the light to get an interesting lighting pattern across his face while still have some interesting shadows. Yeah, I'm definitely happy with the way the lighting turned out in the image below.
Additionally, I like Oscar's pose in the image. For me, there is an appeal to see the long curved line that starts at the the top of the back as it flows into a narrow waist and onward. It definitely makes for an interesting line to visually trace. In addition to the line, I also love the placement of Oscar's hands as it adds some visual depth to the image and leads the viewer's eye further into the shadows. So yeah, it was easy to select this image as one of the two to highlight for this section.
The second image that I wanted to highlight features Oscar modeling a pair of white mesh briefs. I like the briefs because of the intricate designs at the sides of the pouch as well as the fact that the seat is basically mesh. In this instance, I like how it allows Oscar's skin tones to come through and change the coloring of that part of the briefs from white. Furthermore, I like how the briefs contours around Oscar's assets and highlights them well.
Like the image above, I love the strong lines that his body creates from the tip of his left hand and flowing down to his left thigh. I also like the visual depth that is evident due to the slight turn of his shoulders. Finally, I like how his right thigh is slightly out of sync with his left one. It further adds to the visual depth while also giving a backdrop to make the pouch of the briefs stand out further.
Finally, I love the color handling in the image below. Using PhotoShop, I softened the overall color tone of the image by playing with the opacity. Like I said, I like how it soften Oscar's overall skin tone. I'm definitely happy with the way that the image came out.
Favorite Image from the Photo Shoot
For my favorite image, I selected the image below. Like all of the other images, I like how Oscar completely owns it. I like his expression in the image and the penetrating gaze that is transfixed on the viewer. Furthermore, I like his pose in the image and the small details, such as the placement of his right hand and how his fingers are splayed out. Additionally, I like the confidence that is evident in his stance, particularly in his shoulders, hips, and thighs. Like I said, it definitely feels like Oscar completely owned the image.
Finally, I love the lighting in the image. Once again, I love the lighting pattern across his face and how it captured the details on the left side. Furthermore, I love how the lighting creates enough of a separation to make the black cotton of his Emporio Armani boxer briefs stand out from the black backdrop. In generally, I definitely love how the light caresses his body throughout the image.
For these reason, and the fact that I just like the image, it was easy to select the image below as my favorite one from the photo shoot.
Closing
I'm definitely happy with the images that came from my collaboration with Oscar. Like I said throughout the blog entry, Oscar was definitely a professional and brought his game to the photo shoot. I definitely loved the consistency throughout the images as well as the emotions that I was able to capture in some of the images found within the gallery (http://www.reyjphotography.com/oscar). Furthermore, Oscar definitely knew the poses that would highlight his body. So yeah, it was definitely great to work with Oscar throughout the photo shoot. As I go through the remainder of 2016, I'm definitely hoping to work with Oscar again for another photo shoot. Nonetheless, I'm definitely happy that I had an opportunity to work with Oscar on this photo shoot.
Again, thanks for taking the time to check out the blog entry and the images from my photo shoot with Oscar. I definitely appreciate it that you guys are taking the time to scope out my work!
If you guys want, you can also check out my Instagram account at http://www.instagram.com/reyj.photography. I tend to post images daily!
If you are interested in setting up a shoot or letting me know what you think about my work, you can email me at [email protected]!
RyanHey guys! It's been a quiet week for me, even though I officially started in my new job. But it's a little hard to be excited about it since I've been doing the job for long time now. So yeah, I'm feeling a little jaded towards the job, even though we got some new projects to work on for the upcoming year. Even with all of that, I'm definitely wishing that August goes by a little quicker.
I am spending a couple of hours a week to watch the latest movies coming out. Today, I saw DC's Suicide Squad. I will admit that I'm not much of a DC fan, but I found myself entertained throughout the movie. Sure, the plot was somewhat questionable, but I do like rooting for the underdog and seeing them come out on top. Additionally, I loved Harley Quinn and El Diablo in the movie. Harley was just bat-shit crazy and fun, but I found myself loving the character of El Diablo even more - especially when you got the backstory to why he was weary of using his powers. To me, he was definitely one of the more fleshed out characters in the movie. Plus, he had some awesome fire-based powers, particularly when he took on the bad guy towards the end. Yeah, he definitely spoke to the inner pyro in me! Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend seeing it since it was entertaining. Was it the best movie that I've seen this year? No, but it ticked off the marks for my comic book nerd tendencies to make the movie enjoyable for me.
However, I am looking forward to starting the fall semester at the local community college college. As I mentioned in a few blog entries, I'm putting my master's degree on hold for a bit since I'm working full-time and can't seem to give the degree the attention it should have. So yeah, in order to keep myself busy, I'm going to be taking a couple of photography classes at local community college. They won't start until the last week of August, which isn't that far away, but I'm definitely wishing that it would get here already. I'm looking forward to having some excitement in my life instead of just working and worrying about the job. Plus a creative outlet! So yeah, it's going to be awesome to be taking the two photography courses and the third course. I'm definitely looking forward to expand my photography knowledge as well as getting some studio time in.
Ryan
So yeah, moving on to the reason that you guys are here - Ryan! As I mentioned in the previous blog entry, I had decided to go down to San Antonio for a long weekend to get away. Booking a suite in one of the hotels along the River Walk, I used it as a base of operations while I was there. It definitely was a good thing since I was able to wander around the area without needing to walk through any shady areas. More importantly, the hotel suite gave me the space to conduct a couple of photo shoots while I was there. Of course, one of those photo shoots was with Ryan.
I definitely loved working with Ryan. When he submitted his pics, I was instantly drawn to his overall look, especially the tattoos along his arms. To me, it was an interesting look that I wanted to capture. As we talked throughout the photo shoot, I found out that he had been in the process of transforming his body through some serious cross-fit training at one of the local gyms. Plus, he also told me that he played in a local band in his spare time. Like I said, I definitely found Ryan interesting and fun to work with throughout the shoot - probably why I have worked with him twice and am hoping to work with him again in the future!
Street Clothes
When Ryan showed up, he was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. It did crack me up that his shirt said "Bad Boy" since I had thought when he first submitted his images. Nonetheless, I definitely liked the look that Ryan presented in his street clothes and how it helped to create the overall image of the Latin Bad Boy, even if there were hints of the Boy Next Door look as well. It was definitely an appealing look, which is probably why I ended up selecting several images from this phase of the photo shoot as my favorites.
For this section, it was easy for me to select the image below as my favorite. As I mentioned, I love the overall look. Moving beyond the Bad Boy t-shirt and jeans, I also love his pose. Sure, it's a straight forward pose, but it's also classic. There's definitely a sense of ease present in his stance (and throughout the photo shoot) as well as a sense of amusement in his facial expression, particularly in the subtle smile. Additionally, I love the placement of his hands in the image. I like how his left hand is mostly in his pocket with only the thumb visible, but it's the complete mirror opposite with his right hand. It's those little details that help to catch my attention.
Finally, I like the lighting in the image. Moving away from the split lighting, I had placed the light source so that it would bath him in light. I definitely love how it bathes his face in light before moving into the deep shadows on the right side of his face. Plus, the catchlights in his eyes are mesmerizing. Yeah, I'm definitely happy with the lighting in the image overall.
Portrait
Of course, I also selected one of the images from this portion of the photo shoot as my favorite portrait from the shoot. I will say that Ryan is stunning looking, especially his eyes. When I first saw the image below, it definitely stopped me in my tracks. Now, every time that I look at the image, I'm automatically drawn to his eyes.
As with the image above, I definitely love the lighting and the pose in the image. For the pose, I had Ryan positing his body away from the light and then made modifications, such as turning his shoulders and face towards the light, to maximize the light. I will admit that I like how the turn of his shoulders create the visual depth through their span. Additionally, I like how the shadowed area creates a counter balance to the highlighted area. It definitely helps to balance out the image without it feeling too heavy.
Finally, I love how Ryan looks serious as he looks over his shoulder. The light definitely looks amazing on his face, especially in the area around his eyes. Like above, the catchlights in his eyes are mesmerizing. But I also like how the light seems to accentuate the shadows under his eyes to create a smoky look. Between the light and his serious expression, it was definitely easy to select the image as my favorite portrait from the photo shoot. At least, it's a portrait that certainly caught my attention.
Underwear
As with the other photo shoots, I did photograph Ryan in a variety of underwear throughout the shoot. For this section, I selected the image below as my favorite. Of course, I love how Ryan looks in the black Papi boxer briefs, especially with how the lines of his hips seem to lead the viewer's eye down to the Papi logo on the boxer briefs.
However, it's definitely the pose that helps to make the image below my favorite from the shoot. I like the kneeling pose and how the lines on the bed seem to be directing the viewer's eye towards his thighs. More importantly, I love the sense of power that is evident in his body through the pose. Through the visual display of his chest, shoulders, and upper arms, the strength in his muscles to be present in the image and carries with it a sense of confidence. Additionally, I love how his head and gaze is directed off screen, which helps to create some visual interest in the image as well.
Finally, I love the lighting in the image. To me, it definitely feels soft. I want to say that I was using window lighting for this image, but I'm not positive. Nonetheless, I love the feeling of the lighting in the image and how it seems to caress his body. In particular, I like how the light helps to create the definition in his chest and the muscles along his abs. I also love how the light transitions from the highlights to softer shadows than are normally present in my images, which makes me think that I was using window light in the image. Either way, I'm definitely happy with the lighting in the image and how it comes together with the pose to create a stunning image.
Favorite Image from the Photo Shoot
My favorite image from the photo shoot comes from the beginning of the photo shoot. Surprisingly, it's not a black and white image. For this photo shoot, I had decided to play around with several images in PhotoShop and soften the colors through an opacity filter. There are several images within the gallery (http://www.reyjphotography.com/ryan) that has the same color treatment. I definitely ended up liking how the colors were softened, particularly in his skin tone as well as his jeans.
In addition to the color treatment, I like the pose and feeling of the image. There is definitely a sense of superiority present in his facial expression, but I'm probably reading into the image. However, when his serious facial expression is combined with the pose, I definitely feel that sense of superiority. I like how the belt looked draped around his neck and how his hold helps to draw attention to the strength in his right bicep. Furthermore, the display of the muscles in his chest adds to the sense of strength that radiates throughout the image. There's definitely a feeling that the viewer should approach with a sense of caution, even if Ryan is sweet and friendly.
For me, it was definitely easy for me to select the image below as my favorite from the photo shoot.
Closing
I am very happy with the images that came from my collaboration with Ryan. As I mentioned, I was definitely drawn to Ryan's looks when I initially set up the photo shoot, which is natural. However, as we continued working together throughout the photo shoot, I definitely learned more about Ryan and felt closer to him by the end of the photo shoot. He definitely was professional, friendly, and on point with the posing throughout the photo shoot. Of course, all of these led me to working with during a second photo shoot later on. On top of that, I'm definitely thinking about working with him again in the near future once I find some time to head back to San Antonio. I'm definitely hoping that I can make that happen before the end of the year. Nonetheless, I'm definitely happy with collaboration with Ryan. If you are interested, you can check out the gallery dedicated to the photo shoot at http://www.reyjphotography.com/ryan.
Again, thanks for taking the time to check out the blog entry and the images from my photo shoot with Ryan. I definitely appreciate it that you guys are taking the time to scope out my work!
If you want, you can also check out my Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/reyj.photography. I tend to post images daily!
If you are interested in setting up a photo shoot or letting me know what you think about my work, you can email me at [email protected].
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