52 x 52

My most recent photo project was very specific. A portrait to be placed in a frame measuring 52cm x 52cm. The client is familiar with my work and I was free to get creative, keeping in mind that the portrait would hang in the living room for all to guests to see.

[Mi proyecto mas reciente era muy específico. Un retrato para un marco de 52cm x 52cm en tamaño. El cliente está familiarizado con mi trabajo así que me dieron libertad creativa, teniendo en cuenta que el retrato ve estar en el salón a vista de todo visita.]

We met one afternoon in the clients home and I set about finding the right light. Thankfully their living room faces West and so I was able to take advantage of the slowly setting sun.

[Quedamos una tarde en casa del cliente y rápidamente empecé a buscar la luz adecuada. Por suerte el salón mira hacia el Oeste así que pude aprovechar la puesta del sol.]

I shot about 100 images, this was narrowed down to 15. I retouched the top 10 and the client selected their favorite. The whole process was smooth and the project was completed within 2 weeks time.

[Hice unas 100 fotos, estas se redujeron a 15. Luego retoque las 10 mejores y el cliente selecciono su favorita. Todo el proceso fue muy fluido y el proyecto se completo en 2 semanas.]

Here is the final image which now hangs in their living room:

[Aquí tenéis la imagen final que ahora se encuentra en el salón del cliente:]

This 2nd (below) image was my personal favorite but the blue sky didn't match the colors of their living room and so this image had to be put aside. This is the only image in which I used artificial light, an SB600 mounted on camera.

[Esta 2ª (abajo) imagen era mi preferida pero el cielo azul no coordinaba bien con los colores de su salón, así que esta imagen tuvo que ser descartada. Esta es la única imagen donde hice use de lux artificial, un SB600 montada en cámara.]

A more classical portrait (below).

[Un retrato mas clásico (abajo).]

And this final one I love because of their body language. But the crop didn't work for the frame they wanted to fill.

[Y esta última me encantaba por el lenguaje de sus cuerpos. Pero el corte de la imagen no funcionaba para el marco que querían usar.]

Thanks to Ana and José for entrusting me with this project.

[Muchas gracias a Ana y José por confiar en mí para realizar este proyecto.]

Copyright © 2010 Ivett Chicas

Fall Has Arrived [Primavera ha Llegado]

I've been out shooting tons. Hence the lack of updates, my apologies. I recently took a road trip to Navas Del Marqués. This is near Avila, Spain. My friend/model describes this place as 'little West Virginia' in Spain ... I tend to agree.

[He estado tomando muchas fotos. Por esa razon no habia estado al tanto del blog, mis disculpas. Recientemente hice un paseo a Navas Del Marqués. Queda cerca de Avila, España. Mi amiga/modelo lo describe como un 'pequeño West Virginia' en España ... estoy de acuerdo. (West Virgina queda en el Noreste de EEUU y los Otoños son encantadores!)]

Model [Modelo]: Monica Jimenez

Make-Up [Maquillaje]: Belinda Alonso

Photography/Direction[Fotografia/Dirreccion]: Ivett Chicas

Madrid Orgullo [Madrid Pride]

Each year Madrid celebrates Gay Pride with a weekend full of parades, parties, and concerts. The center of Madrid shuts down for the festivities and the party takes to the streets all night long. I only braved taking my camera out one night, Thursday, which was a bit calmer and allowed me to trek up and down with my tripod, camera and flash.

The mission was to capture up close portraits of some of the concert goers. This was a big deal for me as I have trouble asking people for permission to photograph them. Simply ... I'm afraid of rejection. But seems as though if you approach with sincereity and a nice demeanor more then likely people will be ok with it.

Here are some of my favorites:

Fotografiado el 2 de Julio, 2009. Chueca, Madrid.

Things of note: select aperture you'll be working with first. Measure light before you ask someone to pose. I learned people get tired of posing after about 10 seconds. And lastly, don't feel pressured, if someone wants to see the image right away, be ready to give them your email address and tell them you're happy to email them.