Capturing Elegance in Black: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

ISO-250, 1/2500 sec at f/4. R6, 85mm

I wanted to share with you the story behind the photograph I created at Thursday’s year-end school farewell at Kloofzicht Lodge in the bushveld. The subject of the image was a group of elegantly dressed individuals wearing black outfits, which posed an interesting challenge.

The challenge in photographing people in black attire lies in showcasing the intricate details of their clothing, as black can easily absorb light and hide those beautiful nuances. To overcome this, I used the available natural light to my advantage. The full sun served as my main light source, casting a strong and directional beam that helped illuminate the subjects.

In addition to the direct sunlight, I leveraged the reflected light coming off the VW Beetle. This added a subtle but crucial fill light, gently highlighting the details of their dark hair and the texture of their outfits.

To further enhance the composition, I directed the subjects to turn their faces at a specific angle. This helped create a sense of depth and dimension, accentuating their features and narrowing down their faces. It’s amazing how a slight adjustment in their positioning can make such a significant difference in the final image.

I also decided to shoot from a low angle. This choice not only added a unique perspective to the photograph but also allowed me to hide much of the bushveld background. By doing so, I was able to place the focus squarely on the subjects and their attire, making them stand out beautifully against the blue sky.