Portrait 43/52 – Leana

I still need work on lightning, particularly indoor lighting.

My good friend Preston lent me his lights again, and I used them several times this week, including the snake, including Leana (and everyone else that night); also a second shoot with Hsiang, which means she’ll probably get a second appearance in this project (two is, however, the limit per person); and also a self portrait (seen earlier this week).

What would be nice is a little studio set up somewhere, with a permanent backdrop, lights I can move but don’t have to completely set up and break down every time I want to use them.

I don’t think I’m ready for a studio. Am I? Maybe in a few months. I should at least own my own lights, don’t you think?

I think I’ve learned a lot with this project, and am still learning; I think I’m way beyond where I was this time last year, in terms of shooting people. And I think I’ve noticed something about my photographic tendencies, specifically when people, when models, are involved:

I lean toward contrasts.

I do a lot of black and white.

But most important:
I aim for Beauty over Truth.

Beauty over Truth. I think the same can be said about my writing, even when the subject matter is darker in tone it is still a beautiful darkness. And while truth is still a part of it, truth is the thing underneath that can be drawn from it, not the thing itself.