With the ‘In Focus’ series I look at a single photograph in a bit more detail.
I’ll dig into the story behind the image, how I shot it and some of the technical details that make the shot successful. I hope you find this insight into my creative process interesting.
The photograph
This image is quite important to me. It captures a rare moment when my children and their cousins are all together. This is something that doesn’t happen as often as it should.
I took this photograph last summer on a family weekend away in Filey on the beautiful Yorkshire coast.
While watching them playing together on the beach I realised that the sky, sea and sand were all quite tonally similar. There was an opportunity to use black and white photography to create some quite artistic shots that really made the kids pop, would capture the moment perfectly and give a timeless feel to the images that mirrored the feel of the seaside town itself.
In Focus
While the kids played, I could see there was a good opportunity to get a shot that would be much-loved for years to come. Everyone was moving in different directions and I was shooting from further up the beach with my telephoto lens. The longer focal length compresses the perspective and create interesting layers of texture.
I was waiting for a shot that captured an interesting story, with everyone engaged and where the relative positions within the frame created a visually interesting and engaging composition. It turns out I didn’t actually have to wait quite as long as I expected and this image quickly appeared in front of me.
Composition
In this particular photograph the frame is split nicely into three distinct columns. Each column contains part of our story and would work as a single image but the overall shot is beautifully balanced.
There are no particular leading lines here. The group to the left draws your eye first as the largest element of the photograph but your eye is left to look over the scene and investigate the various elements of the story that are unfolding.
Everyone is engaged in the image
I love that everyone in this image is engaged in an element of the frame. We have our group of three who are busy digging and building a sandcastle on the left. In the centre of the frame the youngest cousin is absorbed with investigating the pool. Over on the right hand side of the frame, the eldest cousin is busy scouting for rocks and shells.
There are quite a lot of details in what at first appears to be a simple image. Initially it appears that the youngest and eldest subjects aren’t interested in the group to the left. However, as you look closer you realise that our two ‘rogue’ subjects are actually looking for stones and shells to help with the construction that’s starting to take shape on the left of frame.
Not only are all the cousins together, but they’re all working together towards a common goal.
Using layers to create depth
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM compresses the perspective in the photograph which creates multiple layers that really add visual interest and depth to the image.
The black and white treatment means the sky, sea and sand are tonally similar which helps to keep the layers here quite subtle. They add depth behind and in front of the subjects while still allowing the people in the photograph to pop.
At it’s heart, the photograph is simple but the subtlety of the details and textures grab your attention and draw you into the events that are taking place. It’s definitely an image I’ll treasure for years to come.
If you’re interested, you can see more images from this session at the beach on my blog.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Shutter: 1/8000
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 400
Let me know your thoughts
Everyone’s creative eye and process is different. I hope you found this insight into mine interesting. Maybe you would have approached this in a completely different way, or chosen a different frame entirely! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
