Behind the scenes: Set them free
I created “A painting too real” four years ago, I had several ideas on how I could realize it but I was limited by my knowledge and experience. I’ve learned a lot over the past years regarding lighting, camera and post-production and I felt it was time for another version. This is not part II, it’s just a different take on the initial idea.
Photographer: Erik Johansson
To me it was important that the painting/frame would be the center point of attention in the frame. I knew that it was very important to get the water-out-of-the-painting effect as realistic as possible and the best way to make something look realistic is to actually do it for real. I also decided to crop the head to remove the distraction of a possible face expression and put more focus on what was happening to the painting.
I bought a frame in a second hand store and removed the back of it. I then built a small space/container behind the frame using paper, plastic and duct tape. The idea was to be able to actually pour water out of the frame. I covered the bottom part with plastic to hold the water and placed a flash with a warm filter and a radio trigger in the upper part of the frame to create a sun. Check out a larger version of the final photo in the portfolio here.
I tried it out a couple of times to see that I worked that way I expected and then it was ready for the shoot.
At the location, a soft light was used as a fill light in the foreground.
I shot both some model- and real boats in different lights depending on where they would be placed in the final photo.
The actual painting was created in post where I shot a sunrise with the sun in the same location as the flash in the frame construction.
And, these are 100 % crops of the different parts of the photo:
February 18, 2013 at 10:58 pm, Emily Leung said:
wow…I love it!!!!
January 30, 2013 at 9:00 am, Beth said:
This is very cool. I love that you mixed your artsy craftsman side with your photoshoot. Your the whole package:)
January 30, 2013 at 6:01 am, $18263862 said:
Amazing work ! Love your website as well. Maria
January 30, 2013 at 5:29 am, Eric Stella said:
Very Very Creative!
October 10, 2012 at 2:22 am, The Retouch Lab said:
Nice work
October 09, 2012 at 2:39 pm, Pammy Chonyut said:
This is a master piece ! I love it !
October 09, 2012 at 1:24 pm, R Elizabeth said:
absolutely brilliant!!!
October 08, 2012 at 1:45 pm, Alexandra Gopie said:
Omgs this is truly amazing and breathe taking work. Your amazing!
October 08, 2012 at 12:59 pm, Priscilla John said:
I truly love this. You’re my favorite new artist.
October 06, 2012 at 4:54 pm, riitta said:
Hej! Love your work… Greetings from UK..:0)
October 04, 2012 at 12:27 pm, Joe said:
I think the concept is creative but there are some things that that arent blend very well and that’s a pity because as photographer you can use the light, contrast and shadow in your advantage … the light is too strong and doesnt reflect realistic, as a photographer is very easy to do post work if you have skills
October 04, 2012 at 12:08 pm, $7133234 said:
Lovely work! Very creative and excellent performed ^^