AUTUMN NOIR
Stockbridge | Edinburgh | Scotland | Europe
55.95° N, 3.17° W
Casual
Some time ago, this fall, I got the urge to shoot some more casual portraits than I usually do. You know the type–no elaborate props, no prop crew, just a camera, a lens and a little bit of acting natural. I was in no mood to go through the whole process of hiring professional models, selecting outfits and making up the models for the shoot. Rather, I picked up the phone and called my friend Andy and told him that I wanted to do a casual portraits.
Stockbridge
As for the location, we agreed on Stockbridge. To be honest, it is one of my favourite areas of Edinburgh which has cobbled streets, old buildings and those spots which seem to be telling a story of the past. Even on a shady day, it has some sort of a aura which is difficult to find elsewhere.
Medium Telephoto
Andy showed up rather cool, which he does naturally, and we just roamed around and photographed whatever we felt like. At that time I was having a burst affair with short and fast telephoto lenses and I only used my 85mm and 135mm lenses. I don’t know what it is but those focal lengths just allow you to get up really close to the subject without being invasive and you get these portraits that look like they belong in a movie.
Moody
Autumn was in the last stage of the year. The red and orange coloration was mostly absent from the trees, giving way to more pastel like colors. But the light was shining through the clouds and we got these moments of light which was like getting a present. It was not one of those days when autumn was in full swing and the trees were all colourful, but it had its own type of beauty, the more so-called atmospheric one that is so typical of Scotland.
Noir
When I got back home and started to edit, I understood that this series has to be black and white. The colours of autumn at the time of the shooting were very pale and I did not find them as powerful as the black and white contrasts and textures that could be achieved. Black and white helped to remove the colour and make the emotions on Andy’s face and the interplay of light and darkness.
Reflecting on it, it was one of those shoots which make me appreciate why I love photography so much. No strategies, no elaborate strategies: just me, a camera, and a friend wandering around the city and taking pictures. Thus, it turned out to be a rather happy afternoon for me, which made me want to continue taking photos and be thankful for the ability to capture the moments that happen.
So, here’s to more days like that: open, exciting, and full of stories to be told. If you have never been to Stockbridge in the autumn, you should definitely go there. It is especially beautiful even if it is cloudy, which I know is hard to believe.
