The other day it was pointed out to me that a store across from my work had a used tandem bike for sale.
I bought it.
I bought it specifically to take a picture. Yes… it was purchased to be a photo prop.
This is the result:
(Click the pics to see them larger)
I also made a black and white version of the image via photo editor.
The yoohoo thing was cool as the yellow of the labeling matched up with the front model’s Dr Martens.
It helped create a balance and pulled the model into the bike for me.
(we had originally discussed vodka bottles)
The rear positioned model was pulled in for me color-wise with her hair matching the bike frames color.
Those factors seemed very important to me because I like color fluidity of objects with figures. I want things to flow or have huge contrast when it comes to color. Anything between bores me.
I took a few pictures of them in opposite positions, but the girls vests dictated who should be in front for the very same reason… color fluidity. I had only seen and approved one of the vests before shoot day so had hoped, but didn’t know the other vest would be of a darker variety than the washed out one.
I’d actually kinda worried a bit about it because the front end of the bike was so much lighter than the rest of the frame.
Then again… I didn’t want to dictate anything because I wanted the girls to be themselves and contribute self expression through dressing in their own clothes, in their own way.
The last couple years I have tried very hard to have my models contribute to my works via their own styles and body mannerisms.
I used to like to control almost everything. I’d basically have an image done n my head before I started it. I posed, I corrected, I shot.
Nowadays I work in a manner completely opposite. I want my images (photos, drawings, paintings, whatever) to have a candid feeling involved. It is those moment between the poses I try and capture. That split second of realness that exists between shots.
The yoohoo wasn’t wasted. The girls drank it up.
The bike won’t be wasted either. I’ll end up going on a few tandem bike rides with it.
You can get prints of both the color version and the black and white version HERE.
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