Karsten Dahl
[ PORT FOLIO ]‘13 D M A N S I R
P H O T O G R A P H Y
Floral Shadows Date: 18th June 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Anne Cathrine Bache Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Sunny, Midday
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Floral Shadows It was a warm summer day, with a sun bursting like needles through the skin, we decided to keep it indoors for some trick photography. As much as most of the pictures from the trick shoot failed to impress (not featured in this book), this idea about floral shadows from the laced cloth, the model had, seemed to work its charm.
So we sticked to the harsh sunlight, letting the cloth curtain paint on the beautiful canvas, and ended up with an wonderful series of soft, blue-tones images, where A.C.’s piercing expressions played their part, supported firmly by shadows sliding across her skin.
The hardest part was capturing the moments, where her light sensitive eyes weren’t squinting from the piercing sun, warming us through the windows.
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Fields of Gold Date: 20th September 2013 Location: Søvang, Dragør Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Sunny, Afternoon
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Fields of Gold For a day late in September, it must be considered good luck how excellent the weather treated us. Sun was out, the air was around 20°C, and music played from the portable radio, Joy had brought to the shoot (points for that).
Having had a cup of coffee prior to the shoot day, we attacked the assignment with ease. Closely assisted by Joy’s boyfriend who helped with everything from practical assignments (lifting chairs), to well placed comments and ideas about the shoot itself.
As the hours passed and the sun left the horizon we packed up our gear and headed back from the Fields of Gold, with contentment tugged away in our hearts.
We shoot three different shots that day. Fields of Gold series, the black and white 58’s and a couple of trick shots where Joy levitated (not featured here).
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Furs & Cigars Date: 4th October 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 50mm
Light: Natural, Afternoon, Work Lamp
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Furs & Cigars A little too late in the afternoon to get the natural light we needed, we turned to work lights to brighten up this second shoot with Joy Di Cara.
Buried in white fur and with a big cigar in hand, this shoot turned out much as I had hoped for. A delicate softness countered by certain amount of edge, that together made for a pleasing result. Except perhaps for the lighting. With studio light in hand, this is one of my works I would like to see redone, down the line.
We ended up with several lovely shots – some with a bit too much pedal on the smoke machine – and a single shoot with natural smoke that almost looked ethereal.
As the room got way to dark and smoky, we drove to Dragør Fort, to get a few shots of Joy’s boyfriend. The clouds were building up a storm, then wind tore through Kasper’s clothes and I had a hard time keeping the camera fairly still.
The outcome was a handful blue-toned, dark and rather gritty images, that turned out really well (not featured in this book).
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Leaves Will Fall Date: 20th October 2013 Location: Frederiksberg Have, CPH Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Afternoon
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Black Fall Date: 20th October 2013 Location: Frederiksberg Have, CPH Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Afternoon
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Leaves Will Fall Fall had finally taken its toll on the trees, and the leaves lay scattered across the ground like embers. To pierce through this beautiful backdrop we needed a strong color and Joy’s powerful eyes.
After a small delay, from me trying desperately to find a parking space around the Zoo and Frederiksberg Have, we met up and walked a short distance to what turned out to be a perfect backdrop for what had been planned.
With a borrowed jacked that was bright red, and black clothes beneath we started shooting a series of images of Joy surrounded by all the splendor of fall. It was, however, first when we hit the ground that we made the strongest images of the day.
Among the leaves she lay, hair flowing through the fallen leaves, wearing a black sweater, the bright red jacked and that wonderful piercing gaze.
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Apple Date: 23th October 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Lisa Schrader Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 50mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One, Softboxes, Flash
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Ablaze Date: 23th October 2013 Location: Søvang, Dragør Model: Lisa Schrader Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Sunny, Midday
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Ablaze Traveling far distances to model for this shoot, I picked up Lisa at Hovedbanegården in Copenhagen. Even in these early morning hours she carried high spirits and an ease about herself, that made promises of a pleasant shoot.
After a semi-short drive back to Dragør, we packed a bag of clothes and warm tea, and walked a bit to find the perfect setting.
The yellow and orange colors that spread across the field complimented her gorgeous red hair and freckled skin. Though only there a shortened length of time – due the camera being on strike, we landed a long series of wonderful images that I still, this day, find it difficult to choose between.
Walking back to the house, we talked about an idea my girlfriend had left me with the same morning. And after a short break and a camera back on track, we carried out said idea and landed the “Apple” shot (featured on page 26-27).
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Oro Marrone Date: 12th November 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One White umbrella, Black Umbrella
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Oro Marrone Oro Marrone was my first real attempt to set up my recently acquired studio lighting equipment. Having viewed several tutorials, I felt good about setting up, but soon learned that there was more to it than just hitting a switch.
With much assistance from Joy, on this fourth shoot together, we suddenly hit a wonderful light, with an almost collapsed silver/black umbrella (with flash) and a translucent/white (no flash) umbrella for support.
Light in place, Joy fell with easy back into her more important role in front of the camera, showing new sides of her herself with a broad fan expressions, well placed hands and that recognizable gaze.
We landed a long series of excellent portraits, and in this golden/brown retouch, we found the peak with Oro Marrone.
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Burned Date: 12th November 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Joy Di Cara & Kasper Juhl Jensen Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One, Single light no flash
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Burned Darkness enveloped the room and the light from a single lamp, painted silhouettes and bathed their naked skin in warm tones.
During shooting Oro Marrone, we experienced several times that the flash from the almost collapsed silver umbrella didn’t go off. Looking back at the images we fell in love with these dark images and decided to try and make a series of photos with only a single lamp (no flash) to light the set. “Burned” was the result.
Both Kasper and Joy stepped up to the plate and delivered excellent work. Kasper with his fierce anger contrasted in the next by the softness in his gaze. Joy with a devious look, opposed by that well known tenderness.
We even landed several images of them together (not featured in this book), and concluded after a long night, and a cozy dinner, that playing around with the light a bit, makes for excellent results.
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Desaturated Reflections Date: 16th November 2013 Location: Skuespilshuset Model: Terfa Mazlom Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Natural, Cloudy, Morning/Midday
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Desaturated Reflections With a plan to shoot Copenhagen in the earliest of morning hours, sun rising slowly on a girl alone in an empty city, we met – for the first time – at 7.30 a Saturday morning. We quickly learned that not even the best laid plans are easily carried out.
Having shot only three images, Terfa stopped mid pose with the words “Errhh...someone just fell in the fountain”. About an hour later, and with some challenge to this newly established relationship, we found ourselves without a sunrise and a not so empty city. I realized then, that I had met a kind and very patient girl.
With the “What now” painted across my face, she suggested a new location and though it was not our first choice, it is still one of my favorite days of shooting.
Terfa was both talented, inventive and extremely photogenic. On top of that, she was good company.
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Pastel Sundays Date: 17th November 2013 Location: Studio / Søvang Model: Nathasha Buddig Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One Two softboxes, Flash
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Pastel Sundays Stepping a bit out of my comfort zone, with this shoot, aiming – with two softboxes – to create a bright sunny morning, from a rather dark and dreary winter Sunday.
Having already spent a couple of hours with Nathasha, on a cafe close to her residence, I already felt that I knew her a little, which felt like a good beginning for an excellent collaboration. Nathasha’s unique facial features had intrigued me from the first time I saw her pictures, and I had looked forward to working with her since we first started talking..
With “My Chemical Romance” playing on the stereo, we started out on a photo-journey, in which we tried to portray a cozy Sunday morning – complete with pajama pants, socks with room for toes, yogurt with muesli, orange juice and a glass of milk. The glass of milk, became a focal point to create a series of pictures, we called “Movember Milk” (to the left).
We also created a single trick-shot in which Nathasha featured three times, around the breakfast table (not featured here).
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Bones & Butterflies Date: 18th November 2013 Location: Studio / Søvang Model: Klara Herlyng Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One Single Light, No Flash
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The Pale Dress Date: 18th November 2013 Location: Studio / Søvang Model: Klara Herlyng Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One Single Light, No Flash Support Softbox, No Flash
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Bones & Butterflies The shoot with Klara was arranged almost on the spot. We had only just started talking, when a date for shooting was set. It was in the middle of November, and the sky had turned dark, when I picked up Klara from the Metro.
Being complete strangers, it helped that we talked really well, and as we starting shooting – even though it was her first time in front of a camera – she quickly learned to just relax and enjoy the process.
With the use of a lamp with reflector (no flash) and a soft box for support, we turned out a series of pictures, much as we had talked about.
The dimmed light and the bleak green tones, defined her slender structure, and gave focus to her tender symmetrical face and the ruffles on her white elegant dress.
We shot two series this evening. “Bones & Butterflies” and “The Pale Dress”. Both featured in this book.
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Curtain Fall Date: 12th December 2013 Location: Studio, Søvang Model: Joy Di Cara Photographer: Kaa Dahl
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II Lens: Canon EF 100mm
Light: Elinchrom DX One Softbox, Coloured, Flash Softbox, Support, No Flash
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Curtain Fall On our fifth shoot together since the end of September, we aimed for something a little more advanced than we had been used to.
Introducing a six meter long piece of black chiffon and a wind machine to the mix, we set out to light the scene dramatically with soft flash from one of the two softboxes and spread a different colored scarfs across the light to get the color scheme we were looking for.
Struggling with hitting the right light mood, and a bit with the nudity between two recent strangers, the whole situation was helped greatly along, by Joy’s helpfulness, easy-going personality and willingness to give it her absolute best.
Again Joy surprised me with showing a new line of fantastic expressions painted on her face, and movement in her poses that I hadn’t see before this day.
We ended up with a bluish / turquoise series of darkened images that I – now at the end of the year – consider my most beautiful work so far.
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DMANSIR PHOTOGRAPHY E: karsten@dmansir.dk | M: +45 2165 8866
All images are Copyrighted Š 2013 Dmansir Photography. All rights reserved.
V I S I T U S A T FA C E B O O K . C O M / D M A N S I R P H O T O G R A P H Y
DM NSIR
graphic design & photography
DM NSIR
graphic design & photography