sambarton_photography

Noémie dans l’atelier

Taken in @latelierandbeyond_studio in Paris, the word l’atelier simple means workshop as the space was used previously for woodworking. I had seen this work bench on their website (presumably left behind by the previous owners) and was curious to see if we could use it as a prop. 

I remember trying to ensure it was stable and safe to use, but Noémie had suddenly leapt up on top of the bench like a cat and was soon positioned comfortably as if she always sat there.

I always like to use the space especially the context, but I also like the way the texture of the background and Noémie’s skin seem to compliment one another. It’s especially nice when you work with someone like Noémie who can see what you see.

My time in Paris was short, but very productive. Big thanks to the wonderful Noémie for being fun and cat like. 
💃 @noemiedoragon

Daria the human mannequin. 1,2,3,4 or BTS? 

One of my favourite people in one of my favourite studios. The first image is one that spoke to both of us, so much so that Daria asked for a print of it and I took that with me to Iceland where I met her later the same month. As ever, these are better seen on my website, but hopefully you can see how wonderfully wistful Daria is in these. Why is she wearing her dress upside down I hear you ask, well that’s my fault, I thought it would be a fun take on how we are used to seeing clothes advertised. Daria totally got the concept and made it her own.

Daria, you know what I think of these shots, as ever thank you for all your awesomeness. 

PS - the final BTS shot is just a bit of fun, perhaps more a memorial to that lovely wall which sadly is no more as this particular studio has closed it’s doors (upstairs is still in full swing!). 💃🏻 @darias.dreamland

Nausicaa rising from the ashes, pick a fav Portrait or Drone? 
We had gone to Lanzarote for many reasons, but one in particular was to seek out black volcanic sand and we found an abundance of it at what quickly became my favourite beach. I love including contrast in my photographs so the very thought of black sand against pale skin was reason enough to get on the plane. 

The first image is a close up taken with my 35mm. But I also took the same composition from high above with my drone which adds to the contrast with the white of the waves breaking against the black beach. Scroll through the carousel to zoom out, above Nausicaa. Sadly the drone image I like the most I can’t share on here as it’s too awesome. So watch out for my website and Nausicaa’s Patreon. 

This was such a great adventure, so many photographs but also so many awesome memories. Thanks for putting up with my obsession with sharp black sand Nausicaa 😅
 💃🏻 @nausicaa_yami_ 📸 @sambarton_photography

Noémie. A Blessing. 

There are some people that you meet that reaffirm a faith you have, a faith in others. Noémie is naturally creative, yes this may be obvious visually speaking, but it is also inherent in the things she does. She is quiet and yet suddenly powerful, just like this pose. 

It was a blessing meeting you Noémie, keep being you! Scroll for the print: I printed the colour version of the photo on some fine art cotton rag paper, its texture complements the rough walls of the studio and make Noémie stand out. 
💃 @noemiedoragon

Close Encounters with Jordan ⬛️⬜️ Colour or B&W?

I edited these last night and was loving the sci-fi vibe they had, the first one specifically. These were shot towards the end of our session together. Jordan was super tired having worked a night shift, but had a ‘show must go on’ attitude and set about to apply that awesome makeup. I went off and found a colorama to match her eyes and sorted out the lighting, a beauty dish and an eyelighter. 

Jordan just needed to play her part and she does that so naturally as you can see. Thank you Jordan, you smashed these!

Printing: I printed the headshot out using an Epson fine art paper that has a bright white finish for an art paper. I also tried a Canson lustre paper which is more silky and brought out the highlights nicely but it didn’t represent the bokeh as well. So the Epson is currently winning, but I may try another glossier stock. Either way, Jordan’s eyes look amazing in both and that is the focal point of the image.
 
💃 @jordanebbitt

The many faces of Cariad ➡️ 1, 2, 3 ?

I mentioned this in a story yesterday, one of my favourite things about photography is meeting new people. I’m a people person, this is why I’d make a crappy landscape photographer. I’d much rather meet someone new, learn about them, find out who they are and then try and capture them for how I see them. I can’t pretend that it’s just me, Cariad is a pro and she knows what she is doing in front of a camera. But the process of taking a more honest image is only achieved through a mutual trust, something that is earned not given. 

As a wise man once said, be awesome to each other. I think it’s as simple as that. A lesson I learned early and I find helps to get the most out of a shoot. It took me a long time to realise that I picked this up in my early days of photography but I use it today at work. Meeting people, learning who they are, gaining their trust, working out what makes them tick and getting the most out of them is how I take photos and how I run a team. 

Either way, this is the wonderful Cariad. She has a vintage elegance straight from the silver screen and is full of life. I’m very lucky to have met this happy soul and editing these photos just now was a nice way to hide from the storm.

Thanks for being awesome Ms B 😊
 💃🏻 @cariadcelis Shot at the Buckle Factory which is sadly no more

Story telling with Nausicaa ➡️ Pick a fav

Friday was a lot of fun! A day with one goal, to be creative with my friend @nausicaa_yami_ We realised we hadn’t actually shot together since May, despite meeting socially many times since. So this all felt very normal, two friends hanging out in a studio with a camera or two.

Nausicaa once told me she doesn’t like wearing clothes, a statement that was in conflict to the small department store of clothes she had brought with her. I was particularly taken by this gorgeous coat and so we made a feature of it. Nausicaa wearing it like pages from a book. I brought two black fabric backdrops with me, forever seeking that contrasty look and hoping to use nothing but the beautiful daylight the space provides. Big shout out to Demetrius (aka Jimmy) of @epitomestudio_ who was super helpful at erecting this scene. 

As ever, thank you Nausicaa for all the laughs and the creative release. 💃🏻 @nausicaa_yami_ 📸 @sambarton_photography 

💡@epitomestudio_

Noémie. Light as a feather, sting like a bee 🐝

I arrived in Paris with a bag full of cameras, but also some rather random accessories that I had brought as an optional prop. This included over 100 black feathers - as you do. This wasn’t a surprise for Noémie, my mood board had a ‘crazy ideas’ section and she was kind (polite?) enough to say that she loved them. 

We both laid out the feathers on the black coloroma. I was keen on the head dress idea and Noémie quickly found a rhythm, laying out the bigger feathers in a ring first.

Once complete, she had to lie down carefully so as not to make the scenery fly away. This was going to be a quick set, but one I had high hopes for as Noémie immediately looked magnificent. 

In case it’s not obvious, she is lying on her back looking up at the camera which must be hard to feel natural. But just like every other set Noémie was quickly at home and very expressive. 

I have printed just one of these so far, but genuinely love them so I suspect I will speed through my remaining black inks printing more of these.

Thank you for being so patient with my crazy ideas Noémie, you really are awesome!

💃 @noemiedoragon

Checkmate ⬛️⬜️ Colour or B&W?

As promised, the light started to trace the back wall of the studio and by lunch time the chess board effect was beginning to show. That was my cue to move the black sofa and Jordan found a suitably contrasty outfit. This was going to be a very black and white set.

I had lunch with a friend recently who said, “I love the shots you took of that very angular model”. It took me a moment, but I realised she meant Jordan. Looking at these images I can see what she means. Jordan is full of confidence and purpose and as a dancer she knows her body. That combination powered these striking and ‘angular’ poses and also gave me a hard time trying to figure out which images I wanted to edit. 

Thanks Jordan, you owned these!

💃 @jordanebbitt

Nausicaa ascending - colour or B&W? ➡️ Scroll for the print.

The title is rather apt, not only did I take these shots from the air to give the appearance of flight, but Nausicaa is in fact flying home as I type this. Coincidentally she is flying back from the Canaries, the same islands that these shots were taken back in May. Love a bit of fate! 

I’ve had a busy weekend of printing and I realised that I’ve learned lot since I got back into it. So much so that I made a YouTube video of my top ten tips in case you are interested in Giclée printing (link in my profile). It’s my excuse for printing photos of Nausicaa who is the gift that keeps giving when I ask myself, “is this photo print worthy” my internal benchmark to decide if I’m going to print my work. I will never tire of creating images that showcase the beauty of the human form, juxtaposed against a rugged and alien looking landscape. Nausicaa was such a good sport as I dragged her from one barren and weather beaten coastline to another. Only very rarely did she treat me to her special, “I’m grumpy” face and even that was mostly in jest. That’s how awesome she is 😊 💃🏻 @nausicaa_yami_ 📸 @sambarton_photography

Lost in the moment ➡️ Scroll for the print.

Jordan has this incredible hair, it defines her look. Despite asking her to straighten her trademark hair I also pushed for these more wild moments that would bring a tear to the eye of any hair stylist. 

I sat down to post just one of these, I edited a couple and then found the one of that I posted first and then stopped as I wanted to see it printed. I always say that I try to come away from a shoot with one or two shots that are print worthy. 

Jordan delivered there time and again. She’s awesome! 

Hope you are feeling better Jordan x
 
💃 @jordanebbitt

Halyna and the button back sofa. 1 or 2, or 3-4

I’ve not seen Halyna in a while as she is off travelling, but she pinged me yesterday asking to share these images together. She specifically wanted this colour one to go first and I liked the second photo in B&W. Which one would you have posted first?

These were taken in the Beltcraft Studios back in August. The studio is filled with gorgeous daylight, but also fun and random antiques like this sofa. I always like to imagine where chairs like this came from, a solicitors office, a bar, perhaps the first class lounge in a train station? I’m sure it has a number of stories to tell and Halyna compliments the idea perfectly as she always has her own story to tell in her images. 

Keep being creative Halyna, it suits you! 💃🏻 @lady_halyna
 📸 @sambarton_photography