Fun Photos Behind The Scenes
Finn McLeod-Ireland photographed, behind the scenes, while filming Summer Coda.
Making candid photos can be great fun, whether traveling the world or when making behind the scenes images as a stills photographer for TV and motion pictures.
One of my best experiences working as a stills photographer was on the set of the Richard Gray Australian motion picture film, Summer Coda.
As well as making numerous photos during the production of the film I also made use of every opportunity to create behind the scenes photos featuring cast and crew.
On one such occasion I photographed the then child actor, Finn McLeod-Ireland.
The above photo provides a glimpse of a typical behind the scenes moment on a film or television production.
I was standing outside and made the image through a window in a house surrounded by orange groves near the town of Buronga in southwest NSW. This lovely house featured numerous times in the filming of Summer Coda.
The lights were on, the camera rolling and our then young, up and coming actor was just about to walk on set.
While not much more than a snapshot I like the somewhat abstract nature of the image with its inside/outside, neither here nor there, quality.
Portrait of Finn McLeod-Ireland during the filming of Summer Coda.
Candid Photos: My Preferred Process
Once the scene was, as they say, in the can I continued to photograph Finn, but only after asking permission from Finn's mother, Thea McLeod, to do so.
I then approached Finn to make sure he was happy to be photographed. I very much wanted to create a series of images by which both Finn and his mum could better remember the day over the years to come.
To that end variety seemed important.
I started with a quick head and shoulder portrait of Finn, made under lovely open shade. I figured then, once a basic level of trust had been established, that it was time to head further afield.
Actor Finn McLeod-Ireland underneath an orange tree near Buronga in Australia.
Making Portraits Out Of Bright Sunlight
We then took a short walk into a nearby orange grove where I photographed Finn under the shade of a large tree, laden with fruit.
The film was made during December in and around the town of Mildura in northwest Victoria. Buronga is just over the border, on the other side of the might Murray River.
December is summer in Australia and it gets terrible hot in the Sunraysia region at that time of year.
As the sun gets hotter the dynamic range of the scene increases. This makes it harder to produce images with acceptable shadow and/or highlight detail. As a result shadows can photograph black and highlights burn out.
The photos in this post were made with my first digital camera, a Canon 5D. It was a really good digital camera for that time, but nothing like what’s available today.
And I’m not just talking about file size or the ability to photograph at relatively high iso’s without producing photos displaying unacceptable levels of noise.
One of the greatest advantages of modern 14-Bit DSLR and Mirrorless cameras is their ability to produce technically acceptable results when photographing scenes of relatively high dynamic range.
I wish I had such a camera back then but, after upgrading three times since I’d bought my faithful Canon 5D, I’m very much looking forward to the arrival of my latest camera.
It’s the Sony Alpha 1 and I can’t wait to get it into my hands and put it to good use.
But, back when these photos were made, I could only dream of the technology that’s offered by the new Sony Alpha 1. I had to make the most of old school approaches to creating photos.
That meant finding suitable places to photograph Finn, which is why I headed for the shade for each and every picture in this series.
Unfortunately there were few spots were I could totally exclude bright sunlight from the composition. I choose to expose for the darker areas and accept that the bright shafts of light would result in burned out highlights, devoid of details.
These days I’d choose the opposite approach. I’d reduce the overall scene brightness range by exposing for optimal highlight rendition and then lighten the shadows on the desktop as part of my post processing workflow.
Technique Often Comes Second To Emotional Impact
As a photographer it’s difficult for me to look at these technically inadequate photos. But I did the best I could, given the restrictive nature of the environment I was photographing in and the fact that I only had a few minutes to make the pictures I did.
It’s important for photographers to realize that, while technique is important, when you’re making photos for someone else such concerns are not always what determines the success of your photos.
Don’t forgot the power of emotion, mood, expression and gesture. And let’s also recognize the value that’s often added to a photo over time.
Memory is, after all, one of the reason we make photos in the first place.
The enthusiasm you show is infectious and helps ensure a collaborative portrait.
Enthusiasm Is Infectious When Making Photos
I love making photos and, while a number of themes and concerns underpin my photography, I’m all about creating beautiful, life-affirming photos.
Despite the oppressive heat, the hard light and high contrast conditions I was working under, my enthusiasm was hard to contain.
Enthusiasm is, by its very nature, infectious and Finn immediately picked up on my enthusiasm. Eager to join in on the fun Finn’s attitude ensured a positive outcome to this short photo session.
Though we didn’t have long together, we had a lot of fun making photos around this wonderful farm house in the orange groves near the town of Mildura in rural Australian.
Photographing kids is fun. It helps us remember the positivity of childhood.
Photographing Kids Is Fun
Of course it’s easier, when working with kids, if you’re able to make a game of it.
I only had to ask Finn to lay down, spreadeagled in the grass, and down he went.
If the role was reversed it wouldn’t necessarily go so smoothly. In my case getting down is not the issue, but getting back up again can be a problem.
I'm happy that the images in this post depict some of the joy and carefree nature of childhood.
Let's face it, such notions are often easier to achieve outdoors, in a natural environment, than is the case in a studio filled with artificial light and fake backgrounds.
Studio environments often produce quite contrived results which turned me off working in that kind of environment a very long time ago.
I prefer creating portraits that display a more authentic and candid nature.
I’ve written an extensive article titled Definition Of A Candid Portrait which delves into just what candid photography is and how to go about creating great candid photos.
Finn McLeod-Ireland photographed near the town of Buronga in NSW, Australia.
Photos Made Behind The Scenes
Despite a range of difficulties associated with photographing for film and TV I've had the pleasure to meet and work with a range of wonderful people.
The irony is that, despite doing my utmost to make quality images of actors on set, my best memories come from working behind the scenes with cast and crew in more authentic, less contrived situations.
For this is where creativity flows and the challenges of working with light, environment and subject really bring one into the moment.
Making behind the scenes candid photos on film and television productions has provided me with many challenges and just as many fantastic memories.
The pressure, long hours and often arduous working conditions is most certainly not for everyone. Yet, after all these years, I still thrive upon the challenges photography projects provide.
