Eventually some visitors came to the beach, including sea gulls and machines that groomed the shoreline sand. We responded by sending Hana running at the gulls. This was possibly my favorite part of the shoot, even if the exposure wasn't timed to sync with the focus. I also enjoyed trying more traditional portraits with the longer focal length 150 mm lens. The Sonnar lens sometimes surprises me with perfectly sharp focus on the eyes. I especially like how the one with her hands folded turned out.
I am noticing that each time I shoot a portrait session this summer, I feel myself improving -- trying new things, getting more comfortable suggesting poses, and mixing up the shots for more variety. I am enjoying this process. I also have learned how to scan negatives to really make the images pop. I chose to bring these into digital with "high key" exposure. Even though the morning light was soft, I felt there was something really bright and playful in the mood. The softness of the morning light allowed me to bring up highlights without blowing them out -- a look that I really appreciate. Film gives me the flexibility in exposure to do this.
Equipment used: Hasselblad 500 c/m, Distagon 50 CF, Sonnar 150 CF, Delta 400 b&w film, Epson Perfection V700