Spain 2011 ~ The Lovegrove Workshop ~ Part 3

November 1st, 2011

Day three in Spain was a creative day for Martin and I. We invited two other shooters who have invested heavily in previous workshops to join us and we headed back to the Monastery for another shoot. I don’t think I could ever tire of the place. We took Katy and Maca with us and started shooting around 11am.

01C. Katy in the grass - I love the visual poetry captured with the 100mm lens wide open at f/2.8

02C.

03C. Reflected sunlight was all it needed to bring out the magical colours.

04C. I used a more diffused light for this shot of Maca.

05C. A delicate colour palette was called for for this shot of Katy. By noon we were well into our stride having somewhat recovered from the festivities the night before.

06C. By day three Maca and I were in tune. Resonating and capturing images with a certain gravity.

07F. My Fujifilm X100 came into play when we had zoned in.

08F.

09F. The Fuji gives an intimate close up because of the close proximity of shooting when using it's fixed 35mm equivalent lens.

10C. My favourite shot of the three days has to be this one of Martin and Katy. Martin is one of the best friends I have and Katy is such a free spirit reacting to my cat pose suggestions. I had the plight of the tiger on my mind as I do with increasing regularity nowadays and somehow this magic happened. I lit the shot from above with an Elichrom Quadra A head with the standard diffused reflector rigged on a Lovegrove Avenger boom arm.

11C. Maca and Katy became good friends too.

12F.

13C.

14C.

15C. I last saw Katy in this dress at my book launch. The colours go so well in these surroundings.

16C.

17C. Lit with natural light from three sides.

18C. Katy is an exceptional model.

19F. Nico gave my composition substance. Thanks Nico

20F.

21F.

22F.

23F. The Fujifilm X100 is perfect for figure in the landscape shooting.

24F.

25C. After lunch there was just time for hugs and goodbyes before we went to the beach to relax before our flight home that night.

26F.

27F. Maca, her mum and Katy.

28C. Blaise made it all happen and I'm glad to say she was with us throughout the trip keeping me in check Thank you Blaise xx

Martin’s pictures from the three days will contrast well with my three sets. He captured the big picture and our wonderful location. I’ll be blogging his pictures next week when he returns from India. Please feel free to join Martin and I on our next Spanish adventure next October. Details are here.

Please feel free to comment below.

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26 Comments Add your own

1. Pete | November 1st, 2011 at 8:31 pm

20f is just a stunning bit of story telling. Gorgeous,.

pete
2. Jeremy Gilson | November 1st, 2011 at 8:59 pm

Day 3 was great, thank you again for the opportunity to be part of it
I will be jealous when you go back in the Spring, it is an amazing place and the delegates who book are in for a treat.
3. Chris Hanley | November 1st, 2011 at 10:04 pm

as discussed on flight home from italy, and viewing on ipad, these images are just incredible for so many reasons. and 28 is priceless.
4. Greg Dykes | November 1st, 2011 at 10:13 pm

What an amazing place and such amazing shots.
15 16 & 20 show the place so well.
5. Sona | November 1st, 2011 at 11:22 pm

My oh my;) 24F love love love! Stunning!
6. Ian | November 2nd, 2011 at 6:20 pm

#14 made me mew with pleasure – stunning
7. Brett Symes | November 3rd, 2011 at 9:05 am

oh wow – what a stunning collection of shots. Stand out shots for me have to be 23 and 24. I don’t normally like nude shots but I think these are incredible, the hat really makes it and its beautiful shape seem to echo the shapes of her body
8. damien | November 3rd, 2011 at 1:13 pm

Thank you all for your compliments. I’m still in the process of coming back down to Earth after what has been a fabulous two weeks. I’m wiser, definately older and I’ve learned a great deal about photography and life. We have barely scratched the surface of the picture opportunities in this part of Spain. I’m going back next Autumn. To the Monestary if it is still there and to several other fab locations too. With new models and new lighting styles perhaps to create a fresh set of pictures and make new friends. The workshop dates have been released and I’d love you to join Martin and I. First come, first serve. All the info is here.
9. Helen | November 3rd, 2011 at 2:35 pm

Hello, Love these especially 16c & 20F. Which lens did you use for them Damien?
10. david cooke | November 3rd, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Nice to see a photo of Blaise, great shoot great place.
11. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:09 am

Thanks Pete.
12. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:11 am

Thanks Jeremy,

The Spain 2012 workshops are online now but they are not in the spring as I suggested they are in October again. Exciting times ahead!

Best regards, Damien.
13. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:12 am

Thanks Chris
14. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:12 am

Thanks Greg.
15. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:14 am

Thank you Sona, That file is destined for an art print and my next book. I get so excited when it all comes together like this. Your compliments mean a great deal.

Kindest regards,

Damien.
16. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:21 am

Thanks Ian
17. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:37 am

Thanks Brett,

It was an exciting trip. Thanks for you compliments. I think I will have to print those two shots of Katy on the finest cotton rag. I’m so glad I used the Fuji, it just seemed so right.

Catch up soon, Damien.
18. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:46 am

Hi Helen,

The 16c shot was taken with my Canon (hence the c) and I used a 50mm lens. The 20f shot was taken with my Fuji X100 and that has a 35mm equivelent lens. I hope this helps. Thank you for your compliments. Damien.
19. damien | November 7th, 2011 at 1:55 am

Thank you David. Blaise makes it all happen so it was great that she could join us. Cheers, Damien.
20. Romana Fotograf Praha | November 7th, 2011 at 8:35 am

Damien, 20F is such a killer shot . Loving the golden feel, the light and shade – gorgeous.
21. Andrew Cresswell | November 8th, 2011 at 8:35 pm

Love 18C Damien, getting the contrast right post production really finishes the shot. I must say I am very impressed with the performance of the fugi, I love my G10 but I may be swayed seeing shots like this.
22. damien | December 8th, 2011 at 10:53 am

Thank you Ramana
23. damien | December 8th, 2011 at 11:02 am

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for your compliments. I’d consider replacing your G10 with the new Fuji X10. Both are pocketable cameras with a zoom but that’s where the similarities end. I still have a G10 that I’ll be swapping out for an X10 after Christmas when the prices have dropped a bit further.

Cheers, Damien.
24. Barbara | April 17th, 2012 at 9:31 pm

Damien,
the Monastery looks very interesting. Will you give me a hint how to find this lost and abandoned place? I will be near Murcia in May and would be glad to take some pics there as well. Thx Barbara
25. damien | April 22nd, 2012 at 10:41 am

Hi Barbara,

Sorry but I’m sworn to secrecy. I was told of the place by a local and I was shown pictures taken there by another UK photographer who asked me not to broadcast the location. I used Google Earth and the internet to pin point it and thewn flew out to recce it. This October I’ll be taking another group of photographers to the site and I don’t want it to have been boarded up by then etc. It is in the middle of nowhere so not a target for vandels.
Kind regards, Damien.
26. Barbara | May 11th, 2012 at 4:29 pm

Hi Damien,

I fully understand your situation. Due to an accident I had to cancel the trip to Spain anyway. May be I will participate in one of your workshops one day preferable in Spain. Best regards Barbara