In the universe (well, the one we’re in at least), entropy is king. I know the liberties that I’ve taken with that re-statement of the second law of thermodynamics would be enough to make any physical chemist quizzically raise an eyebrow (and I do know one who just might do so). But, entropy, disorder, chaos or clutter is pretty much a part of life as we know it. I have constantly made futile attempts at keeping clutter from taking over my pictures (and my desk), and yet it has always found a way to creep back in.
Cue internal dialogue:
You know what would push this shot from good to great? A hair light! No, make it two!
Hmmm, maybe we could amp this shot up by having the model dress up in Filipiniana…
Or maybe a full band can be blurred in the background to give it a ballroom-like atmosphere?
In the course of shooting portraits, it is so easy to forget that it should be about your subject (or subjects) first — always.
Thus, armed with a single strobe, I am off to beat the chaos back into the darkness from whence it came.
