Portrait of Daniel Hyde

This portrait is one of my favourites from a very difficult year. It's of Daniel Hyde, Director of Music of the Kings College Choir, Cambridge and conductor. The portrait was taken in the Kings College Chapel where the choir practices and performs. After having a good look around the chapel and being directed where was possible to shoot, I identified a spot where I would take his portrait and shot some test images for the best possible angle for the images. Once I was satisfied with the lighting, I had some time to look around and try to see something else that would excite the surrealist in me. Prior to the shoot I would look over images of the space, when I can, to give me some inspiration and I noticed the ornate ceilings the chapel had as well as the stained glass windows. I knew I would need to stay away from an image that look like priest in chapel. I wanted to get a frame looking up without shooting too wide in getting the rest of the chapel in. I laid on the floor and took a test shot looking up and started to get that feeling that this was going to be special. although the frame didn't show the stained glass windows. So I put the camera on the floor with a self timer setting and estimated the focal point and used a wide 16mm - 35mm lens..... Got it! Next was to convince Daniel to agree! When Daniel arrive I first took the pictures on my first set up which went really and I shot some variations too. And then to the shot I was excited about. I asked him to have a tune in his head that he could conduct too and place him into a position that made the most of the backdrop and angle. Since its was on a timer I had to place the camera on the floor and instructed Daniel to move his arms in a certain way and position his body just right. It was a slow process but the results were amazing. I have also included some of the first set up too for you to see.