Yesterday I had the pleasure of working with a couple and their little daughter, who requested a special session in the Havana Forest. The goal was to capture the tenderness and family connection in a natural setting, playing with light and color to highlight the little girl amidst the intense green of the trees and vegetation.
For this session, I used my Canon 5D Mark III, accompanied by two lenses: the Canon 50mm f/1.8, always stopped down to f/2.8 to achieve sharp focus on the subjects and a soft bokeh that separated the family from the background, and the Praktica 135mm f/2.8, ideal for more intimate shots and slightly compressing the scene, emphasizing the relationship between the forest elements and the family.
I focused on creating contrast between the green of the forest and the colors of the family’s clothing and skin, taking advantage of the natural light filtering through the tree canopy. Each shot was carefully composed to balance the background and the subjects, using depth of field to direct attention to the little girl and the parents’ expressions, while preserving the textures of the environment as emotional and visual context.
What was particularly interesting about this session was how the combination of lenses allowed me to vary the perspective: with the 50mm I captured closer scenes that show interaction and connection, and with the 135mm I captured intimate details and more “candid” shots, conveying the naturalness of the moment. The session was challenging due to the changing light in the forest, but each image reflected the harmony between family and nature.
While waiting for the family to arrive, I took some black and white photos using a Carl Zeiss 300mm Sonnar f/4 and a Steinheil macro lens, capturing details of the forest, dogs, and small elements of nature around me. These images can be seen on my blog and in the black and white photography community.
Thank you for taking the time to view my post. I will be happy to read your critiques and opinions, and I will respond to every question or comment you may have.
