Flowers for The Brave

[DanOstergren18]

A few of my favorites from a recent photo session I did with my friend Alex, who is a retired USMC. These are part of an ongoing project I have been working on where I photograph ruggedly handsome men in wildflowers. I had been working on this project for several months and figured it was something Alex wouldn't be interested in, until he texted me this week asking "why haven't you made me look all romantic and majestic in some flowers yet?". So we did just that a couple days ago.

Lit using natural light and a reflector.
1

2

3

4

5

 

[CherylL1]

#4 and #5 are my favorites

 

[DanOstergren18]

#4 and #5 are my favorites

Thank you! I'm glad you like them.

 

[Tinstafl106]

Four and five are mine too.

 

[denum107]

Ok, I'll throw in my vote for 1 & 3. B&W seems to work for me, and I appreciate that the subject is not looking at the camera. Why that works for me mystifies me but it just does.

 

[Hardus Nameous106]

If his tatoos were the subject colour would be required but as they aren't, I prefer three and four. Four seems the classic style portrait and I love the contrast and tones in three.

 

[Sil]

beautiful pictures...

 

[DanOstergren18]

Four and five are mine too.

Glad you like them!

 

[DanOstergren18]

Ok, I'll throw in my vote for 1 & 3. B&W seems to work for me, and I appreciate that the subject is not looking at the camera. Why that works for me mystifies me but it just does.

Thank you. Sometimes an image just works without any explanation. I'm glad you enjoy them.

 

[DanOstergren18]

If his tatoos were the subject colour would be required but as they aren't, I prefer three and four. Four seems the classic style portrait and I love the contrast and tones in three.

Thank you so much, I'm glad you like them and appreciate your comments.

I very often photograph people who are heavily tattooed or have very unique or uniquely placed tattoos, but I always see the tattoos simply as a part of the person that I'm photographing and secondary to the subject of the photos. That said, even if the tattoos were the main focus, I try not to stay within any set of rules or standards. I'm more inclined to follow my feelings on any individual shot or set of photos, meaning if black and white feels right, I'll make it black and white even if the tattoos were the main focus of the photo.

 

[terri26]

Fabulous set. Hard to argue with #s 4 and 5, but the whole set is unique.

Great work.

 

[DanOstergren18]

Fabulous set. Hard to argue with #s 4 and 5, but the whole set is unique.

Great work.

Thank you! I really love 4 and 5 as well, but 1 is by far my favorite. I love the idea of laying in a bed of wildflowers, though in reality I've gotten the same response from multiple models: it's scratchy and itchy!

 

[terri26]

Thank you! I really love 4 and 5 as well, but 1 is by far my favorite. I love the idea of laying in a bed of wildflowers, though in reality I've gotten the same response from multiple models: it's scratchy and itchy!

Exactly. It looks better than it feels! But your photo keeps the dream alive.

 

[DanOstergren18]

Exactly. It looks better than it feels! But your photo keeps the dream alive.

lol I think this might be a similar sentiment from many living in Portland Oregon...