For another great action portrait, try posing the model in a swimming
pool or hot tub. Then, have her quickly raise her arms up and out of the
water. You can also have the model jump out of the water after submerg-
ing herself—or, if you don’t want the hair wet, just have her stand in shal-
low water then jump up.
Other forms of action poses that highlight a sense of direction can
come from a model working out, with or without weights. Photograph the
model with a long lens for nice background-subduing compression and a
tight composition. Action can be as
simple as a model kicking back in a
lounge chair at the pool or floating
on an inflatable lounge in the same
pool. Try to crop the chair or float
to frame the body’s natural pose.
The float indicates action and the
model’s position indicates direction
in the image, lines that are all
formed by her pose.
Having a model, like Stephanie here, play with the water makes for a great bust-up
pose. The key is to shootmanyimages (at least ten to twenty). Even when the water
is perfect, the model’s expression may not be. You can also use the “spray and pray”
method, setting the camera on high-speed motor drive. This is not my preferred
method; I like to make every shot count and sharpen my mind, eye, shutter, and fin-
ger coordination. (Camera:Canon 5D;Lens:Canon 85mm f/1.2L, USM lens, effective
focal length 85mm;ISO:100;Shutter speed:^1 / 100 second;Aperture:f/5;Lighting:
1) Hensel Integra Pro Plus 500 monolight fitted with a small Chimera Super Pro Plus
strip softbox with a Lighttools 40-degree grid for the main light, 2) Hensel Integra Pro
Plus monolight 500 fitted with a 7-inch reflector and a 10-degree grid for an accent
light on the model, 3) Hensel Integra Pro Plus 500 fitted with a 7-inch reflector and
a 20-degree grid pointed into the water;White balance:6000K)