Reading Lady

Model: Doreen | Make-up: Tina van Lent | Artwork boek: Els Peters | Canon 5D mk II / EF 85mm F/1.8 USM | 1/160 - f/5.6 - iso 100

Thematic work was much more common in classical painting than it is in photography today. That's actually a bit of a shame. In the past, artists created not only portraits but also little scenes and tableaux. They even painted entire battle scenes, although that last option would involve a little too much organising for my liking.

The concept behind this photograph is relatively simple, but don't be fooled: there was still a lot of work involved beforehand.

You need to think carefully about what you want to create and make sure you have everything you need. I already had the fabrics, but the other props were still missing. Even finding the right glass can turn into quite a quest (I eventually bought one online). The kettle came straight from my parents' house.

We already knew that reading would be the theme, but the first step was finding little books with the right old-fashioned feel. Once I had found them, they still needed something inside. A post on Facebook led me to Els Peters, who lived nearby. She created a beautiful drawing and accompanying text for the book.

The light in this photograph came from the upper left. On the opposite side, I placed a large reflector to even out the lighting. That reflector is what creates the little patch of light on her back, which I personally think is a lovely detail.