Flora

Model: Sofie | Make-up: Merel van Boxel | Canon 5Ds / EF 135mm F/2.0L USM | 1/160 - f/6.3 - iso 100

This photograph is a little nod to Flora by Titian, which can be found at the Uffizi Gallery in Italy. It's personally one of the most beautiful paintings I've ever seen (and yes, I've seen quite a few by now). It hangs somewhere along a corridor filled with many other paintings by this great master. Plenty of people walk straight past it, which is a real shame.

Although Titian's Flora is lit much more evenly, I chose to give my own interpretation to the photograph. The differences include using several flowers, leaving one breast exposed to emphasise the beauty of the female form, and choosing a more reserved pose.

The light came from the left, as you can clearly see from the shadows on the face. A reflector on the right prevented that side from disappearing completely into darkness. By tilting Sofie's head downwards, I created not only a more serene pose but also a sense of mystery, as her eyes fall into shadow.

Although the flowers and the exposed breast initially draw the most attention, your gaze eventually finds its way to her face. And that's where the photograph becomes much more interesting, in my opinion.