Photographer Series: Exposure: David Poata

by edit@cnet.com.au (Alexandra Savvides)
Exposure is a series of photo galleries showcasing photographic talent in Australia. Our featured photographers share their best shots and give us an insight into both their creative and technical processes. If you are interested in being featured in Exposure, or know any photo buffs who might be, contact us at cnet@cnet.com.au.

(Credit: David Poata)

Biography: David Poata, director and photographer

Speciality: Fashion, Beauty, Advertising, Editorial

David is an emerging fashion photographer, who previously spent 10 years touring and recording as a bass player and vocalist in a variety of reggae, funk, rock, fusion and original bands around Western Australia. After assisting a local photographer he developed a deep passion for the creative arts and decided to make the transition.

He believes to truly capture beauty one must first recognise and accept this truth within one's self, as this certainty is reflected internally and affects how we see, conceptualise and interact with the world around us. From this place of quiet certitude, free of judgement and expectation, is where his best work manifests.

"The only real transcendence is recognising the unified nature of existence, so that one may forego adjectives and see the simple energy manifest in myriad form."

David's website can be found at www.davidpoata.com.

Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK III, Hire Hasselblad H3DII-50 and Leica S2 as required.

Stacia Voronkova (RIP) This is a snapshot of a dear friend Stacia Voronkova who passed away in December 2005. We met when I was studying Visual Communications at North Lake Community College. I was so enthusiastic and asked her if she would like to be my very first model. At the time I had huge aspirations with very little technical knowledge. I'll always remember her beautiful smile and her willingness to put herself out there and do whatever it took to get the shot. She was a friend and my muse and I miss her dearly. Stacia is never forgotten and will always be remembered. This image was taken with a Canon point and shoot on Aperture priority with a pop-up flash (film was Fuji press 800) (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) 2008 Kooey swimwear campaign This backlit shot was a challenge to shoot as I wanted to capture the star burst from the sun without blowing out the highlights or losing detail in the image. The Hasselblad H3DII-39 has 12 stops of dynamic range, a wide enough latitude which helped immensely in capturing detail in the shadows and highlights without the need for compressing the exposure with a neutral density filter. Equipment: Hasselblad H3DII-39, HC 50-110mm zoom Exposure: f/5.6 @ 1/180th, ISO 100 Lighting: Elinchrom Ranger RX AS pack with a 27-inch silver beauty dish on boom from above. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Emily Cattermole @ Chadwicks I had fun with this shot. I used the Hasselblad H3DII-39 and the HC 28mm wide-angle lens. The model's legs were lengthened creating a diminishing perspective leading the eye upwards to the centre of the frame. ISO 400 was used to help blow out the highlights creating a high key effect. I shot this from underneath the model, in an upside down position, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the end result. Equipment: Hasselblad H3DII-39, HC 28mm Exposure: f/4 @ 1/250th, ISO 400 Lighting: Elinchrom Ranger RX AS pack with a 27-inch silver beauty dish on boom from below. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Lino Lopez Another portrait from my student days in 2005. Friend and boxer Lino Lopez was kind enough to sit in for this one. This was shot on film, I much prefer the convenience, instant preview and ergonomics of the digital work flow. Equipment: Minolta 700si, Tamron 28-200mm zoom Exposure: f4 @ 1/60th, ISO 400, Film Kodak TCN-400 Lighting: key light - tungsten head with snoot from above. Background lit with tungsten head and standard reflector low to the floor. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Hannah Newman A beauty shot for a model's book. This is a very simple, clean, one light set-up. I'm a keen proponent for simplicity. The model is Hannah Newman @ Chadwicks. Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK II, 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Exposure: f/8 @ 1/160th, ISO 100 Lighting: 22-inch white beauty dish on boom from above. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) 2007 PFF campaign A beauty shot of Fabienne Vanderhaeghen @ Chadwicks for the 2007 Perth Fashion Festival Campaign. Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK II, 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Exposure: f/8 @ 1/160th, ISO 100 Lighting: key light - large octabox on boom from above. Background lit by two Bowens heads metered one stop above key @ f/11. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Fashion editorial This image (model: Skye Stracke @ Viviens) is one of several from an editorial fashion spread for Kurv magazine. Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK II, 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Exposure: f/11 @ 1/160th, ISO 100 Lighting: key light - Bowens Gemini 500Ws head with standard open reflector connected to Travel Pak kit (metered @ f/11). The hair/rim light is the sun, metered @ f/16. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Kooey swimwear campaign This was the Lee Preston Hair One of several winning images for the L'oreal Young Stylist of the Year award shot for Lee Preston Hair. Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK II, 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Exposure: f/8 @ 1/160th, ISO 100 Lighting: 22-inch white beauty dish from above. White background lit with two Bowens strobes either side with soft boxes @ f/11. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com) Tony G Fellow photographer Tony G sat in for me on this test shoot as I wanted to preview a piece of sheer fabric in a portrait for an upcoming beauty concept. Equipment: Canon 1Ds MK III, 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Exposure: f/8 @ 1/160th, ISO 100 Lighting: medium soft box directly overhead with a white reflector under the chin as fill. (Credit: David Poata, www.davidpoata.com)

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