Urban Contrasts
For this shoot I wanted to not only create a contrast between light and shadow but between subject and environment. To further accentuate this contrast I had to make sure the location gave the sense of urban atmosphere and had minimal foliage and vegetation. After exploring some questionable locations that fit the profile but didn't inspire a great sense of safety, I had a lightbulb moment - the train station in Kazichene just outside of Sofia. Despite it being a new and a very clean looking station, every time I visited it before it had always been desolate. It's no platform 9 and 3/4 and that is just what I was looking for. A few hundred meters down there lies the old Royal station building, which I wanted us to visit first and initially thought it would prove a great location for the shoot - a derelict, early 20th century train station. Sounds perfect doesn't it? Well, it isn't. Turns out it photographs better as such - abandoned and free of people. After quickly finding out it didn't quite fit the overall aesthetic of the shoot, we moved on to the new station and sure enough when we got there it was as empty as ever. It was an overcast day with the sun poking out every now and again, just when we needed it the most. In short, the light was perfect, Julia’s modelling was effortless, and we got some amazing urban images.
It should come as no surprise that I, yet again, used the Mamiya RB67 and a roll of Ilford HP5+ film.
