How these dramatic photos were created in-camera

In this era when you can make pretty much anything in Photoshop, it’s always interesting to learn how artists achieve some creative effects without the help of it. Photographer Alexis Cuarezma shot some interesting, dramatic and colorful fitness shots. Although it may look like he heavily edited them, he actually achieved the effect entirely in camera. In this walkthrough video, he guides you through his process, explains how he took the photos and how he achieved the look he wanted.

Alexis shot the images on a Canon 5DS paired with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens. He used only two lights: Profoto B1X 500 lights modified with Profoto 50 Degree Magnum reflectors. To get the effect he wanted, Alexis used filters in front of his lens. For some of the images, he would stack four filters before taking the shot.

As Alexis explains, he wanted to turn a dull cloudy sky into something dramatic and do it all in-camera. So, he made sure to have the right gear, but also choose the right location so he could photograph his model against the sky and not see any power lines or trees.

Even though you can achieve a lot in post, doing it all in-camera saves you the time you’d spend editing photos. But more importantly, it is a welcome challenge that makes you push your creative boundaries.

Make sure to watch the video for the entire walkthrough, and here are a few more photos from the shoot:

[Fitness Shoot with 2 Lights, Dramatic Skies & Color Lighting Walk Through via FStoppers]