PORTFOLIO RESEARCH MAGDALENA BERNY

Children Photography by Magdalena Berny

Biography

Magdalena Berny – self-taught, amateur photographer based in Poland, mother of two.

Over the years, she has managed to create her own quite, distinctive style. Works by Magdalena Berny have been published in Polish and foreign press dedicated to photography, illustrations used as guides to photographing children and also used for book covers.

About Magdalena Berny: “Children as the subject of my photos appeared with their coming into the world. They were and are the cause; they determine the choice of subject of my photos. Photography for me is not only for catching the moments lived with children, it is also a record of my own emotions, sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. How I ‘steal’ the look and emotions of children is due, in large, to my own feelings. In addition to the joy and happiness in my photographs, often viewers see a reflection, thoughtfulness and even sadness. In photography, I rather avoid references to the modern world and I often try to embed them in a climate of fairy tales. The inspiration for me as a photographer is all that surrounds me – broadly defined art, light and places where I live everyday as well as those that I manage to visit, and would later become sceneries of my photos”.

Click here to visit Magdalena Berny’s official site.

Fast Facts

Camera: Nikon D800, Nikon d300.
Photographer: Sally Mann, Jacqueline Roberts, Deborah Parkin.
Food: Pizza and pasta.
Book: Alice in Wonderland. Le Petite Prince.

Q & A

- How did you start out professionally in photography? To be honest, I think I haven’t started yet because I'm not professional photographer. Photography is my great passion. I do it because I love to do it.

-What is your typical camera setup on a shoot? I always shoot with manual settings, often I set the focus manually. I love to work with prime lenses 85/1.8 and 50/1.4 Nikkor. In photography, I am looking for pleasure and fun. Recently my favourite lens is a Lensbaby Muse.

-How would you best describe your style of photography? My works are pure and simple. I do not need sophisticated objects as props for my photos. I use a flower, a leaf and a blade of grass. I think less is more. Everything I need for my photos I try to find in my location. I use a reduced and harmonious colour palette. In my photographs I avoid flashy colour combinations and patterns. Everything is rather subdued and creates a harmonious whole. 

I want my images to looks like illustrations of fairy tales, those written and those that have not been written yet.

-How do you go about building a relationship and trust between you and your models? Children are one of the most pleasant and popular photographic subjects. For many people this subject is seen as the easiest.

I think it is not easy to shoot children and still be interesting, original and capture a unique photo. The best images reflect the mood of the moment. You have to be really patient to do it. It is really important to accustom children to the presence of the camera.

-What is your post-production workflow like? I thoroughly prepare for each session. All effects that I achieve in the picture I try to have as early as when I press the shutter. There is nothing in my pictures than I create in post-processing. My treatment is merely to strengthen or weaken the effects already achieved.

-What inspires you? It is true is that I find inspiration everywhere.
My biggest inspiration is the world around me, especially nature and available light. I am also inspired by art (broadly defined). I love to read, watch films and listen to
music. 

I'm always looking for inspiration around me, in my immediate environment. It's really great. I do not have to go anywhere far to find sceneries for my photos. I can see it through my house window.

In my outdoor pictures, nature provides the background for a model but it is often a very important element, as important as the model. In my photographs children live in perfect symbiosis with the nature that surrounds them, gives them shelter. Nature is the world into which they invite us. 

-Is there a single photograph that you are most proud of? I can't tell if there is a single photo. I think (and I sincerely hope) that I do not have such a photo. I will continue to try to do this every time and create something that I will be most proud of.

-What was the best career advice you were ever given? You must be patient at first, and you must really love what you do. All the best takes its origin from passion and love.

A very cool and crisp image.  Colour coordinated the subjects piercing blue eyes highlight the blue outfit .  She just melts into the background. Im wondering is the back ground photoshopped as the hat looks a little painted in ?

Another colour coordinated image.  Perhaps that is something I could take from these images perhaps be much more aware of colours in the children clothing ? Natural setting I like that she brings that perspective into her photographs that is what I am trying to bring into mine.

The delicate  and gentleness of the image and colours are amazing.  Especially effective is the edge blur.

Very dramatic and very colour effective.  Black background fits this image perfectly.  A centred  subject .  I love how her dress flows and looks so soft and disappears into the background.

This is such a beautiful image , I love this I will definitely attempt to do a similar shoot at some stage in time.

These images are very beautiful and dramatic.  I wish I could put them all up to show as they are so gorgeous.  

But for me today this isn't the type of photography I want to focus on.  These are more set up  and directed ,  there is absolutely nothing wrong with that idea but for me right now I need to find some more confusion , homely,  family images.

This is definitely a type of photography I would like to do with Sissy perhaps later on when I become more experienced and confident as I think she could quite happily pose for me.

Another technique I love in these images is the narrow depth of field .  I am totally convinced that I should do some more shots this weekend with a narrow depth of field especially with Tamati and Sissy .

Also the colours are amazing  and very crisp . With  the natural lighting as in the above image it shines beautifully on her hair and on the leaves in the foreground and back ground. 

Even though these images aren't what I am portraying in my portfolio I definitely have got ideas from this photographer .  Narrow depth of field again , Lighting , and colour coordination definitely works.

Another idea I could is I could  work with nature more similar to  Magdalena and try placing children where I want them , not a easy task with mine though .

I have noticed in my research today  the photographers only have 2 children and they are girls unlike my group of subjects haha but they do look well behaved perhaps another thought to take on board.

I like this image of Sissy but she isn't looking at the camera but I think it is interesting , what is she thinking is she chasing ants on the ground ? This image is not as beautiful as Magdalena's . Magdalena's photos are very bright , I would like to capture that with Sissy , practise makes perfect !

This is a bit more brighter and vibrant but its not totally in focus .  Colourful but I havent really caught this image Im after.  Magdalenas images have the right contrasting colours in the above image we have to much colours clashing.

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