Monday, October 28, 2013

The Dark Raven... Simply Muna. by Montreal Glamour Portrait Photographer Hera Bell

Simply Muna. She is a pro fitness competitor who  ranked top 6th in the world competition  at Las Vegas this year.

" If I were a raven, I will fly over your forbidden dreams during hot summer nights like the dark temptress. Lawrence of Arabia would envy you, but my darling, you are so blind. Can you feel me? Do you see me?"

by Hera Bell

Make-up, styling and photo by Hera Bell
Camera Canon 5D Mark III
Single studio strobe.



I Am Free As A Bird. I am Number 925.



Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Half of The Story by Montreal Portrait Photographer Hera Bell


Do you ever feel that sometimes you do not hear the entire story hidden behind its half?

Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
Shot in studio with single light.
Edited in CS6


montreal portrait photographer Hera Bell  Montreal glamour photographer, Montreal boudoir photographer, montreal portrait studio


Saturday, October 5, 2013

3 Snakes, One Nude Ebony Beauty In Studio An Unusual Montreal Glamour Boudoir Portrait Session by Hera Bell

This was the third time for me. Having the pleasure in my studio Pat and his beautiful snakes and photographing them against a beautiful nude skin.

This week Tuesday Widline arrived to my studio around 11am. We right away started the make-up and hair styling process. It took me about an hour to finish that part of the task.

Pat arrived right at noon as promised. He brought 3 amazing snakes with him.

The entire session ended at 12.45pm. Yup. We wrapped up the session by that time.

Everything went smooth. We first introduced gently the first snake to Widline. Ivory which is a Ball Python from West Africa was a bit nervous. By the end of her session in Widline's arms she was completely at ease and relaxed. Voila few results with Ebony (Widline) & Ivory...






Then we  proceed with Saxon The Burmese Python from Asia. What a calm and magnificent creature he is. 8' long, gentile as ever, he discovered our scents with his tongue. They do not bite.


The last but not least Sahara was introduced to Widline. She is a Hog Island Boa constrictor. Totally spectacular and beautiful creature. Calm, gentle. At the end of the session Widline wanted to own her. My subjects bonded so well that it was totally magical in my studio that day.

One secret I can give you on how to photograph such animals with human subjects.

Direct your human subject first. Let the snake move around. Wait until you see the desired image and shapes, then click that shutter.



 


The Sneak Charmer by Hera Bell
Antoine Gaudi's building La Pedrera in Barcelona.


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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Fine Art Nudes Exploring Shapes & Forms And Trying To Create Poetry by Montreal Portrait Photographer Hera Bell

There is nothing more beautiful and poetic than photographing the human body. In all its shapes and forms.

However I am constantly after capturing the spirit of my subjects through their faces where the lips and the eyes sit. Even when they are looking away from the camera.

Make up, hair, styling and photography was all done by me.

Camera: Canon 5D MarkIII. Lens: Canon 24-105 f/4   One single studio strobe Bowen 1000 Watts (with umbrella) .




Studio Hera Bell, Montreal portrait photographer, Montreal Boudoir Photographer, Montreal glamour photographer, Montréal Hera Bell, Black nude model Montreal fashion photographer

Friday, September 20, 2013

Our Attraction To Human Skin by Montreal Fine Art Nudes Portrait Photographer Hera Bell

November 17 2004. James was in my studio. It is his birthday today. Happy Birthday J.



Later on, PBS USA contacted me. They wanted to do a 15 minutes on TV at Art Express on me.

They came in town. And I had to do an actual shoot, with a male and a female (while they were posing nude).. However we could not show butts and boobs. Check the link to see what was shown on conservative public television after they have taped.

Gutsy I must add.
Hera Bell On USA PBS Art Express

 That particular show that I have appeared had so huge rating that they used it at their annual fundraiser campaign.

 Human skin attracts attention, no matter what.




Thursday, September 19, 2013

Topic Of The Day. Quebec Charter Changes Montreal Portrait Photographer Hera Bell


This morning I was digging out some old CD's.. I came across to some images which brought back fantastic memories. Pictures tend to do this.

In January 2008 Bernard and Marina were in my studio. Bernard had just returned from a contract in an Arab country for a TV station. He had asked me what I would like to have from the country. I said, burka... Afghani burkas are colorful. Saudi burkas are totally black.

The next thing, husband and wife were posing for me in my old downtown studio with my gift.

I have always imagined creating a photo about extremeness of women in both societies. Western versus Middle East. Being born as a Christian in a secular Muslim city like Istanbul I had never felt what's going on in the world now. I hear Turkey is changing as well.


I also had traveled for business as a woman to several Arab countries. I have seen and experienced all cultures. I learnt to respect other cultures yet I have always kept my own believes.

The first shot is called: The Portrait Of Newly Weds.
Go ahead and analyze it.



 The second one is called "Her Alter Ego Behind Closed Doors" Both of the woman in the shot is Marina.
 
 






Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Photographing People Portraits And Fine Art Nudes With Single Studio Light Montreal Glamour Portrait Photographer Hera Bell

I have always loved photographing portraits with one single studio strobe.

Recently I photographed an entire series with two subjects in my studio with single light.

I would like to share some of the results with you today.

I did also the styling, make-up and hair. Camera Canon 5D Mark III.

Thank you Andre for the inspiration.






















Saturday, August 31, 2013

Ageing Together Celebrating Life And Sharing A Life

"Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age."
Victor Hugo

 
To all the love birds out there, may you age happy together by always leaning on to each other's shoulder.

Last Thursday my husband and I, we celebrated 25 years together and 21 years of marriage.






Let There Be Fire... Montreal Glamour Portrait Photographer Hera Bell

"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

George Carlin

"Fire is light-footed and shamanic, dancing between the visible and invisible, undoing matter one collapsed molecule at a time, wreaking utter destruction with a touch softer than breath. Its poor cousins, wind and water, are one-dimensional rubes by comparison. Wind is all push, push, push. Water is suffocating, but passively so. And even when water gets it together to be a torrent or a tsunami, it is but wet wind. Fire is at once elemental and otherworldly. Fire dances on the grave of all it destroys. Fire is serious voodoo.”

Micheal Perry


From my garden to yours with love. Photos were shot by me hand held in August  28th 2013
PS: Thank you Danielle & Simon for this second opportunity collaborating with this project. We achieved well my vision of  "The Shaman and His Sorcerer's Fire Dance" concept together.

Results below are with Lumix GH2 camera. Further down you will see the results with Canon 5DMark III.













Results with 5DMark III are below.






Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Areal Landscape Photography From A Plane's Window- Montreal Photographer Hera Bell

Most of you who know us by now know that Anthony and I travel and we document our travels with actual photos and texts at our travel blog.

Anthony & Hera Travel Adventures

As for people who can't believe that my photography is real and is mine, well, all I can say, I have nothing to prove to unbelievers. Let them walk with their blinders and see only what they believe in and peruse with their rumors.

I am known to edit my work. Half of the art of photography is in the editing of your images, the other half is composing and using the light to your advantage. In the past, before digital era,  I used to print my images in my darkroom. Today Photoshop made it easier to achieve my artistic vision faster and easier.

I sometimes document the realty, much like in my travel photography. My colors are bold, sometimes saturated. But my travel photography are images as composed in my camera, not cropped... I usually travel with a Panasonic Lumix GH2 camera and Lumix lenses. I also capture images with my cell phone Samsung Galaxy SII. People who can't believe that great images can be shot with a cell phone, I welcome them to the new cell phone era. I produced 16"x20" size prints from my Galaxy SII.

The rumor has it that  The Galaxy S5 (which is not out yet) might have an image stabilizer.

In my fine art portrait works. I am known with my very realistic collages. However everything in my collages are shot by me. The backgrounds, locations and the people. Much like in this Blog post.

Creating A Collage

Let me show you how I shoot and edit my areal landscape shots from the plane's window behind a dirty glass. And how it ends up becoming what you see uploaded to my Blogs.

Voila. 







Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Photographing A Very Sexy Muscle Man A Montreal Rescue Fierman And A Pro Fitness Model

Claude is an extremely handsome and a very sweetheart kind of a man.

I had photographed him first last year August 29 1012.









He returned back to my studio for another photo session this year in July 25 2013...








 







In about a week time he will compete at WBFF 2013 under the Pro category in Las Vegas.

Best of luck to you dear Claude.

Then if everything works well, I am scheduled to conduct another session with  Claude in early September with another outstanding pro female fitness model in my studio.

Stay tuned...