The Drops of Delight

喜びの雫

Sometimes, a complicated and meticulous work is hidden behind seeming simplicity. Let’s look, say, at the photo called “The drops of delight”.

The idea for this photo emerged from my childhood memories, when there were no air conditioners and people would do whatever they could to escape the heat in stuffy rooms. One of the best ways to do so was to sprinkle a bit of cold water on yourself with the help of a regular flower watering spray.

Of course, I wanted this picture to look elegant, sexy and match the style of the 70s-80s. For this purpose, I rented an apartment with old wooden window-frames, flowers on the windowsill and the balcony. I had to think in advance about the lady’s character to make sure she was the one to perform certain actions in the shot. The lady has to be natural, relaxed, charming, and to have a small, but beautiful breast…

After I’d found the model, bought clothes and rented a suitable apartment, it was time for the most complicated part – technical implementation of the photo.

I had only one shot to show the lady sprinkling water on herself while beautifully holding the spray in one hand, and slightly revealing her breast with her other hand. It was critical not only to show the model's fingers and wrists, but also her head. She had to lift it so that she could convey delight from water sprinkles. This requires a thorough planning. It took me over an hour of meticulous work and numerous takes to make a perfect shot.

Hence, a seemingly simple photo may indeed appear to be quite complicated both in terms of preparation, and in terms of shot implementation...