Yesterday’s shoot at Portchester Castle was one of those spontaneous-but-special ones. We were racing the sun (and the clock), but I walked away with some shots I’m genuinely proud of — and a few new tricks up my sleeve.
No direction needed.
The location? Absolutely stunning. There’s so much texture and natural framing in the ruins that I couldn’t help but imagine all the ways I’d shoot there with more time. One of my main takeaways? Next time, I want to try shooting through the ruins, not just against them. The light plays beautifully through the gaps and arches, and I think there’s a lot more to explore there.
This shoot was a bit of a breakthrough for me — my first proper go at using a silver reflector and diffuser to actively control natural light. Simple tools, but wow, they make a difference. The reflector became my personal spotlight. I found I could literally bend the sun to hit where I needed — bouncing that strong sunlight directly back toward my subjects gave them this really warm, natural glow without needing artificial light. Shadows lifted just enough to bring detail and depth into the image.
Just a trace of light where it mattered most.
When the sun got harsher — especially down by the harbour — the diffuser stepped in as the unsung hero. We held it between the sun and the model, softening everything down. It was like instantly creating cloud cover. Highlights stayed intact, contrast stayed controlled, and everything felt less intense on the eyes.
A quiet moment, caught between sunlight and wind.
I’d be lying if I said it all went smoothly — my mates did some pretty questionable climbing to help me get the shot. I didn’t climb myself, but I was definitely the nervous wreck watching from below. Still, I’m massively grateful to them. It made such a difference having friends I trust modelling for me, giving their time and energy so I could try out different looks, poses, and setups.
Sometimes the best light is the one you risk a twisted ankle for.
This was the kind of shoot that reminded me why I love photography — not just for the final image, but for the challenge of it. The process. Learning how light behaves. Figuring out how to make it work for me, not the other way around.
I’ll definitely be heading back to Portchester Castle again in future. But next up is something completely different — an outdoor night shoot using RGB wands and off-camera flash. I’ll be working with Andreea on this one and going for something moodier, more stylised, and completely gear-lit. Not at the castle this time — but that one’s coming soon. Stay tuned.
Sun, friends, and a camera — always a good combination.
Until next time — here’s to light, laughter, and a bit of dangerous climbing (even if I was just nervously watching it).
Studio DJC 