Black And White Japanese Bikini, Lingerie Model Photography In Jungle

Photos and thoughts from a Hawaiian jungle photoshoot with a beautiful Japanese bikini and fashion model who is also a surfer.

Shooting with a surfer / model means she is has an athletic, toned, healthy body and a relaxed, easy going personality which are excellent ingredients for a fun and successful photography session.

The peaceful and intimate setting was in the Pali rainforest, a fantastic jungle location just outside Honolulu. Black and white conversion often adds class and drama to photos and but when it comes to tropical locations and exotic models in my eyes this added drama is a lot more pronounced.

Black And White Jungle Photography With Athletic Japanese Lingerie Model

Not all photos can be automatically converted to black and white and expected to work; without a “certain amount” of necessary shapes, textures and tonal contrast the results will not be acceptable. The first photo is minimalistic in its concept, taken during the first few minutes of the photoshoot, during the initial period of getting comfortable with the camera and surroundings.

The background is carefully selected complementing the shape and the pose of the model, more specifically the angles of the limbs. I really don’t mind that the model and the scene is not “properly lit”. Fake looking lighting is one of my pet peeves.

Effortless Black And White Photography With Beautiful Japanese Model

I like less obvious poses, letting the model get inspired by the exotic location makes her blend in with her surroundings more effectively mentally, emotionally and physically as well.
I really like this elegant, peaceful and introspective moment while she is squatting on a fallen dead tree trunk.

Lines And Composition With Black And White Photography

Same tree trunk, different pose; I find that the less specific I am with what I am asking from the model the more freedom I am providing to her to be herself and react to her environment and own mood (not to a stranger’s input).
This does not work with every model, some desire a lot more direction which in turn becomes a director instructing a talent instead of a photographer quietly observing and capturing the natural beauty of the model. Needless to say I prefer the later.
I love all the elements, the composition, the mood and the expression in this photo. There are some powerful straight lines that set a natural but highly geometric framework to the photograph.

Beautiful Japanese Bikini Model With Mask At Banyan Tree

One of the props the model brought with herself was a mask with colorful feathers. Although the colors disappear from the black and white version the playfulness and a bit of mystery do not.
This black and white rendition has more to offer when it comes to the creepy, organic texture and the strong vertical lines created by the huge banyan tree.

Japanese Bikini Model With Perfect Body At Jungle Creek

Another low key approach to capture natural beauty of this beautiful Japanese model. The lines created by the model’s legs offer a path for the eyes to follow and explore the rest of the picture.
I love the melancholy mood which was natural and is appropriate for the majestic atmosphere of this jungle location and fully compliments the black and white look.

Dreamy Black And White Japanese Lingerie Mode Photography In Jungle

I asked the model to lay down as she felt comfortable on a big rock in a middle of a stream. I could have kept correcting her pose to get a wide variety of shots but usually these interferences are not worth the slight adjustment that is gained at the cost of loosing spontaneity.
The leaning bamboo trees are drawing diagonal lines in the background, their angle compliments the model’s relaxed pose.

Exotic Japanese Lingerie Model Crawling On Muddy Jungle Floor

The bank of the creek provided some great textures and shapes for a jungle themed photoshoot. The overcast sky acted like a giant studio quality (but a lot cheaper) softbox flooding the scene with excellent soft diffused light. The light is directional and because it’s coming straight from above it creates pronounced shadows under the strong cheekbones of the model.

Even if I had an assistant and a reflector I would not want to loose those shadows because they add much needed realism and drama to the photo especially in the black and white version.
The large thick tree root has an anaconda like presence as it winds though the picture.

Black And White Intimate Model Photography In Tropical Jungle

There is something very intimate and primal seeing an exotic model in such a raw environment. The model’s hair was made wet throughout much of the photoshoot by using a spray bottle.
The anaconda-like tree root is a great natural element that compliments the story of the photograph. The shape of the root actually follows the body of the model cradling her while she is in a fetal position. By the way none of these details were composed consciously.

If you look back at the previous two photos you can see that the crawling picture was shot slightly from below, the fetal position from level and this image from above.
When a location, pose, mood, setup, concept etc. works it is time to capture it in as many different ways as possible. Here a different pose and a different angle produces a brand new story.

Intimate Black And White Portrait of Beautiful Japanese Model With Wet Hair

Ending this black ad white set with an exotic close up portrait of our Japanese model. Notice the beautiful natural light courtesy of a cloudy day and the subtle but necessary shadows it produces.
The overcast sky also provides a beautiful large catch light (sparkle / highlight in the eye).