This was a set of headshot pictures I made of the finalists at Antalya 2018.

This was exploiting the opportunities of both access and a perfect spot, against the back wall of the technical tent, next to the gazebo from which the archers enter the stage. It was sheltered from the blazing Turkish sunlight, but the sun reflected off a white-painted low wall that nicely lit everyone’s face and gave everything a slightly ‘studio’-ish quality. This was all done with the same 50mm lens at the same setting (f2.2). I also didn’t give anybody any instructions, it was just ‘I need to take your picture now.’ The interest with this comes from limiting the variables and allowing the personalities and different approaches from the subject to construct a set.

This is an example of what you can do with a much more direct, ‘present’ approach; many photographers have developed this idea further by asking their subject to think of a concept or a memory before taking the shot. (If they had all spoken English, I might have gone down this route.) I think Im Dong Hyun (left) is my favourite, exuding relaxation and control.