So, I thought I’d do a quick behind-the-scenes article on my new photo called: “HUNGER” (the final photo, can be found at the end of this article, or on 500px.com)

So first, here is my ultra-creative studio set-up that I used for taking this photo. On the left is my improvised flash+softbox stand (kitchen-chair + two footstools from the living room and some tape to keep everything together). On the right is my self-made reflector attached onto another kitchen chair. And finally I set-up my camera on a tripod.

When the set-up was ready, I first experimented with the settings and once I was happy with the lighting, I started shooting for real. Shirt off, rice in a cup and my wireless trigger remote in my other hand. Sit down, click the shutter, drop some rice and repeat. I had to go through this process 7 times before I got a shot that I liked:

Then I moved into photoshop, got rid of the hand, made the background black, and added a few bits off rice everywhere. And that was pretty much it. I did some dodge & burn action, and desaturation, and finally got a result that I was happy with: