“Beyond the Bricks: Christian Santiago’s Journey Capturing Miami’s Timeless Charm”

This is it – the final Project of the Week for 2024! It seems appropriate that we conclude the year with an extraordinary work by our APA associate and Project of the Week veteran Christian Santiago. I consistently admire Christian’s creations for the effort and dedication he invests into them. Each shoot necessitates some additional problem-solving and care, and Christian excels at achieving outstanding outcomes! The resulting images are thoughtful, glamorous portrayals of his subjects. His commitment and problem-solving abilities demonstrate his skill and meticulousness. It is always thrilling to witness someone strive not just to complete the task but to elevate it into something exceptional and meaningful.

Christian’s photography session at Villa Serenita serves as a prime example. Captured for a realtor, Christian needed to portray the lifestyle and allure of this villa. A bit of creative lighting, perfectly timed appearances from wild peacocks, models, and “well-connected clients who can call in favors at a moment’s notice,” distinguished this endeavor!

“I am more than willing to discuss the intricacies of this shoot,” Christian begins. “This was arranged for a realtor, so the goal differs from a standard architectural photoshoot. I needed to showcase the sunshine and the lifestyle as much as the design. Regrettably, we faced dreary overcast weather throughout the majority of the shoot, and my client jokingly reminded me that he “can’tmarket a haunted house.”

Christian had to “turn on the sun” several times during this project. “In absence of sunlight, there was a lack of texture, contrast, or depth in the image. Thus, I utilized a massive tripod camera stationed behind the tree, shining through its leaves and branches to create light spots on the foliage and the table, generating some shadows on the ground. A circular gradient along with the ‘Linear Light’ blend mode in Photoshop manufactured a “light source” near the camera that contributes to the illusion by stimulating the flash,” he elaborates.

He notes, “Most, if not all of the photographs, (aside from the master balcony with the peacocks on the roof) were significantly enhanced by strobes, which I endeavored to conceal and motivate so they appeared as natural lighting. The residence showcases a blend of Mediterranean revival architecture integrated into a dense canopy of tropical foliage across the lot.”

Within, skillfully arranged photographs guide our gaze across each setting, highlighting the artistry and charm of each area.

I requested Christian to elaborate on several of his preferred images from this undertaking for us:

“The interior image I cherish the most from the session is the family room. I appreciate when a home’s decor conveys a sense of authenticity, showcasing a well-lived life, rather than appearing as if curated or outsourced. This gives it a personal touch. The light in this case was limited, with little direction.

I leveraged the curtains in the room as natural diffusion material, keeping them drawn while I triggered three strobes positioned outside, generating an exceptionally soft but directed light source that enveloped the space while maintaining an adequate depth. It was a straightforward shot that was 99% captured in-camera; I only required an additional plate with the window open for later enhancement.”

“This photograph was largely a fortunate occurrence,” he shares. “I had some spare time while the coral in the backyard was being pressure-cleaned and thought to myself ‘Why not capture an intimate vignette’ of the master bedroom balcony? The warm hues of the stucco and terracotta tiles on the roof pleasantly contrasted with the expansive 100-year-old banyan tree surrounding it.

The tree created unique shadows and textures on the stucco, illuminated by the early morning sun. I positioned my camera with the Canon 50mm Tilt-shift atop my 25-foot Manfrotto tripod/stand linked to a cam ranger, thinking that would conclude my efforts… except my cam ranger’s battery was nearly depleted. I went back to my car to retrieve a new one, and that’s when the scene shifted dramatically.

Peacocks are commonly spotted in the coconut grove neighborhood of Miami. Originally from Southeast Asia, a century ago affluent individuals kept them as exotic pets, leading to some escaping. They established a breeding population locally, thriving as there are no natural predators in South Florida and local laws that protect them. Unfortunately for nearby homeowners, they often wish they could do without the peacocks, as their sharp claws can damage vehicles and their droppings harm homes.

At that moment, a group of them wandered about just as the neighbor’s large Black Labrador Retriever managed to escape the house – with the poor old man doggedly following close behind – and began to chase the peacocks like a scene from a cartoon as they scattered into a cloud of dust and dashed in and out of the bushes. This persisted for roughly half a minute until the peacocks had a revelation: ‘Hey, we’re birds, and we can fly,’ and they soared up to the safety of the rooftop.

That’s when inspiration struck me. I raced back across the acre to where my camera was set up to connect my cam ranger and capture some images just as the peacocks entered the shot. My client was so impressed with the image that he requested to keep the camera positioned so he could invite a friend to come over and model for us.”

He proceeds, “This image necessitated a bit more forethought. I was aware that the entryway of the house does not receive direct sunlight during this season as the sun rises and descends behind it. This clashed with my client’s desire for a ‘bright’ ethereal, early morning radiance to accentuate the vibrant landscaping and cozy courtyard. In the absence of direct light, the facade was enveloped in a dismal, gloomy shade reminiscent of something more akin to the prehistoric era rather than a noble villa.

The answer was to recreate sunlight. Easy, right?

Introducing the hero of this shoot: The same 25-foot tripod. Only this time, it served as a light stand. I set up my Godox AD 1200 at full height to the right of the camera behind a wall of brick and ivy and began to illuminate the house from the same general direction as the sunset to maintain it motivated and ‘credible.’

The elevated position of the tripod enabled me to better replicate the sun’s angle, and a CTO gel preserved the color harmony. However, there was yet another issue to address. I wasn’t able to step back far enough to capture everything in the frame, even with my 24mm Tilt-shift on my GFX. Consequently, I had to adjust the lens to create a panorama during post-processing. This called for two passes: once with the flash layers and once with the ambient layers.

Then in Photoshop, I aligned the two images and infused enough ambient light to soften the flash shadows while still maintaining the directional quality and texture.”

“I had to replicate the same technique with the dusk shot of this particular composition, although this time the illumination was softer and more influenced by the practical lights inside and around the residence,” he remarks.

What an incredible shoot! A million thank yous to Christian for contributing this and sharing so much of his journey with us!

This serves as a wonderful way to conclude the year, highlighting someone who consistently transcends expectations!

Head over to csantiagophoto.com to explore more of Christian’s work online. You can also find him on Instagram @csantiagophoto.

If you have a project you’d wish to submit for consideration as Project of the Week, feel free to submit it here.