The images below are from last weeks studio session photographing peoples character. The sitter is Keith a fellow student.We worked together sitting for each other. These images are shot in low key with a single snoot with a honeycomb defuser. I am pleased with the images they capture much of Keiths character. The top left tile is my favourite, i managed to get in really close to the subject.
Blakemore shoot
The images below are the shots done in a studio for a Blakemore style Vanitas. They seem to be ok but I have found that the presence of curency renders the shots unable to be processed in Photoshop. I am documenting the images to evidence the shoot but will have to do a reshoot without the use of curency.
Second shoot
These images were done on a second shoot without the use of paper currency. Some coins were used because these would not trigger build in fraud software in Photoshop. I had originally for this shoot done about twenty five images but this proved too much for the computers processing power. After discussing it with Andy I have reduced the number of files down to six to produced a final seventh image.
I have also used this layering technique in another brief, Fountain 17 to give the following image for that submission as well.
Working with the techniques learned in the Blakemore sessions has given me a whole range of ideas for further work in the future. I will be exploring some of these ideas in the next few weeks.
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Second shoot Wednesday 19th October
This second shoot for my contemporary Vanitas includes more items to give it a newer feel. I have heeded the advice from Andy and included more items from my life. I have given more prominence to the items at the back and tried to keep them within the diagonal composition line. Because this is a contemporary piece I decided to use the surface of the desk rather than using a covering because it helps to demonstrate the contemporary feel.
I have also included an image of the studio to demonstrate the lighting set up. I only used the snoot, the soft box at the other side was to act as a reflector because I forgot to bring mine with me. In the previous shoot Andy and I had discussed using a reflector to lighten up the objects and I think the final image demonstrates that point fairly well.
Thursday 13th October 13, 2016
Reflection on first Vanitas studio session. Image Vanitas 3517 resize.jpg.
Having looked at my first studio attempt and discussed with my tutor Andy I feel there are areas of improvement that can be achieved. We both agree that the composition is good apart from the books, which seem to jar slightly with the angled line of the image. Given this is a contemporary image I think using better examples of reading matter such as modern paperbacks would be an improvement. The ones in the image would better serve in the historical shoots. Also the positioning of them needs to be revised in the second shoot to bring them inside the compositional area.
Looking at the finished shot I think using a reflector to push back a bit of light into the shadows on the far side od the camera would also improve the appearance. I think I was relying too much on the single light source to give the effect I was looking for, particularly since I was directing that light with a snoot. A question I might ask myself is why am I using a snoot to direct the light and then expecting it to light all the areas. It would be much better to use the services of a reflector as previously stated.
In my second shoot I think the table would benefit from some form of covering. I am thinking that a piece of hessian might work, whereas something a bit more sumptuous for the historical shoot.
The eggshells I have used in this example symbolize passing of life and decay, but by using a whole cracked egg, it could also symbolize the fragility of life.
I need to also consider the metering mode of the camera. This image is single spot, but a wider mode would probably improve the overall look. Also Andy suggested I use the histogram more.
The lens I used was the 18-55mm kit lens but I cropped in to about 35mm in post processing, so I think if I start off at this focal length in the second shoot I might achieve a better look to the image.
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LawriePhoto 