Mount Edgecumbe Shoot

I decided to pair up my images as I feel like they work better as a pair. Overall, I was really pleased with how my photos turned out as I think that they were really successful. The black background that they are presented on helps to bring out the contrast within the photos. My model was Livvy Dunn, a photography student at Plymouth University who I worked really well with. My inspiration came from the period of the house which was the 1500's, Tudor/Elizabethan period. I would've like to have used a 70-200mm lens to get a shallow depth of field, creating a beautiful close up portrait.

This images were shot with natural lighting coming from the left hand side of the frame. The light was coming through a window which creates flattering and interesting highlights. The image on the right is my favourite image from the shoot as I think it works well in creating a feminine and delicate portrayal of my model. Complimentary colours work well within this image as well, the dark green really helps to bring out the golden colours in Livvy's hair which creates a golden glow on her skin, hiding any blemishes or bad complexion she may have had that day. Her hands leading up to her face creates this soft and feminine feeling in the photo, as they are positioned close to her lips. To get the contrast within her hair, I edited the photo in RAW photoshop by increasing the clarity, making her hair appear sharper than the rest of her. I also airbrushed the skin on a small amount just to get the contrast between her hair and skin - I think this works really successfully. Although the image on the left isn't as strong as the image on the right, I still really like it due to the positioning of my model. She has been positioned perfectly central, this combined with the frame in the background being behind her head and the black bow in the middle of the frame helps to keep the shot looking tidy. Both images were shot on a 70mm lens which gives it the closeness and intimate relationship with the model. Both images were shot on F/6.3 at 1/100 of a second, as I wasn't using a tripod I had to shoot using a fast shutter speed to avoid camera shake. Originally, I wanted to keep all of my images black and white however, I felt this images worked best in colour due to the contrast in colour.

In these images, I had to learn how to keep both my model and the outside of the window perfectly exposed. I did this by a combination of factors; the aperture I shot on, the position and distance of the lights and the power of the lights. In this lighting diagram I have demonstrated how I positioned the lights to get this image. Both lights were on a low input as I didn't want to lose detail in the background. My main constant light was coming from the left leaving the fill light to the right. Within these photos I wanted to create moody lighting, creating contrast and strong shadows. By keeping the lights on a low input I created this. I also used a tripod with these images to get a straight frame. My idea for the costume came from a stylist who was hugely inspired by the Tudor/Elizabethan period fabrics and textures who then recreated her own take on lingerie, which she called, "architectural lingerie," due to the, "intricate panels that are an architectural marvel." I really think this combined with the ruff, part of the costume, and the panelled windows really gives the images a post this 1500's feel.

This was shot using one flash light with a softbox strip to light up the whole of Livvy. I only edited the images on photoshop using a grey layer on colour mode to get this black and white image. However, using Photoshop RAW I ever so slightly tweaked the exposure on my model's face. When taking these images I was informed by a tutor that it was similar the body of work called, "The 4 Dreams of Miss X," which were a set of images of Kate Moss. After looking at this image below, I discovered that the feeling and mood that my images created was very similar to this work. The staircase is used to lead our focal point towards to model which is represented in both, my images and the one of Kate Moss. Originally, I wanted an image of Livvy from far away, elongating her body and creating an illusion of her being even smaller against the grand staircase. However, due to a large portrait at the top of the stairs behind the model, I feel that it took the attention ad simplicity away from the photo. Within these images I wanted to create a delicate, dainty feel as well as a erotic and sexy mood. I think I was successful in doing this due to the positions I directed my model to do. Nonetheless, the lingerie does the work for the sexy side of this image combined with the black and white helps to maintain a soft and less provocative feel in the images. I also think that the design of the lingerie against the design of the carpet works well as a contrast and helps to compliment one another. 

I decided to put these two images together as in both photos my model isn't wearing the ruff which helps to link the images together. I decided to get my model to have curly hair so that it linked once again to this Elizabethan/Tudor feel as from research I found that the Elizabethan period was hot for tight curls/ringlets. If I was to reshoot the image on the right I would make sure that I included the ends of her fingertips rather than them being cut out of the frame - I think it would have contributed to making the image look elegant and soft. I think it's good to present a close up portrait with a portrait further away to add contrast and show a variety of camera angles. I chose for the right image to be on the right hand side as her body is facing inwards, I feel it creates a better focal point and keeps the images linking. 

Contact Sheets

 I really liked the posture my model was doing in the images 0391 and 0392, however I was unsuccessful with the framing of the image. My model also wasn't central which made the photo look messy and unprofessional. The close up portraits from 0399 - 0407 were the most successful images from the shoot as I think that natural lighting really emphasizes the golden glow in Livvy's hair. A tripod was used for the majority of these images so that I could get the composition right, however the portraits were shot hand held.

 The images from 0410 - 0422 I found extremely hard to shoot as the gold in the room added a really warm feel to these images. I tried changing my white balance however it didn't make much difference. As the room was so brightly lit up anyway, I only used one flash light which was positioned above the model on her left hand side. I wanted to try different types of camera angles yet the limited space in the room did not allow me to experiment with the shots that I wanted to try. I really like the images 0440 to 0448 as I think the composition is slightly more extreme than the rest of my photos.

Flash Gun

Speed Light SB-800

Equipment:
SC-28 sync lead
4 x AA's

Fill flash is used for; complimenting exsiting ambient light
to bring out detail in shadow areas
to highlight subject from background
Capturing movement; repeat flash
use the flash to freeze movements
use the rear curtain sync - flashes at the end of the shutter

When shooting in the studio there are different factors that change the exposure of the photo;
Distance
Diffusion
Power
Aperture

I found that when using a flash gun, it can create a really intimate feel between the cameraman and the models. Similar to some paparazzi's images, although the relationship between the elite stars and the paparazzi is far from intimate the closeness that the flash gives really creates an image which feels that is in the centre of the action. I really like how the flash can do this as I feel that it could create some really interesting, documentary style images - which I am hopeful to produce in my next project. What I like most about the flash is that it is portable and extremely easy to use. I am surprised at the brightness of it as it doesn't seem it could be that bright. I was also surprised that I was shooting on F/22 inside with an ISO of 400 as I thought the flash wouldn't give off enough light. 

These photos were unplanned and were just taken for learning how to use the flash. Depending on the position of the flash and where it is directed, will change how sharp and harsh or how small and soft the shadows will be. For example, the flash was pointing straight on at the model's, resulting in a shadow being directly underneath their faces. However, as my model in the foreground is slightly under the flash, the shadows are stronger.

Architectural Shoot

Location: Royal William Yard

This is my original image that I took on a digital SLR camera. I only manipulated the image by converting it to black and white. I like this image as I think the position of the archway works really well. This combined with the lamp posts is really affective in keeping our focal point in the centre of the image. In order to get the detail in the sky, with capturing the mid tones, I had to keep the rest of my photo dark. This was due to the overcast lighting the day I shot this image. I could have edited it through camera RAW to dodge the sides of the archway but I did not feel this was as affective. This image was shot on F/22 on a 1/20 0f a second, using a tripod. I shot on f/22 to maximise my depth of field to capture the majority of the photo in focus to create a very documentary style image.

This image was created on photomatix to produce this HDR final outcome. To get this image I used 13 images to get different exposures so that not only the background would have detail but the darker areas around the archway would too. Personally, I feel the HDR has made the sky look flat and extremely greyscale not adding a specific mood or feeling apart from it feeling slightly surreal and unreal. My favourite part of the image is the floor and the texture it and the brick work make, once it has been produced through Photomatix. Lighting is also another part of the image that I particularly like as it works well with the textures. It helps to show the roughness or shimmer of the floor and walls.

Although I enjoyed this shoot and visiting the Royal William Yard, I found it hard to get excited and inspired by what it had to offer. Not only this but the day we visited it, the weather was terrible, creating very grey and bland colours in the sky. With architectural photography I think the weather and detail in the sky is extremely important as it completely creates the mood of the image and the way in which we view the building. Although the textures and brick work was beautiful and created such interesting lines, I found the colours very cold - hence why I decided to use black and white for my final outcomes. I tried to use leading lines to create contrast with the new features compared with the old building in the background (the glass metal new fencing against the old, brick building.) I also like the use of levels in this photo, with the new housing on the left on the image next to the old, tall building next to them. I think this creates a statement of how things have changed from then to now. This was shot on F/22 at 1/10 of second, using a tripod to ensure that the entire image was in focus. 

Drew Tommons

For my client work I am hopeful to produce some really powerful and successful ballet images for his portfolio. 

DREW TOMMONS

From looking at Tommon's images I have seen how lighting is such importance in producing dance images. Dance and theatre are very similar in how the photographs have such a strong feel in them. This combined with moody lighting helps to capture the feel of the dance move or theatre production. Tommon's uses the lighting within his images to get a gradient feel on the background of his images. This would have created by using 2 lights, however the light on the left side of the image would have been higher to light up the woman in the frame and then the 2nd light would have been position at the right of the frame, lower down to get these strong shadows. The grey background is created simply by bringing the subjects away from the background so that little light is hitting it. 

This is my favourite image out of the selection of images that I chose by Tommons. The way the lighting has been set up is extremely successful in showing the strength and structure of the model, which creates such an immense image. Drew Tommons must shoot with a fast shutter speed, so around 1/125th of a second to get these crisp and energetic images. I am excited to work with my model, who is passionate about his ballet dancing as I think the passion and intensity of it really shows in the photo. I am going to use black and white when processing my photos as I think it helps to create these shadows and highlights. I also think the black and white is very successful in showing the tone and strength of the muscles. 

The white leggings work really well, this is due to the gradual grey back drop. This image has really made me think about what clothing I need to get my model to wear. As my images are going to be black and white, I don't think using white leggings will be successful, a darker colour would fit the scheme better to help contrast the mid tones and highlights whilst still bringing the blacks and shadows. By having the light coming in from behind the model on the right, really interesting and moody shadows have been created. I think it's important to create moody lighting in these sort of images as I think it helps to create drama, theatre something very closely linked with ballet. I think this image is the weakest out of the set I have chosen as I don't like how the majority of the model's body is in the shadow, as I think it takes away the whole point of the photo created. To show and define the dancer's physique. 

Elinchrom Ranger RX

Kit: 
2x S heads 1 100 JW
1x wide angle dish reflector
1x standard dish
2x batteries
1x sync cable
1x charger
1x case
Light stands
Light meter
IR trigger

Asymmetric means cannot have both flash heads at the same plug and that it works as a 2:1. Port A is the constant light and Port B acts at the fill light. Can't control the power source of each individual light so much use distance to control this. 

Controls

These were rough images produced when learning how to use the Elinchrom Ranger kit. The quality and power of the lights are really good, which I was surprised with. The only con that I found a problem with the kit was that it was too heavy to carry on my own, along with all of the other kit it requires. However, I am excited to use this kit on locations as I think they are extremely useful when shooting in dark, grimy areas. The end result of images you get from using this kit, is very similar to when using the lighting kit in the studio which I was really surprised with.

Although it is a con that you can't control the individual lights, I personally like this as I think the two different A & B outputs is going to be really useful. Another downfall to this kit is that the wires are short so you are limited to where you can position them. Although, this isn't a strong image I like this image as I think the negative space works really well with the posture of my model. This was shot using a standard lens on F/22 at 1/125 of a second, ISO 200 to ensure maximum depth of field.

Risk Assessment

Mount Edgecumbe:

Mount Edgecumbe

Brief: Fashion shoot at Mount Edgecumbe manor house

Mount Edgecumb is a manor house that is owned by Cornwall council and Plymouth City council. It was built in the 1500's which I feel is a important key area to know for producing fashion images.

The 1500's was the Tudor and Elizabethan period. I've researched into types of patterns/textures in that period and also what style of clothing it would have been around that time. I want to create some really eccentric and visually bold images. I am hopeful to do this by using extreme hair styles and prominent costume. I am aware that in the Tudor period, lingerie was not something that was considered an importance and that the general underwear was far from arousing or provocative. 

I then researched into stylists take on Tudor and Elizabethan lingerie in this day and age and found that their influences come from the textures and patterns Tudors wore. These stylists produce lingerie called, 'architectural lingerie.' Which looked like this, see below:

I want my images to capture this 1500's feel which will fit the style of the manor house combined with the lingerie to create a highly fashion image. To create more emphasis on this era, I am going to include a ruff on my model, as I think the structure of this particular lingerie mixed with the ruff will add height and consistency in my images.