Object Story
These images were taken to show how difficult it can be to photograph metallic or reflective surfaces due to seeing a reflection of the camera or photographer in the image.
To overcome this issue a studio softbox is used to help reduce the reflective quality of the object, this box helps to diffuse the light.
Folding photo studio softbox cube box used to take these shots with a light pointing down from the top lefthand side.
Photos I have taken for the Object story.
The following two images are of a large permanent marker. I chose this object because of the story attached to it in terms of where it has travelled. The marker is approximately eight years old, it was originally red, however other colour inks have been used as refills. The marker has travelled with me to different cities around the UK.
The following images were chosen for my object story because they show some of the types of ink that I use to refill marker pens (chrome). The Krink Ink was purchased in New York 15 years ago.
The ink below is a permanent type of ink used to refill marker pens that are not reflective (purple). You can see that the bottle has been well used by the mess around the lid and the drips on the side.
Research
I researched a photographer called Henry Leutwyler who photographed images that were important to famous people. When I saw the image below, this reminded me of an ink bottle I own and gave me the inspiration for my object story.
My final images
The bottle of Corio ink that I took shots of before this time I used a grey background to make the dark purple.
The same bottle of Krink I had shot before, this time I took a closer shot looking directly at it.
This mask is used when using spray paint, you're able to see how much is used by the wear and paint all over it.
Another bottle of black ink which is almost impossible to clean whatever surface it's used on.
Gloves which stop paint and ink getting on your hands.
A large chisel tip marker that allows you to write large calligraphic letters/words
Some editing was done in Lightroom
Bibliography
Leutwyler (2016) Document. Steidl
Still Life
Posible choices of paintings that I will make my own version of which closely resembles the original.
This is a painting by Warhol and Basquiat called Hellmann's Mayonnaise.
This is a painting by Hancock (2012)
I decided to use the image above of the apples as I felt it would be easier to recreate in real life due to its simplicity of content. I also felt that I had a good idea of how to recreate this image in the studio. I could see that the light was coming in from a certain direction - from the right and above.
My own first shots to recreate the still life painting.
This was my first attempt at recreating the image. I felt that the apples were placed correctly and the composition was fine, apart from the space above the apples; however, the light was on too low a setting. I used a high aperture and low ISO.
This image was taken with a lower aperture and a higher ISO, although I felt that the positioning of the light needed to change slightly to show the shadows and highlights more accurately.
This was the lighting setup I used for the first three shots.
The shot below was taken using natural light from the window behind the apples. I felt that the shadows on the front of the apples were too dark.
The final shot I took that I thought was the best and looked very similar to the painting I was trying to recreate with a still life photograph. This image was taken with a source of light directed from above. I felt that the shadows and highlights were well balanced and a good reflection of the original.
This was the final lighting setup I used to shoot the last images I was pleased with.
Bibliography
Hancock (2012) Five red apples on gray. Available from:
https://gretchenhancock.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/five-red-apples-on-gray.html [Accessed on 28th February 2018]
Warhol and Basquiat (1985) Hellmann's Mayonnaise. Available from:
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/31736372358756994/ [Accessed on 28th February 2018]
White Balance Tests
These were my white balance shots taken right by the college and they show the different effects each setting has on the photo.
Daylight
This seems to show you what the light and weather were like during the day.
Cloudy
This does seem quite pale and the sky looks almost completely white and the buildings are a lot brighter.
Shade
In this shot, there is actually a kind of yellow tint and again you're not able to see any clouds in the sky.
Tungsten Light
You're able to see the clouds in this shot but the entire picture seems to be slightly blue, it could almost be mid-winter.
White fluorescent
This is quite similar to the tungsten light setting although the blue isn't quite as intense, but it also makes it look like it could've been taken in the winter.
Barbering shoot with Reflections academy
These are the shots I took in the studio when we had a model and stylist from the Reflections Acadamy
This first shot was taken with a grey backdrop and the softbox just to the righthand side of the subject who was stood on a bit of an angle.
I think this is the best shot to see how the barber has cut his hair.
This was set up with two softboxes either side of the subject in front of a white backdrop and I took the shot right in the middle, I asked him to crouch down and look to his right-hand side
This is one of my favourite shots as he looks quite natural because of his facial expression.
This shoot was set up with one softbox on the lefthand side in front of a black backdrop and I shot straight in front of him when he was crouched down.
Studio practice workshop with Shikha Kuehn
Shikha Kuehn came to college for the day with a model for us to work with and we spent the day in the studio. It was such a good way of helping us understand how we can use all of the different lights, softboxes, reflectors and backdrops.
This was the first shoot we did and the model was given a large hat and we could ask her to move or pose in any way we liked.
These are my final choices of images.
This was one of my first shots and it was quite straightforward using a softbox from the righthand side.
It was good to ask her to stand or turn in different directions that would change the effect of how the light was cast, the highlights on her shoulder, nose and hair work well.
Your eye is drawn towards her face because the light really makes her stand out from the dark background.
These were taken in the second shoot, we used different coloured gels on the lights and it almost looks like a picture that was taken in the 60s or 70s with the dress she's wearing, it gave such a good style to the picture
I like how this has come out although it could possibly need more light from the left-hand side.
The light has worked well on this shot although It would have been better if we had tried a lighter background.
It does seem quite dark around her but it really does make her stand out.
I think this is one of my favourites, somebody was stood just in front waving a board so her hair looked as if it was being blown in the wind.
I did do some editing on Lightroom, contrast, highlights, exposure to name only a few
Target Audience For Advertising
- If I decide to shoot pictures of watches for product photography, research a target consumer group, what else would be in the final shot?
- Forms and conventions of MEDIA !! Codes and conventions.
- Meanings of colours and how the picture is taken.
- Looking at different brands.
- Look at both men's and Ladies watches and different contrasts.
- Celebrity endorsement.
- The sense of style and sophistication, which colour and form suggest a different lifestyle?
Quality of the brand.
These were taken by Joshua Geiger Product Photographer
Atlanta, GA - United States
© 2017 Geiger Foto
This is my favourite shot, it has a slight depth of field but the brand name is in full focus as well other elements of the watch too.
Although it's mainly black and white, the simplicity does show that it's a good quality brand and nothing else is needed to show this.
This ???? helps to draw your eyes straight towards the watches and it helps to bring them to the front against the black background.
A close up shot of the watch and it works well with a soft light which is aimed straight towards it, as you can see from the slight shine on the edge of the watch.
Here are some shots that were taken using celebrities to help with the advertising campaign, this definitely helps to promote the product especially when it's a well-known quality brand.
Cara Delevingne
Photo TAG Heuer ©
This is the image Cara before the brand and product are included although it looks like there is some vignetting from the righthand side.
It's a really good picture of her but you can't even see her wearing the watch, although it works so well with her facial expression.
Lewis Hamilton
Photo TAG Heuer ©
You're able to see how much editing is done to both of the pictures to create the advertisement.
Patek Philippe Generations Campaign 2017-2018
Art Direction of the latest Patek Philippe Generations 2017-2018 print campaign for Leagas Delaney.
Photographer: Marc Hom
Stylist: Rebecca Corbin Murray Set Design: Max Bellhouse
This is made to look like it could be some parents or family with their children, the composition is almost the same in both images, you're able to see both the man and lady wearing the watches but there's a panel to the right describing what type of watch it is and a clear picture of it on its side.
My own recreation of the watch picture
These are my initial shots which will help me to know where to position the lights and what settings to use when taking the shots.
These are the final images I've chosen
The light has shone well on the watch but the depth of field is not right, as the front of the dial needs to slightly blur.
This shot came out a lot better and I thought the angle I took the shot was a lot more similar.
The lighting setup that was used when taking pictures of the watch, the light on the right was moved slightly closer to the table as well.
The final images had to be edited Lightroom
Evaluation
- Introduction to working in the studio which to start off with was quite a challenge. Particularly the technical jargon and the equipment. I spent a long time getting used to the different settings and the different equipment and feel more confident in my ability now.
- It was so good to be shown and begin to understand how the studio is used. I picked up tips and techniques from watching my tutors and other students.
- The lights and other types of equipment can be used in so many different ways and you're able to create so many different types of lighting effects. I have used different effects throughout this module and understand how to use lighting to gain effective images.
- Safety is one of the main things to be thinking about when you're working in the studio, to stop you from damaging equipment and causing accidents. I have become aware of health and safety within the studio environment.
- This was such a good module and I would like to use the studio a lot more and increase my experience.
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