Final images

Still life shoot

Shooting still life images I have again taken inspiration from the new look home page. I have chosen objects that I was able to shoot that are similar to the ones on this home page. I made sure that these images would be bright by using plenty of light facing onto the objects and also using the correct camera settings, making sure the image wasn't too dark or too bright. I started off by choosing to shoot my scarf, which fits in with the winter theme, at first I folded it and placed it flat and then changed it around making it look how it would be if it was to be worn. Each time shooting from different distances and angles to make sure that I created a range of different outcomes. I think each of these techniques gives off a different effect. The way I have positioned the scarf firstly makes it look very neat, which is more appealing than having it just chucked on the floor, the positioning is thought about. Then the second way I have positioned it shows people how it looks if it would be worn, and would make people more appealed to it as they can see how it would look. I then moved on and thought that it needed a bit more adding to it, so I added in some gloves positioning them on top of the scarf, which I think adds more to the images, and the positioning of the objects within this set of images is a lot better. Although they aren't folded, they still look very neat and I feel would bring in an audience and would fit in very well within a website. With these objects I felt that shooting in portrait looked a lot better, it helps to capture a lot more detail and shows more of the objects and less of the backdrop which in this case is a good thing. I then decided to change to different objects and shot images of a bag, which i positioned standing up and led down. There are some interesting images of this object positioned stood up and shot from above, although the whole bag is not visible within this, I think that it gives a good effect, it makes all the strings etc look in places and not all over the place. I mainly shot this object portrait as I felt that is shows a lot more detail and captures it better, although the first two images that are shot landscape, I feel are very successful and portrays this bag well,w with the only problem being the unwanted shadow. Although I found it hard to position this different and interesting ways I feel that I have produced some successful outcomes, and one thing I would of changed about this would be to add another light source in or reposition one of them so that there is no shadow, but other than that I think these images are successful. Lastly I shot the images of boots, which was also taken as inspiration from the website as well as all of the other images I have shot within this shoot. One thing I am not happy with within these images is the shadow, which is more visible on the images shot further away, but that is one thing i would need to change if I was to develop and improve on this. I positioned these boots so that each boot was showing the opposite side, therefore it is visible to see what they look like as one. I shot from a range of different distances and positions within this, shooting from above, to straight on, kneeled down and as straight on as I could get with them being on the floor, from close up to far away. Majority of them being landscape but I also tried to get in some portrait too, as I felt that landscape helped to show more detail. Throughout this shoot I have continuously experimented with positioning of the objects, the angle and distance of shooting and took inspiration from my chosen website throughout. I have shot from above to straight on, close up and far away throughout this shoot, all showing different techniques and individual effects. I have produced a range of successful images, some of which will be used for my final images. There could still be some improvements that can be made, such as the lighting and getting rid of shadow, but I am happy with the outcomes and the quantity and quality of these images, and am also happy to develop on and use one image from each of these sets of images.

Shoot 3 - Final shoot

For my third and final shoot I went back into the studio and used the same model for this shoot as the second shoot. Taking into account the problems that occurred within the previous shoot I made sure I had the correct and plenty of lighting. I used a soft box on the background and a beauty dish on the model. I used this shoot to improve on the previous shoot and also create outcomes for my final images. I started off by improving on the last shoot, by again asking the model to wear a scarf and positioning him in the same position with his hands in his pockets. When I felt I had enough images for that idea I moved on to changing it around and this time using a different positioning by using inspiration from a different image off the new look home page. I experimented with taking full length images and close ups from just above the knee for both of the two ideas. The close ups are more effective because it is easier to see what is going on in the image and shows a better effect, whereas the full length shots are not as focused on the objects and positioning. Also within the full length shots there is shadow on the floor, whereas the close ups don't show this. When going into the studio to shoot this I felt very prepared and knew exactly what I was doing, therefore I have developed well throughout the 3 shoots and have used the inspiration of different images well. I have taken into account things that haven't gone well in previous shoots and used that to improve and help me to create successful outcomes. Within this final shoots I have produced a range of successful outcomes using two different styles, two of which will be used for my final images.

Shoot 2

For my second shoot I went into the studio and used someone as a model from outside of the class. Within this shoot I found it difficult to get the correct camera settings and also with the lights, positioning them so that the outcome was produced how I wanted it. In many of these photo's there is a lot of unwanted shadow and darkness, which I struggled to get rid of. In the end I produced an ok amount of successful images, where there is still a small amount of shadow but nothing that gets in the way. For this I used the inspiration shown on a previous post, which includes a screenshot of the website I will be using for inspiration throughout this project. Within this shoot I have used inspiration from this website, such as getting the model to wear a scarf, as the model on the website is wearing one and from when I had chosen it, it was Christmas/Winter themed, therefore adding a scarf would fit into that theme. I had also gotten the model to stand slightly to the right, as I felt that this positioning would create more successful and interesting outcomes, whereas if he was stood straight it would look rather boring. As well as standing slightly to the right, I got him to stand with his hands in his pockets, which has been taken as inspiration from the website, as well as being used to give off a better effect. Both of these positioning techniques are combined to create a shoot of successful and interesting images, that would be suitable to fit onto a website home page. Throughout the shoot I shot from different angles and distances to experiment with how the images would look and the effects it would give. I am happy with the images I have produced from this shoot that have been successful and feel I can use this shoot to help me continue to develop to create many successful final images. I particularly think the first 3 images on the last row are the most successful, as the lighting is correct apart from a small amount of shadow coming off the scarf. The positioning of the model is correct and creates a good, successful image. I am happy to continue on developing to create better images, producing final outcomes. Whilst developing and producing final outcomes I will take all things into consideration from this shoot to develop on, such as the lighting and shadow, as I want a high key image, and also how to make sure the image is interesting and is able to fit onto a website homepage.

Shoot 1 - Practice

For my first shoot, which I used as a practice shoot and a sort of guideline as to what I need to do and work on within the rest of my shoots. For this practice I used a member of the class as my model. I set everything up, using a soft box on the background and a light source with a flash directed onto the model to give light and take away shadow. With this shoot I found it difficult to get a full high key image without shadow, and as this was just a practice shoot I didn't have much time. I got the positioning correct and an idea of what type of images I want to shoot and how I will do so and also the positioning I will position the model, using the inspiration from the new look website home page. I shot at different distances within this shoot, giving different outcomes for different effects. Although this shoot is not up to standards I think that it is ok to show for a start/practice. The successful thing from this is creating more of an idea and starting to work on it and developing. To continue on from this shoot I need to use enough lights to make sure I get the image high key, which is how I want it, and make sure there is no shadows in the corners etc. I will continue to develop on these ideas and improve on creating successful outcomes, that will be suitable to fit onto a website home page.

Equipment

To show how different equipment can be used together I have used the website http://www.lightingdiagrams.com/Creator to show examples of this. The first diagram I created includes a backdrop and camera with a flash, two soft boxes and a beauty dish. I have placed two soft boxes onto the background to ensure that the background is completely lit up and will provide enough light to make sure that there will be no shadow. The beauty dish is there to distribute light towards the subject, giving it a wrapped and contrasted look and also bring out the features within the subject. This set up would be great to create a very high key image full of light, but would only work with the correct camera settings.
The second diagram includes a backdrop and camera with a flash, a large soft box, reflector and a snoot. I have included the large soft box to light up the background and have used a snoot against the reflector to reflect light onto the subject, which will give it a different effect and helps to achieve a broader light source. This would create an interesting high key image and if set up correctly and using the correct camera settings would be a successful set up to create successful images.

The last diagram I have created includes only a backdrop, camera with a flash and a beauty dish, which is included to give light to the subject and the image as well as to bring out the main subject features. The idea of this set up is to create a low key image, by including only one light source, this will create shadow and darkness behind and in the rest of the image, also by positioning the beauty dish only on the one side it will create shadow on the opposite side of the subject, which in my opinion will give off a good effect, as this shadow is intentional and not unwanted. I feel that this could also be a good and successful image if set up correctly and using correct camera settings and could also create some very effective images.

Website inspiration

Within this project a website is to be chosen as my inspiration to create a collection of still life and portraiture images. The website I have chosen to use as inspiration is the new look website, which consists of the winter christmas collection and I feel that I can take as much inspiration from this as possible to help create suitable and successful outcomes.