Finals and Evaluation

 

Number 1

I chose this photograph for a final because of the strong, defined pose of the model and the atmospheric lighting which I feel encompasses an elegant and glamourous aesthetic for the viewer.  The hints of light on the model's shoulders and forhead add tonal range to the image as otherwise this would be a straight black and white image with no in between of grey.  The studio lighting highlights the model's hair adding texture and creating a sense of touch within the image.  The curves of the model's shoulder and collarbone create multiple lines leading around her structure which highlight her form.  I feel that this and the photograph below relate back to my research because of the glamourous and formal poses which were very much the style of photographs in the 50's.

 

Number 2

Again I feel this photograph has a strong atmospheric feel because of the pose and the lighting.  I love how the lighting below the model's cheek leads up into her hair which creates a dymanic shape between the model's face and leads up into the model's eye and drifts out into the backdrop creating an almost dreamy effect which I feel the model also creates a dreamy feel with her wistful look.  The black background creates an almost desolate and abandoned look to the photograph as it is just pure black. 

 

Number 3

I chose this image as a final because of the spotlight, almost movie spotlight effect of the lighting which I very much like because it gives the image a theatrical feel.  The contrast and range of tones create an atmospheric,  stage-like look to the photograph, as though she were an actress.  The shadow within the background adds character to the photograph which I feel gives the photograph again a theatrical look.  This image, relating back to my research, I feel relates back to the Marilyn Monroe photograph where she has a black dress and the photograph has captured her movement.  I feel this relates because of the tonal range, contrast and captured movement within the photograph.

 

Number 4

Again with the use of spotlight I feel this image has a cinematic feel.  The gown also adds to the glamourous effect as this was key for Hollywood movie stars in the 50's.  Holding the shoes in the model's hand creates a feel of a slightly more relaxed pose.  The curve of the dress creates a form around the model and highlights her figure.  The image has not gone strong contrast but it has hints of blacks and a vast tonal range.

 

Evaluation Overall:

 

Overall I feel I have truly experimented and pushed myself within this project to perform at a higher standard than last year.  The lighting which I have experimented with has been diverse and I have really found lighting that works well for this project by experimenting.  My favourite lighting setups which I have experimented with throughout this project have been the spotlight, spotlight behind the model and the flash light with diffuser above the model's head.  I feel these lighting situations have really broadened my knowledge of the studio and how I use the studio.  Some of the lighting I have used has really accentuated my model and the way she is portrayed within the photographs.     Also using a different model I feel has helped me to explore and develop my ideas.  Looking back to where I started with my ideas for this project, such as a test shoot with bird make-up and the latest trending fashions, that I have developed my ideas into portraiture and jewelerry advertising.  I moved off of the idea of photographing trends because I felt it wasn't really going anywhere and I had been wanting to take glamour-like images for awhile and move more into the black and white photographs.  I also wanted to explore jewelerry advertising and the simplicity of the lighting to highlight the jewelerry within the image.  I feel that my second final really highlights the jewelerry and the model, the lighting highlights the model's face and then you have this almost half black space in between and then the lighting highlights the ring, I feel this gives the image a depth which crosses portraiture with a hint of advertising.  Looking back I have also followed through with my idea from my second post on this blog involving research where I researched the spotlight effect of a make-up advertisement.  After this project I will be continuing with the glamour photographs throughout my nect project as I feel I have not furthered my experimentation enough.  Overall I feel this project has been the best so far and I have explored different uses of studio lighting in depth and really started to understand the uses of it.  I have really pushed myself and really love my finals.  If I were to do anything different I would have more time and experiment more within the studio with the flash lighting and explore the uses of reflectors and bouncing flashes off.

Possible Finals and Crops

                                                          This is the original photograph.

 

This is a slightly closer cropping.  I dislike this cropping because the dimensions make the photograph look too condensed.

 

 

This is more of a sqaure crop.  I quite like this crop, but I feel that the original still is my favourite as the lines of her arms which I have cropped out, create more shape and line in the image.

 

This is a square crop just of the face overall.  I feel this doesn't work as it just looks like I have cut her head off of the body.

 

Image 3

 

This is the original image.

 

This is a square crop of the model's face.  I feel that without the hand the image has not much depth and is a bit limp.

 

This is an extreme close-up of the model's face.  As close-up portrait the contrast and detail of the image really gives a closer look at the lines and shapes within the image, but I feel the original is still better because of more negative space with the black backdrop.

                                                                        image 2

 

 

This is the original image

 

 

 

 

This is a slightly more centered crop.  I feel that the slightly off centre original adds a line of composition throughout the image.

 

 

 

Evaluation:  I decided to go for the originals for finals on all of the images because I felt the crops didn't improve any of the photographs overall.

 

Where I'm at Now

I feel that now I'm coming to the end of the project now that I'm happy with where I am at now and will use the final studio shoot that I have done with my model Jem as the final shoot for this project.  I am now trying to decide on finals and finalising all my work.

Finals So Far

 

I have chosen this as a possible final because I really like the spotlight lighting which I feel gives the image an aesthetically pleasing look for viewers.

 

I love the way the lighting highlights and shapes the model's face because it defines the structure of her face.  I prefer this image in black and white with slight added contrast as I feel it creates a feel of depth and has no distractions.

 

I'm not quite sure about going below her chest line as I feel that the almost intermate depth in the other photographs loses it in this one because of the fact I've added more of the model into the photograph.

Lighting Experimented with So Far

 

I'm not too keen on this high key lighting as it doesn't give the image any depth.

Blue assotate on the studio light:  I feel this didn't work as it looks slightly tacky and like it's something from the 80's.

 

Spotlight with white background: I absolutely love this lighting as it gives a great effect with making the model and clothes stand out.

 

Blue assotate on background not directly on the light:  Again I feel the assotate didn't work because it looks tacky.

 

Spotlight behind model:  I feel this is slightly tacky but also creates a glamour look to the image.

 

Spotlight behind model and changed white balance to create a blue hue:  I really like the cold effect that the change of white balance gives the image.

 

Outdoors natural light with flash and difuser

 

Low key lighting with black background: 

I feel my favourite lighting experimentation so far has been the low key and the spotlight behind the model because of the really interesting and soft dreamy look that it gives to the images.

Where I'm at Now

I feel that after the photo shoot I did with my model Jem in the studio yesterday I have completely changed my direction.  After looking back over from where I first started with this project I do not wish to create a magazine layout anymore or get close-ups of lips, eyes etc.  I feel the shoot yesterday went superbly well and I'm overly pleased with the photographs.

Looking back at where I began with wanting to create fashion photographs I feel I am still doing this but perhaps have gone on to the more jewelry side of fashion.  For the next shoot I want to add more costume jewelry and make it slightly more obvious.

Studio Shoot 20th of September

Evaluation: 

I feel this photo shoot went amazingly well and I'm so pleased with the final results from the studio.  The images work perfectly in black and white and this is exactly how I imagined this shoot to look.  I didn't expect that having a light really high up would give such a great effect to the model.  The lighting really highlights the model's eyes and the black and white really adds depth and contrast to the images.

This is the image which inspired me to use a studio light high above the model:

Photographed by:  Willy Vanderperre

A Few Favourites:

 

I love the shadow and how it adds contrast to the photograph.  Without the shadow the image would have dull tonal range and lack of depth within the overall photograph.  Also the use of the pose I feel adds atmosphere.

Finals:

 

Annotated Images:

 

 

 

 

Examples of my lighting setup:

Backlit with side light

Light above model with side light with large diffuser to balance the lighting.

 

Images in Colour:

 

 

The images in colour have a lot of distractions.  The colour of the model's hair, the lipstick, the colour of the eyes, the jewelrry etc.  The images in black and white I feel create an atmosphere and a depth which the colour photographs just don't have.

 

Images which are continuing to inspire me:

 

I really love this photograph because of the simplicity of the lighting and the advertising side of it of the jewelerry.  The model has a strong and defined look which really accentautes the jewelerry.  The way the model has posed her wrist creates a leading line from her wrist to her neck and then around to her earrings.  The curve of the model's t-shirt also helps create a leading line leading up from her wrist to the rest of her jewelerry.

Where Next:

• Experiment more with the use of spotlight and black background
• Use of more jewellery
• Perhaps curl some parts of the hair

Plan for Studio Shoot on 20th of September 2012

• Glam
• Low key lighting
• Spotlight lighting
• Black and white images

I think I will be continuing with my current theme of fashion shots but perhaps moving off of the 'Trending' theme and more into any fashion.  I want to move into more black and white based images and the more 'glamour' types of photographs.

What I want out of this photoshoot:  I want to achieve glamour close-ups and some long shots of my model.  Not obviously glamour but with an edge and hint of the glamour scene.

Shot Types Plan:

White Backdrop:

• Model facing backdrop, hand on hip.
• Model facing backdrop, hand on hip, shoes in hand.
• Close up and extreme close-up of model putting on lipstick.
• Hand on chair - Close-up

Black Backdrop:

• Close-up of model putting on lipstick - with and without mirror
• Spotlight direct on model's face
• Close-up of model's hand holding the shoes
• Model holding her dress and running her hand through her hair
• Side shot of model holding shoes and without shoes

Lighting:

• Constant light, light behind model, low key, high key, spotlight and light above model.

                                       My Inspiration:

Online Site Unkown Artist

 

This formal yet natural lit photograph inspires me because of the vintage look and the simple beauty within the image.

David Bailey

 

I love this image because of the contrast and the really grainy, soft focus look.  The image isn't technically perfect which is what I like in photographs.  I feel that a great image doesn't have to be technically correct in every way.

 

 

I absolutely love the natural pose and natural lighting in this image.  The contrast of her dress works brilliantly with the white backdrop.  The natural lighting and pose inspire me within this image.

These edgy and really simple black and whites inspire me a lot throughout this shoot planning.  The simple yet effective lighting brings out the beauty in the women.  I feel the women make these photographs and not the lighting as they are beautiful in themselves.

                                     Lighting Diagrams:

These are some lighting set-ups I have thought of and want to experiment with using tomorrow.