Fashion

For our fashion workshop we had Kate luke bring in a model/ The model had had a complete hair and makeup treatment.

We first did a location shoot where the conifers were a perfect compliment to the model's hair style.. The day's whether was patchy sunlight and so the lighting conditions were changing rapidly.  We had two main spots from which Kate chose to shoot. Being a professional model she did not require much if any direction from the photographer.

Kate utilised a pair of speedlights mounted on lighting stands activated rightly or wrongly not by triggers but but master slave infra red. Thios system had many problems in full light conditions. As well the speedlights needed to be directed towards each other in some fashion in order for the system to work.

In the studio Kate had a basic light set up with one key light, one background light, and reflectors. The model had a new look and again we were all given the opportunity to take shots using Kates camera and practice instructing the model..

Underwater photography

This week we met Steve who has runs a dive shop in Canberra, and also runs SCUBA dive courses.

He showed us his case of equipment which includes the waterproof housings for the cameras...

It was interesting to note that he commented upon how irrespective of the water proof gear he has lost several cameras over the years, through flooding of the housing.

Aerial photography

We were given a power point based lesson on the the pros and cons and requirements, as well as a general overview on doing Aerial photography.

We learnt about what specific and specialised  equipment  is required. As well as ultimately the need for a specilaised aircraft with effectively a hole in the fuselage..

Safety and air clearances were also discussed.

Don't fall out of the plane or helicopter!!!!

Mountain/elevated positions, light-planes, domestic jets, helicopters, gliders and hot air balloons all qualify as aerial photography location.

Advances in radio controlled and wireless data have led to more economically viable aerial photography

Vertical aerial photography relates to shooting from the sheer bottom of the aircraft to allow for a near perfect vertical shot of the ground

Oblique aerial photography relates to shooting from an elevated/aerial  position but at a more than 90 degree angle .. hence  oblique

National Gallery workshop visit

This week we were given a tour of the underbelly of the National Gallery of Australia.

We were shown the various areas of the NGA's  collection record process. This involves capturing an accurate and faithful record of all the art works owned  by the gallery...

The range of the scale of all of the pieces in the NGA makes this task challenging.

The sheer logistics of moving the artworks between the floors is quite an undertaking.

We were also exposed to a sample of some artists books owned by the gallery..

Cars

This week's studio workshop for cars covered two days so that we could practice both studio and location shots

These are my results. I was quite pleased with the outcome, but final shots look better in full res.

Studio

After cleaning up the cyc in photoshop, I decided there we some details that needed attending to such as the blanking out of the number plate, and the removal of the rego sticker. The car had much more impact oriented this way, so I effectively made it a "left-hooker". I obviously also had some fun with the car's color

Location

I spent most of the time setting up and shooting Nikky's little Mazda, but found when the light was right the Merc came up looking the best.

Again I decided to remove the number plate and rego sticker to give the shots a more polished look

Furniture

This week we were practicing shooting furniture and these were our results

Team Mel, Ned and Ash

image research and inspiration

Found these and thought I'd post them for future reference

Workshop 4 Industry Folio

Proposal for Workshop Industry Folio
Ashley Jobson


Location Component-Documentary/Food
Studio Component-Food

After the idea was sold to us by Julian, I revisited the notion that food photography may be a great aspect of the industry to get professionally involved with.

My concept is that my folio documents the journey of a few eggs from the farm through to being served up in several ways.

The location component will obviously be the lead-up shots

Shot 1: Chickens...eggs in Background...medium shot

Shot 2: Eggs in barn...Chicken in background...close up..long shadows
These two shots play with the concept of "what came first..the chicken or the egg"? Landscape

Shot 3a: Long haul Truck (showing rear of truck to represent that we are following the eggs' journey or....

Shot 3b : alternatively a basket of eggs being carried back to the farm house.. Landscape

Shot 4a: Triptych Eggs (in cartons) on Supermarket shelves/in supermarket trolley (3 X Landscape or portrait)

Shot 4b: TBA

Shot 5 : Eggs stacked in fridge. landscape

The studio component shots will be those of basic food prep involving the eggs and the final prepared two courses.

Shot 1: Eggs on bench next to flour,implements and other props. Portrait

Shot 2: Eggs being cracked into a bowl.. emphasising the glisten of the white as the golden of the yolk. Portrait

Shot 3: Baking and/or cooking diptych of both courses (2 x portrait A/R)

Shot 4: Final shot of Quiche? Portrait

Shot 5: Final shot of Cake? Portrait

These two final shots are subject to what I finally decide that will be the most visually effective dishes to "plate-up".



Requisites:

Access to chicken on farm with a barn
Large rich toned free range eggs
Cane basket with cloth
Cooking utensils, cookware, plates cutlery etc
Kitchen with nice natural light
Props and other "ingredients" ...feathers/straw
Final dishes
Oven/Cooktop-stainless steel-or old style (gas?) cooker
Fridge stainless steel or old style (rustic round edge)


Costs:

I know of friends who have the appropriate kitchens and appliances for the contemporary kitchen, but will have to scout around for the alternative rustic country kitchen look and feel..Either way I anticipate there being no cost involved here.
The rest of the items will either be borrowed or purchased at low cost, estimated at about $50 including finished prepared food dishes.

Without specifically designing each shot in advance, I am not sure what extras will be required in addition to the above list. The best tactic I believe is to have a sundry budget which I will set at $25

Finishing costs:
Printing 10 X A3 prints @ $9 = $90
Reprints 3 @ $9 = $27
Mounting 10 x A3 foam core cut to size @ $11 = $110

Transport/fuel: Scouting/equipment procurement $50
Camera cost : 1000 shots @ 2c = approx. $20
Tripod
Fill flash (backgrounds)

Total budget/costs
$362 +/- $20 (say $400)

Timeline:

Total Time: 11 weeks
Shooting and production time:  Realistically 8 weeks

Week 5: Scouting locations and sourcing all props and necessary equipment.
Preliminary design and shooting
Week 6: Location practice
Week 7: Location shoots and post production
Week 8: Studio practice
Week 9: Studio shoots and post production
Week 10: Re-shoots as required
Week 12: Re-shoots /Final post production
Week 13: Printing and mounting
Week 14: Printing and mounting
Week 15: Reprinting and mounting as required

I have allowed a significant and early window to get my shots printed and mounted as printing resources are often stretched towards the end of the alloted time.

Furniture

This week we are going to be shooting furniture.. We have been asked to research various professional furniture photographic images and decide on two different styles which to replicate in terms of lighting and other technical considerations.

These are a selection of some of the images I found

I like the natural shadow effects on this image

This image conveys an opulence and comfort

Again the shadows create a natural location look

Vivid

partial/minimalism

Modern art

Almost all images exclusively have a combination of light modifiers/screeds and lights constructed in such a manner that there is a defined lighting ratio between the various surfaces of the furniture giving it shape. The item is almost always positions askew of being front on and most likely shot as long as the lens would allow to reduce distortion,

Food

Speaks for itself

We were given a brief information session on the art of food photography ..Usually very simply lit from the side or the back and shot low down and with shallow DOF. The light source can be either natural "window" lighting or simulated with studio lighting...

The plating or presentation is usually cropped off on the sides also allowing for a nice close image

We had a selection of fruit and veg so this is the result

White balance needs adjusting as the kiwi fruit looks more like banana

Portraits

The first week were asked to take a portrait photograph based on a surprize short notice brief.

The brief one of the briefs we got was to shoot a married couple on their first wedding anniversary.

This is the result

The result was this cheesy abomination with the husband's hand dominating the shot and a background that was too cool.. and the wife being too closely cropped on the left side..