Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

I have named this photo 'Bring On Tomorrow' because with the sun setting behind the model and her gaze into the distance it just left me thinking about tomorrow. I love shooting at this time of the day as the colour of the sky is so interesting. The downside of shooting at this time of the day is it makes using flashguns challenging. It wasn't easy getting the right balance of light on the chimney and the model. Hopefully I got it right.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

 

I named the top pictures 'Put The Floodlights On' as the sun had set, the sky was darkening and my models still wanted a kick around. I like the shot but feel the one below (named in an earlier blog) is the better of the two. I feel the portrait view doesn't show the full extent of the ruins. That said I am pleased with the lighting of the shot. I would dress the models in lighter or brighter clothes to help them stick out more.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

 

 

I named the top photo 'Coming Out to Play' as I positioned the model in a way I used to sit when I was young, looking out the window watching for my friends so I could play football. I asked the model to looked slightly bored as though she was fed up of waiting. I am not completely happy with the lighting of the models skin, I feel its too bright, so should have waited for the sun to set further to reduce the harshness of the light and golden it slightly.

I named the middle photo 'Still Waiting' as it is linked the the top photo and she is still waiting to go and play. As this one was taken later in the day the lighting has soften slightly and the skin tones are more even. I tried to remove the shadows of her fingers on her right arm but my cloning techniques were not good enough to make it look natural so I left it as it was shot.

The bottom photo I named 'Footballer and Proud' as I think the composition of the shot and the stance of the model screams proudness. I like the shot but wish that the models face was clearer. I cannot understand why is looks slightly out of focus because I used her eye as my point of focus. I took the shot lying down and like the angle I achieved because of this. It's an angle I will be using again.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

 

I named the top photo 'Footballing Horizons' because the model is looking to the horizon whilst the horizon can be seen in the background. I like the composition of this shot but I am a little disappointed with the lighting as there are too many shadows on the model. They didn't look that bad on the small screen of my camera, something I have to be aware of in the future.

I named the bottom photo 'Football Under Fire' because the footballing model is standing under a fire, obvious huh! I like the overall feel of the photo but wish I had used a stronger fill in flash to reduce the shadow the model is standing in.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

 

I named the top photo 'Coming Home' becuase I have imagined the Leicester City fan coming in through the gateway after a game that didn't go so well. The models reflective look leaves me thinking that she is hoping for a better result next time. I am please with the lighting of the model but would have liked some better contrast in the clouds.

The bottom photo I have named 'Framing a Fan' because I think the arch perfectly frames the models face. I feel that the lighting on the model could have been better to reduce the shadows on the models skin. Overall I think its quite a nice shot though.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

I have named this photo 'Our Game is in Ruins' as I had to stops the models playign so I could take the shot, something they weren't too impressed with. I like the way the wall has been lit just enough to give it some textures but not in an overpowering way. It could numerous attempts to get this right as to begin with the flash was set too high. The models were lit by a flashgun coming more from the front so as to focus on them and not the wall. I am pleased with how the wall flash also has lit the grass around the models, an accident but one that works. If I did this shot again I would dress the models in lighter clothing to separate them even more from the background.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

 

 

These pictures were both taken at Bradgate Park, Leicestershire by one of the watch towers placed on the hill tops. I like the location because it has a great view of the surrounding area and is great for walking, and for photography now.

The top picture I have named 'Two Spectators' as the model is looking into the distance and so is the window in the watch tower, hence the two spectators. I like the sky in this photo and the light coming from behind the model (balanced from the front with a reflector). If I could do this shot again I would position my model lower so that she isn't the same height as the tower as I think stepping them may increase the flow of the composition. I would also try and light the tower with some fill light to help bring out the texture of the walls.

The bottom picture I have named 'The Old Turnstyle' as I imagined the arch as the entrance to an old football stadium and my model has just walked through it to survey the pitch. She has a rye smile on her face as she is thinking what the surface of this old pitch would be like. I like the contrasting colours of the bright red shirt against the grey and white of the background. I feel I have got the lighting of the model's face perfect and her stance is really natural. This is one of the few shots that I don't think I would change anything except a little more contrast in the clouds.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

I like this photo for a number of reasons. I like that way the lighting is falling on the athletes face and the chimney breast making them stick out from the darkening background. I feel that I have used the flash subtly enough so that I haven't overpowered the scene. I am also pleased that for me the athletes face is the focal point, something that I was hoping to achieve.

The feeling that I get from this photo is one of looking forward to a new day. I feel this because the sun is setting behind the athlete, hence today is finishing and the athlete is gazing into the distance, the new day coming. For this reason I have called this photo "Waiting for Tomorrow".

The things that I would like to improve about his photo is the colour of the sky - I wish I had waited until the sun had set a bit further to give the horizon a deeper orange glow and the upper sky a darker blue. I felt I had to take the shot sooner rather than later because my model had been hanging around for 2 hours already. Note for the future - find out the time for the sunset on the day of shooting and then start your shoot only an hour before it disappears. That'll ensure I get the photos I want and the models don't have to hang around waiting for too long.

Reviewing My Final Pictures

I like this picture because it invokes numerous memories I have from my sporting days. It symbolises for me how athletes feel after either a game or an event. From the picture I think the models expression leaves the viewer wondering what is going through her mind. For me she is contemplating the result of the game and wondering if there was anything else she could have done. She has come to this quiet space so that her thoughts don't get disturbed. I called it "Against the Wall" because for me, athletes are always 'against the wall' either through fatigue; hard work or disappointment.

Things that I wish I could change about this photo include the overall lighting of the model and the the wall she is leaning against. Although I did use a flash on the model I feel that I should have bumped the power output up so to illuminate her more fully and used a separate flash to light the wall (like I had done in other shots during this session). I am also not convinced that the angle of the shot is right. I took the shot lying down and through the eye piece it looked the right angle but upon reflection I think that I should have experimented with a few other angles.

When naming this photo I wanted to keep with the sporting theme and I feel this name is both statement of fact - she is against a wall' as well as the meaning for athletes that that phrase has.

Editing My Final Selections 1

 

 

For this shot I decided to make the sky blue; increase the constrast of the bricks in the wall to make them stick out more; increased the details in the models face to give her clearer features; increased the saturation of the grass to counter balance the effects of the lighting; and darkened the models skin tone to counter balance the harshness of the light from the sun and flashgun.

I feel that the minor adjustments I have made to this photo have increased the appeal of the photo and makes the model stand out more.

For more details of the editing of my other final selections please see the folder containing them (Steve has it)

Inspirational Shots that I've tried to Duplicate B

 

 

 

Please see my comments about these photos.

Inspirational Shots that I've tried to Duplicate D

 

 

 

 

Please see my comments about this photo.

Inspiational Shots that I've tried Duplicate C

 

 

Please see my comments about this photo.

Inspirational Shots that I've tried to Duplicate A

 

 

 

 

Please see my comments about this photo.

Photos that Inspire me

 

I like the way the photographer has used the time of day to add mood to the shot. The tone of the background perfectly distinguishes the athlete from it making the viewer look at the athlete instead of any other distactions. The sillouete of the trees against the skyline create an interetsing line for the viewer. The use of flash on the athlete gives an even clolour and tone of the skin and the clothes. The composition of a three quarter legth shot s perfect in capturing the key elements for the shot.

Photos that Inspire Me

 

I really like the way that Robert Seale has mixed sport and landscape / architecture in this shot. I feel that the photographer has used the line well as when I look at the picture I look first at the athlete but I then get drawn to the building in the background. I also like the lighting used in the picture especially the time of day and the subtle lighting used to light up the athlete. I enjoy looking at pictures of people when the photographer using dusk as the time of the day. It adds a great mood to the shot.

Final Photo Shoot (Part 2)

Venue
Grace Dieu Priory, Thringstone

Equipment
Sony Alpha 200
Jessops 360 AD Flashgun
Tripods x2
Remote Flash Trigger and receiver
Off camera flash cable
Reflector (5 in 1)

Models
Kelly
Terry
Becky

Lighting Setup
Please see separate blog

Comments
Following on from the morning session at Bradgate Park we arrived at Grace Dieu Priory in the early evening ready to take photos around the ruins with my models as the sun was setting hoping to get some shots during the golden hour.

As we were early it enabled me to fully explore the site selecting the aspects that I hoped would produce the best results. It helped that I had my sample sheet which made matching up the areas easier. I would also be using the sample sheet to show my models what I was hoping to achieve.

As the sun was setting it was still producing a bright light that still gave me concern about blowing out the models skin. I decided to use a flashgun in some of the locations as a fill in light to even out the skin colours but in the others I decided to use the golden colour from the sun (it was getting better as it was setting) to light my models.

The first part of the shoot went really well with my models being as supportive as always making my job easier, that is if trying to get that creative shot on your camera that you're visualising in your head can be classed as being easy.

The challenging and time consuming part of the shoot came as the sun hit the horizon. I had to try and balance the output from both my flashguns to give me the even lighting on my model but not too strong on the historical building. This took longer than I expected as the light from the waning sun was changing constantly. I managed it, eventually, by having the output from the model's flashgun set at half power, whilst the flashgun for the buildings was set at a quarter power. These settings gave me the best results, or so I feel.

I have to admit that this was my favourite shoot to date as it was matching two of my favourite things - football and ruins. I will be looking for other local historical spots to due further shoots. I also loved shooting as the sun was disappearing over the horizon, the colours in the sky were beautiful.

To see the photos from this shoot please click here.

Final Photo Shoot (Part 1)

Venue
Bradgate Park, Near Shepshed

Equipment
Sony Alpha 200
Tripod x3
Jessop 360AD Flashgun x2
Reflector (5 in 1)
Remote Flash Trigger and receiver

Models
Terry
Becky

Lighting Setup
See separate blog

Comments
Had the assistance of my models local knowledge of areas that would give me an interesting venue to do the first of our shoots. They suggested Bradgate Park as there is an old Watch / Signal Tower on top of a hill that could give me a good background to shoot against. After walking out the car park and looking up the hill I liked what I was seeing as I had a couple of options of angles that would give me different connotations with clouds and position of the sun.

I was glad when walking up the steepening hill that I had been unable to borrow the college's portable lighting kit as it weighs about 4 times as much as my own flashguns and tripods. The natural slope of the hill also meant that I could get a low vantage point to take my shots without having to lie completely flat. I was slightly concerned that the sun (yet again) would be my nemesis as it was very bright but luckily there was a good covering of cloud which helped diffuse the harshness of the sun and give the sky a bit more contrast.

Having chosen where I was going to start my shoot I took a few test shots to make sure that my metering was ok. I then decided to use a mixture of flashgun or white reflector to balance the shadows and give the models more natural colouring. I really enjoyed the challenge of finding the best location to better show what I had in my head. Steve had suggested taking a page of thumbnails of the shots I was trying to reproduce to better aid me. It worked really well with the models too as they could see what I was trying do in each picture. My models were great and very patient which helped me no end.

Overall I am really pleased with the majority of the photos and they are a definite improvement of what I had taken previously. I feel that I am gaining more confidence in my ability and the use of my equipment which is making the whole process more manageable.

To see the photos of this and the later shoot please click here.

Photography and the Law

Free expression versus the right to privacy

A photographer is a citizen with a camera who, like everyone else, has to abide by the law. In most countries, the law attempts to balance the right to free expression and a free press with the individual's right to privacy. In essense, if a subject is on their private property, such as in their house or their garden, a photographer cannot take a picture without permission. Photographers are also not allowed to take pictures in certain zones at airports or in court.


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So you want to be a Portrait Photographer

Portrait photographers are curious about people. They must have empathy with their subjects, make them feel comfortable in front of the camera and engender trust. Portrait photographers usually love working with others, possess charm and good humour, and are at ease in the company of many different types of people.

It is probably due to the characteristics described above that Portrait Photography appeals so much me. I love working with people of all ages and backgrounds. I find the interaction enjoyable as well as challenging and try and bring the best out them so it is reflected in the photos I take. Something that I hope to achieve as my skills and experience improve.


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Finding Inspiration

The word 'inspiration' comes from the Latin word meaning 'to breathe life into'. It breathes life into our ideas and can come from a well fed imagination. Our imagination needs to be fed by exposing them to the creativeness of others.

These are some of the areas that could provide INSPIRATION:-

• cameras
• history
• others photographers' work
• watching other photographers at work
• looking at others prints
• colour
• locations
• mistakes

This is just a brief list. I know that I have been inspired by looking at others work and how they created their photos as well photographers use of colours and locations.

Hopefully, one day, people will look at my work and find some inspiration.


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Final shoot discussion with Steve

Had a really good chat with Steve about my practise shoot, what photos inspire me and my ideas for my final shoot. We first discussed my practise shoot and what I thought had gone wrong. I told him how the bright sunlight had thrown me and even though I had tried to work around it I still found that it had blown out some of the highlights. I also told him how I thought that the busy backgrounds distracted from the models. What was reassuring from this initial discussion was that Steve told me that I had already found out what was wrong with my images, something I was pleased with as perhaps I was developing my critical eye along the right line.

We then moved onto my inspirational photos and discussed what aspects of them I liked and would like to recreate. Throughout this part of the discussion it became apparent that it was lighting aspects of the pictures that appealed most, especially the ones shot at dusk and in the evening. The placement of the model and how much of their body was included in the shot was also important to me.

We finally discussed the location I was going to complete some of my photos from, Grace Dieu Priory, and after looking at the location via the Internet we highlighted a few of the areas that might produce some interesting shots. Steve also helped me with some lighting ideas and possible problems that may occur.

I came out of the discussion feeling more positive about my final ideas and how I was going to achieve them - Cheers Steve!

Final Shoot Practise

Venue
Shepshed Dynamo Football Club

Equipment
Sony Alpha 200
Bowens Portable Lighting Kit
Sync cable
Battery pack

Models
Katie
Terry
Becky
Kelly

Lighting design
See separate blog

Comments
Using the ideas I gained from my research and inspiration pictures (see Inspiation Blog) I decided to take some pictures of my footballers after match and try and duplicate the types of shots that I enjoy looking at.

The shoot didn't start well as I was using a new lighting kit and it took me nearly 10 minutes to work out how to remove the protective cover from the lights. This of course made me feel flustered and didn't make me lok that competent in front of my models. Luckily they are my friends so were more than understanding, it was me who felt bad.

In the morning the sky was full of clouds so I thought I was in for the perfect conditions. Unfortunately for me, great for spectators the sun came out and all the clouds disappeared. There was no way of getting away from the direct sunlight, which was too bright so I decided to setup the models with the sun coming from the right and getting them to look to the left. This would hopefully remove the chance of the models squinting. I then useed one of the flashes as a fill light aimed straight at the models face.

My models were great and made the process of shooting easy, something I am very thankful for as my brain was trying to come to terms with not the best lighting conditions, new environment as well as trying to get some great shots for my final portfolio.

The shoot went well although I struggled to come up with some great poses for the models, I felt that I needed to do some more researc into possible poses to better show what I had in my mind.

I found that the harsh, bright sunlght and my models wearing our home kit, black and white, was blowing out the highlights so I had to experiment with my f-stops so not to allow too much light in. I used the skills I gained from my studio shoot with Sam to set my shutter speed, metering and autofocus points. I was very grateful of having done that shoot as it enabled me to spend more time taking pictures and less time making caera adjustments.

Overall, I found the shoot really useful as it agained highlighted the importance of the correct lighting to make the final images successful. One other useful point that I gained from this shoot was that the background can also make or break a picture. In some of my shots the background is too busy and therefore the viewer loses the model as the main focal point because their eye is taken all over the place.

I feel better equiped now to complete another shoot that will hopefully produce my final images. To see the pictures from this shoot please click here.

Studio Shoot - Low Key Lighting

Venue
Burton College Studio

Equipment
Sony Alpha 200
Bowen Esprit 500 Studio Lights
Pulsar Flash Trigger and receiver
Black background
Soft box
Chair

Model
Sam (fellow student)

Lighting Design
See separate blog

Comments
The main objective I wanted from this shoot was that I wanted to experiment with the use of lighting to help express shadows on a model. I really like the look that Low Key portraits give so with the help of one of my fellow students I was able to try a variety of lighting to set ups to experiment their placement to help so what I was looking for. Although there was a lot of pleasing results from the shoot I was only able to duplicate a few of the final results that I wanted to do.

Using the studio lights is still hit and miss but I do feel I am gaining a better understanding of the effect light has on the overall result of a picture. I especially learnt how the lighting can assist in setting the mood and that low key lighting can really display the moody look of a model.

Using the black background and having model in black really made the placement of the lights crucial - not only to highlight the model but also to separate the model from the background. Too strong a light from the front made the models face too harsh but not enough light meant that the model became just a face, the clothing and background blurred into one. That is where the use of the rear light aimed at the models hair helped separate the head and gave the hair a nice natural sheen.

The other important factors that affected the overall look was the aperture. Too open (low) f-stop number allowed too much light onto the sensor therefore blowing the highlights out. The best results came from using a middle f-stop number of around f8. I also had to remember to use the correct white balance (flash in this instance)and not to set my shutter speed past the flash maximum 1/160.

I made sure that I used the eyes as my focus point setting my camera on a spot point focus pattern and used the centre metering option on the camera.

I learnt a lot about the power lighting has on the overall feel of the finished picture and how as a photographer has to ensure that he has full control of his camera (ie. remembering to change the white balance etc) to make the pictures that he really wants to make.

To see the shots from this session please click here.

Below are some examples of the lighting setups that I have found whilst trawling the internet. I think they are a very useful starting point for me when thinking about the different lighting setups that I may need both in the studio and on location. I have also purchased a book '50 Lighting Setups for Portrait Photographers' by Steven H. Begleiter.

Using these resources will allow me to create some of my own lighting plans and hopefully when I show them to Steve he will say I'm on the right track.