19th December, hand in date.

We were asked to bring our final 5 images in for a group critique where we put our images up on the whiteboard, talk about them and get feedback from our peers and lecturers.

Here are my final 5 images:

I got some really good positive feedback from the group.  The image of Claire in sitting on the tree branch in the woods seemed to be favourite.

Feedback points seemed to be:

• Good lighting on location shoot, although the sun on some was harsh.
• A light behind the model in the tower would have been good to just highlight the hair and give it some texture.
• Get a bite more movement and variation to poses.

Learning points that i’ve taken from the critique and the project are:

• Try different colour backgrounds
• Take a list of different poses for models
• Take pictures of models in different poses to show models, give them a better idea of what i’m looking for.
• Have lots and lots of idea’s to try.  Don’t run out, make sure the time is used fully.  Last thing a model wants to do is be standing around, possibly getting cold if outdoors.
• Make sure I get portrait and landscape shots of each pose, location and setup.
• Pay more attention to makeup and hair.  I was fortunate with this project in that the fashion students had an idea for each model and just went for it.
• Pay more attention to small shadows etc in low key images.  Place lights, the model and their limbs very carefully.  Look closely at face, do I need a reflector or extra light to get rid of shadows around eyes, nose etc.

Overall an enjoyable project.  Fortunate to have superb fashion students who were good on communication.  I am really pleased with the images that I shot, especially on location.  I feel my lighting and exposure was good straight off the camera.  We had a wonderful location, which I feel we made the most of with a recce visit before hand to choose locations.  I also felt very comfortable in the studio, especially with the high key lighting.  I have learned a lot and would be happy to do a similar project again.

For the hand in, we are required to submit 5 images.  I have made my choice based on personal preference, peer comments, lecturer comments and feedback from Nicole and Gemma.  I am also aware that the images are for a fashion ‘client’ so made sure that the dress and model are the focus.

For editing, the images need to be sized to be printed on A3 paper.  I have also done some work darkening the backgrounds and enhancing the dress, making sure it is the focal point.  The studio shots needed some cleaning up of the ‘white’ background.  To finish I have added a 1cm border around the edge of each image.

Here are my 5 final images.  Both ‘off the camera’ and in edited form:

I picked this one because it show’s the ‘wings’ of the dress as well as other details. It’s a pose that might be associated with the Charleston dance/ flapper girl image.  I also like the framing and the shape of the body. A little editing of the background to clean up (right). I have also got rid of a tattoo on her arm and a few bruises on her legs.

Bit of a ‘marmite’ image this one. Got mixed reactions, so I decided to put it in for that reason.  I like the pose, I feel that she looks like she’s going to ‘take off’  the ballooned cape also gives the effect of air flowing.  Simple edits (right). Try and clean up the background and I put a bit of work into trying to pull the hair away from the mouth.

Although this doesn’t show a lot of the dress detail, it does highlight the headdress, hair and makeup.  I felt this was important to show the excellent work that the fashion students had done, aside from the dress.  It is also a different perspective. Very little work on this one (right). Slightly darkened and a little highlight of the eyes.

My favourite shot out of the set. It shows the dress well and it’s detail. An almost fairytale look.  The model looks relaxed, in a world of her own looking off into the distance. I have darkened the distracting background light and highlighted the dress (right).

This was my favourite out of this sequence. The dress was well exposed, so the detail is visible and I like the look and pose of the model soaking up the sun.  A suggested improvement was a light inside the tower to illuminate the hair slightly.  My edits (below) were to darken the lighter background area’s and the turret and slightly highlight the dress.

I picked two images from the location shoot and two images of each dress.  As well as an extra head and shoulders shot.  I am pleased with my selection.