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White Dress Project Final image critique and conclusion 19th December 2013

December 19, 2013
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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:

White Dress Final 5 193 large White Dress Final 5 250 large White Dress Final 5 351 large White Dress Final 5 427 large White Dress Final 5 439 largeI 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.

White Dress Project Image choices and editing 15th December 2013

December 15, 2013
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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. 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.

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. 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.

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. Very little work on this one (right). Slightly darkened and a little highlight of the eyes.

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. I have darkened the distracting background light and highlighted the dress (right).

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 of the model almost soaking up the sun. My edits (below) were to darken the lighter background area's and the turret and slightly highlight the dress.

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.

White Dress Project Location Shoot 27th October 2013

October 27, 2013
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Shattered!  But had a really enjoyable day! Plus, the weather held, we were very lucky, a couple of short sharp showers, we even got some sunshine!

During the week, Lindsay had collected the studio lights from college.  We had then arranged to meet at the Field Head Hotel, Markfield at 10:30am.  I was collecting Gemma and then her model (Sylvia).  Malcolm collected Nicole and her model (Claire) and Lindsay came along with his van (plus his wife Nadia came along as well to help out wherever she could).

I left the house at about 9:00 am to get to Syston for 9:30, collect Gemma and then off to Braunstone to collect her model for 10am and then to Markfield to 10:30am.  We then drove in convoy to the wonderful house and estate that Lindsay had found.  We spoke to the owners, just to say hi and introduce ourselves.  We then all piled into Lindsays van and drove to the other side of the estate for our first shots.  We planned to make our way back to the house during the shoot.

We parked up and piled out of the van.  While Lindsay, Malcolm and I took kit to the location, the models got dressed and had their makeup done in the back of the van.  Because it’s quite big and heavy we decided to leave the studio lights in the van and try with off camera flash.

We started with shots in and around one of the ‘turrets’  always conscious to keep moving and swapping models to keep them warm. Our first shots were the models standing in the windows, us shooting from inside the turret, getting the water and woodland in the background.  Although i’ve not got any of these shots, because I shoot Nikon and the off camera flashes that we had are Canon.  I did however take a few shots using Malcolm’s camera.

The photographers then moved out of the turret, the girls turned around and faced outwards.  I really liked these shots.  We didn’t need remote flash as the sun came out, although it was a bit frustrating because it was in and out, so we had to be careful with exposures.

White dress outside turret for text

Lindsay and I then moved around the lake to the top of the rocky outcrop (see recce shoot) back towards the tower.  We got the models to sit and stand, individually and together in the window spaces.  Again, no flash, just the sunlight, when it came out.  Really like these shots and the reflections.  Lindsay also went down to a lower level to get a different angle.

White dress outside turret from outcrop reflection for text

We then moved around to an area next to one of the other quarry’s, just in front of a shear rock face.  We did get a bit of a shower at this point and had to take refuge under a tarpaulin, was a good excuse to pause and get a bite to eat:

White dress taup for text

I took a few shots of Claire here, but wasn’t overly impressed.  The pictures looked a bit flat without any off camera flash.  I did try some on camera, but they looked terrible.  Here is one of the better shots (no flash):

Quite like this shot, again too much of RH arm missing.

We then walked around to an open fronted wooden building that was in front of a small field, which was one of the places we’d picked out for a bad weather shoot.  I’ve not got any photo’s from this location, because it had to be flash and I had the Nikon/Canon flash issue.  While there Lindsay went for a walk up the hill towards the house and found an amazing old, huge, tree.  So we made our way up there to take some shots.  It was pretty light, so I could shoot without flash.  Although I got Lindsay’s wife to direct a bit of light with a reflector for a few shots.  I was really happy with some of these shots, here is an example:

White dress tree for text

By this time it was about 4pm and as well as being conscious about models and fashion students getting cold and bored we were shattered and decided to call it a day.

We made our way back to the house.  Lindsay fetched his van.  Models got back into their street clothes, makeup was removed and the photographers had a quick whip round to donate to a charity that the landowner supports (his only request, as well as not photographing to house).

We all went our separate ways.  It was nice to talk to Gemma and Nicole on the way back, they had enjoyed the experience of the day and looked forward to seeing the final images.  I have just emailed a few over to them.  Here is a selection of my favourite images, click on them to get some notes:

White Dress Project Location Recce 23rd October 2013

October 23, 2013
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Lindsay, Malcolm and I arranged to meet in the car park at the Field Head Hotel in Markfield as close to 5pm as we can, so we’ve got some light.  We then jumped in Lindsay’s car and he drove us to the location.  He has previously arranged with the land owner that we were going to be there, so we parked up and had a walk around.  It was amazing, even in the dimming light, we saw loads of potential and were pleased to see that there were some undercover area’s in case the weather turned bad.

Here are a few shots from our recce:

We came away really positive and went back to the pub to enjoy a pint and talk about the plan for the 27th, which had now been confirmed by photographers, fashion students and models.  We discussed timings, who would collect who, and who would bring what.   We made a list of things like, food, drink, towels, step ladders, lights, reflectors, camera’s, umbrella’s, toilet roll etc and them split them between us.

Finally I was designated as ‘secretary’ to email an itinerary to the email group.  Roll on Sunday, fingers crossed for good weather!