UNIT 25 - STUDIO ASSIGNMENT

Unit evidence

This unit has one assignment associated with it.

In order to successfully complete this unit you must produce appropriate evidence for all listed requirements.

Photographic exercises

These exercises are to represent the preparatory work needed before attempting the assignment:

• §  Research a range of images that would be suited to both of the two themes/genre in order to help you make appropriate decisions – incorporate on to your Blog.
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• §  Research previous examples that promote the same/similar ‘product’ and incorporate on to your blog. In both cases analyse and annotate each indicating where/how your own ideas have been influenced.
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• §  Research examples that illustrate specialist areas of studio photography including: Portraiture, Fashion and Advertising – incorporate on to your blog and annotate.
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• §  Research appropriate work of historical and contemporary photographers.
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• Photographic assignment
  You are to produce images for the following themes: § Fashion
  § Advertising
  Once you have decided on your approach you must produce a ‘Statement of Intent’ – this says what you hope and expect to achieve, any initial influences and how you intend working towards the assignment. While exploring your chosen theme within the topic remember you should demonstrate your technical skill and knowledge as well as considering the aesthetic visual aspects of the subject you may wish to convey. An important aspect of this assignment is the use of your blog to record initial ideas and their development, through to the final outcome.
  Your final assignment will consist of a minimum of four (printed on Photographic Paper Minimum A4) colour/B&W images for each theme and a number of images not selected. Finally you are to write a critical evaluation of the completed assignment.
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Research

Produce a 800 word illustrated essay on a range of specialist areas of studio photography, based on three of the following:

§ Advertising. § Fashion.§ Portraiture § Still Life

Your notes should include:

• §  The differences between the specialist areas listed above.
• §  You can – if you wish – make some comparisons with location photography.
• §  Mention Specialist techniques.
• §  Mention Specialist equipment.
• §  Mandatory is Health & safety.
• You are expected to investigate both historical and contemporary practice in studio photography and to include leading photographers, their images and their influences.
  Evidence required for assessment:
  § Research on specialist areas of studio photography.§ 800 word Critical Essay§ All preparatory Studio work (critiqued and evaluated)§ Recorded studio progression (images and tryouts)§ Minimum of four printed images for each of the two themes. § Critical evaluation of completed assignment. 

Screen grabs from ONLY NY website 

This has some great examples of the photography they use to sell their clothing.  

The homepage of their website

I like how they've laid out the clothing and shot from above, it shows how they could be worn but with no models used.

A nice photo of their store in New York. 

This photo of the cap was taken on what looks like astro turf on the ground, i'm thinking of using this way of shooting myself.  

I like this picture of a fire hydrant on the pavement in New York

I quite like the idea that you don't have to have a full body shot of the person/model wearing the clothes. 

The last two photos are again to good examples of what i'll try to do myself, it's quite simple but the clothing stands out so well depending on what colours are used.

A good photo shot from above and the cap and jumper stand out so well against the light tone of grass in the background.

It's really good that he's looking through the fence and the OK sign on the right of the jumper matches his hand. 

the low depth of field works in this picture and the sharp focus of the t- shirt stands out so well.

The last four photos are shot in just the way i would like to do it myself, they still show the clothing so well but they're not to posed and they look quite natural, this also shows a lot better how the clothes will look when you're wearing them yourself during the day or at night 

My own first photographs

This came out really well and it shows the whats written on the cap right at the front. 

I think the trainers could've been placed slightly better and also the light with the shadows isn't to good. 

I like this shot of the brand badge right on the collar of the jacket but it's a bit to close.

because they're black and positioned they stand out really well although it might work with more of a plain setting

Because of the colour at the back it doesn't really help you to look at  trainers.

historical studio photography and how equipment was used before the digital camera 

This was used to create an artificial light in the studio but when the equipment changed and electricity was available photography in the studio became more straightforward.

Glass plates inserted into the camera were replaced by film around the early 1930s and the quality of pictures was a lot better, a lot of progression was made in the next 30 years   

Studio equipment like flashes for example became available around the 1940s but in the early stages they were rather expensive and could also be quite dangerous as they were able to explode causing a fire or even an injury to people involved in the shoot.

As time went on within the next twenty years they would used in many professional studios although it wouldn't be for another ten or fifteen years they would be a lot cheaper and used in smaller studio setups.

Within the last fifteen years digital photography has become fully established, despite this though film photography is still used.

Advertising Photography 

Advertising photography is basically used to show, illustrate and sell a product in a magazine, catalogue, leaflet, newspaper to name only a few 

This was taken outside and the way the shot has been taken sunlight reflects so well on the matt black motorbike, it's also not to bright  

I like how this has been taken and how the reflection is caught well in the lens you're still able to see the make of the camera around the edge of the lens and also what type of camera on the righthand side.

This seems to be a classic style the foreground helps to show the product so well and with the blur in the background the bottles and glasses stand out so well.

Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is focused on clothing and all different kinds of fashion accessories, sometimes using models to wear clothing or maybe jewellery but items could also be  displayed in some way without a model.

This is such a good shot which is totally focused on the girl with a plain background which was done in a studio, it looks like the light is from a soft box on the right hand side and because it's a white background she stands out so well.

This is a good shot of the lady who looks like she's walking across the street, in some way it allows people to see how the clothing will look when it's worn just on a normal day.

This is really similar to the first picture that i've shown the girl stands out well against the blue background, the chair is also a darker tone of blue but this also helps to bring her to the front.

Still life Photography 

still life photography is to take a picture of what could be described as a lifeless subject matter, there could be a collection of objects, in some way it could be looked at in the same way as an artist would make a still life painting.

It looks like the light is coming down from above into the centre which does draw your eye towards the camera.

depth of field is used so well in this picture the chess piece in focus just to the left hand side although you're kind of drawn towards the centre of the picture.

Just like the picture above the depth of field is used really well but because the white of the mug in combination with the book you do look at the whole picture.

Some examples of how to work in the studio.

My own work for product advertising

This is the first shot i took after setting up in the studio and i'm really pleased with how it turned out with the light and composition.

This was after i had edited the pictures on Photoshop and added text, the name and type of camera it is. 

These two i think have worked out well although the text and lines either side and bottom might be slightly to dark.

My own work for fashion advertising 

I'm quite happy with how the fashion advertising came out although i still need to do some editing on photoshop.

It was quite hard to get the jumper in a good position but it's work well how it is, i think i do need move the soft boxes to create more light.

the light is just about right although i'm not sure it would work as i've cut out the lower corner of the t-shirt as the shot was taken close.

This has worked ok although i might have to move the soft box on the right up towards the righthand corner.

The light has worked ok on this, even though it's quite dark around the folded t-shirt it makes it stand out well 






The last four i've chosen for the product advertising photographs.

The studio setup i used when taking these photographs, the backdrop was actually light tone of purple that faded out into white and it was rolled onto a table, the camera and other props where placed on top of the table and i stood right in front of it.

The last four i've chosen for the fashion shots 

This is the lighting setup i used in the studio when taking these photographs, when taking the shot i was above facing down towards the clothing on the astro turf.

Evaluation of the assignment.

It's been such a good assignment to research about and really spend some time in the studio to understand how to use lighting equipment to create a photograph exactly how you want it, you're able to create picture that is so well composed and you have time to make sure it's completely in focus.

It does make realise why it's used for product and fashion photography for sure, if you're photographing models in a fashion shoot you're able to control everything weather it be the background, pose, light to show the clothing so well, you don't need to worry about weather conditions or even other people being in the final shot, it allows you to understand why the pictures are used in magazines and newspapers for example.

It'll help so much to spend more time in the studio to understand what you need to do to get exactly the right shot for all the different genres.