Comparisons

As indicated by Steve, I have put one of my recent shots and a Joe Miles image in here to provide some comparison.

Whilst I am pleased with the results of my shoot, the light was very flat and I was not able to get the exact result that I wanted. Having said that, I am very pleased with the result as you do get the same contrast in the colours and the model is nicely positioned in the right hand 1/3rd of the image.

By standing the subject a few paces in front of the structure, Joe has created an element of depth that is slightly lacking in my own and the use of strong light has also helped to exaggerated the shadows in the background structure.

People and Portraits - Backgrounds

In order to get orgainsed for taking my pictures, I have been walking with the dog this morning and have taken a number of backgrounds that could do well in my final portfolio. The aim has been to get vibrant colours, different texture, and different shades, to provide contrast within the image. All of which I have managed to find within a mile of my front door!

Ideally I am also looking for some graffiti and some concrete too, as this will add to the mix. However, I think that may involve a trip to somewhere like Birmingham.

These were just experimental photos, so I was not too worried about the settings in the camera, as I really was just trying to get an idea of location(s). However, I have included settings for reference purposes.  They were taken quite early in the morning and the sky was cloudy and dull, so the colours are a little bland.

 ISO 800: f/10: 1/250: Lens 18-55mm

 ISO 800: f/10: 1/13: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/100: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/25: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/15: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/80: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/60: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/10: 1/60: lens 18-55mm

 ISO 400: f/32: 1/13: lens 18-55mm

ISO 400: f/5.6/: 1/13: lens 18-55mm

Use if Light - People and Portraits

In many of the photographs that I have seen the models are highlighted with additional lighting. Clearly I do not have a full set of lights and all of the necessary equipment that may be necessary to achieve much of this. However, I do have a Nissin Di622 Speedlite Flash gun.

I have been researching the internet to see how I can get the most out of this as a tool.

So far I have learned that:

• The flash is triggered remotely using the infrared burst from the camera flash.
• To avoid the camera flash affecting the shot too much, you can adjust the Flash Exposure Compensation, on your Canon camera. Hence I have adjusted this down by 2 whole stops.
• The infra red receiver needs to be able to 'see' the infra red burst from the main unit.

I spent a while yesterday evening trying to set up different scenarios. Using my camera on my main Manfrotto tripod, I put the remote flash unit onto a smaller tripod and adjusted it so that I could use both flash units at the same time. The results were quite pleasing, although I did not have a subject in the shot, I was happy with the way that I got both of the units working together.

The next step is to take them both out with me to test a 'shoot', which I hope to be doing over this weekend.

Working on my Portfolio - People and Portraits

Since Thursday evening I have been thinking about my portfolio in some depth. I want to take some urban portraits with my model(s) captured against walls, doors, or other structures. In a similar style to Joe Miles or Mark Tierney. That is not so easy.

I am currently looking for suitable locations, with the right amount of space around them and the right texture to them.

There are a couple of possibilities that I have seen, for example garage doors, fencing panels and a specific wall on a housing estate in Lichfield.

Later today i shall be going to Birmingham and will be keeping an eye out for interesting locations. I am particularly interested in some of the small industrial units in Aston or close to there, where I think there should be some good opportunities.

Joe Miles

http://www.joemiles.com/

Joe Miles has over fifteen years experience as a professional photographer. Based near Wallingford, Oxfordshire, he has photographed models, politicians and celebrities. His clients include Liverpool FC, Marie Claire, Nivea, The Portland Hospital, The Sunday Times Magazine and Tesco.

Joe specialises in portrait photography for advertising and commercial assignments.
He does all his own printing to ensure the highest standards and uses an excellent local framer, when required. Joe has photographed families from many parts of the UK, particularly Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and London. 

In his location work, he seems to have a simple style using colour to contrast greatly.

The following images had to be screen grabbed, as I was unable to drag them off the website.

Illuminated from the front, the wooden doors in this image have a sheen across them. The subject is almost silhouetted against them.

There is an element of interest within the various catches and hinges, lines and shapes, on the doors that does, detract form the model a little, which is exaggerated by placing the model in the centre.

However, given the darkness of the model you are instantly drawn towards him, as he does stand out from the background.

This image is stark in its simplicity. Two guys against a red wall and nothing. 

It is the plainness of the red in the wall that contrasts so well with the guys in the picture. 

However, they are dwarfed my the mass of red.

Simplicity rules. This is a bit whacky, but the use of colour, the offsetting of the main subject and the starkness of the white wall, all work very well together.

I like the way that this image works. Yet again, vibrant colour contrasts very well with the background. However, in this image, the background too has some texture and interest. Placing the model in the right had third satisfies the rule of thirds. Having said that, he is seemingly walking out of frame, glancing over his shoulder as he goes, and this should take your eye out of the image, but strangely it doesn't and I think this is because he is looking back and you are then drawn into the textures in the background.

Yet again the background is all important here as it sets the tone of the picture. The horizontal lines created by the wooden fencing, or boarding, give a soft texture to the image. 

In this picture however, rather than exaggerating the contrast by having Stephen Gerrard (even I can recongise him)  in bright clothing, he has allowed the face to become the focal point, as this is the only really contrasting element in the picture. As this is such a famous face, then it makes perfect sense to attract the viewer towards it.

The last picture I chose has a lot going on in it. The background, whilst bland in colour, is rich in interest. There are many shapes, lines, textures and other to keep you thinking and looking.

The use of light in this image is interesting too. The model almost blends into the background and she too, as in most of his other images, is looking out of the frame.

this is a dark image that could almost be black and white, but it has an intriguing quality.

PhotoNut Blog

I stumbled across this website by accident. It just happened to have many examples of the kinds of images that I am looking to reproduce for my work. However, I have no idea who the photographer is, but the commentry and the photo meta-data is very useful.

The photographers comments and detail are indicated in grey italics  with my observations in this orange colour.

 

Beautiful side light was falling on this rugged wall and that gave me an opportunity to use the shadows as part of the composition. ISO 1000, 1/40th second at f/3.5 using a 145mm focal length.

It is great to get an insight into why the photographer took this photo. However, you can instantly see the texture in the wall behind. 

The use of colour, gold dress, blonde hair, tanned skin, contrasts well against the grey wall.

 

I love this picture. It has an element of mystery about it. I find it easy to seek out colour and go mad with it and sometimes all that is needed is a calm monochrome frame of mind.

Taken in black and white this image lacks the vibrancy of the others, However, it does create an intrigue all of its own. 

This near mono picture is a favourite of mine. Aperture Priority, ISO 200, 1/60th at f/4 with plus 1 stop of exposure compensation.

I love the simplicity of this image. The image is taken in colour, but it almost looks like it has been taken in black and white and the shoes have been coloured in.

 I used a zoomed in on camera flash for this frame too. Getting the mix of natural light and flash is the key to the success of this style of shot. ISO 100, 1/200th second at f/18

This exhibits a wonderful vibrant use of colour. Red skirt, yellow wall, white blouse, all contrast well in this splash of colours.

The way the model is highlighted too, with their use of flash, simply drags your attention to the main subject.

Another frame against the red doors. This time I used on camera flash to add the punch. ISO 400, 1/200th second at f/11

As above, the background colour is striking. It is interesting how the model is lined up against the wall, with her breasts actually lining up with the break between the top and bottom of the doors.

The straight lines add a feeling of structure. The peeling paint and the damage to the doors erases any thoughts of formality and also adds a nice element of texture.

The use of flash highlights the main subject allowing the colours of her light top and skin to contrast well with the red backdrop of the doors.

http://www.prophotonut.com/2009/04/08/cork-urban-portrait-pictures-2/

Harry Borden

I came across Harry Borden whilst watching the Channel Five TV series "How to take Stunning Pictures" where he did a masterclass for a couple of amateur photographers.
Harry is from New York, but moved to the UK and grew up on a farm in the South West. He studied at Plymouth College of Art and Design before moving to London where he got commissions from the NME and the Observer.
He still works as an independent and provides images to magazines throughout the world. Much of his photography is taken of the rich and famous .
Recognised as one of he worlds leading contemporary photographers, he now has some 100 photographs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
I have viewed all of the images on his website and come up with the following as they particularly interested me.

 I especially like this image of Ian McKellan (I think), as the light enhances the creases in his face. There is so much interest in the face. The combination of the light and his white air and beard, focuses the eye on his face instantly.

 In this picture the plainness of the whit background really emphasises the contrast of the model.

These two pictures work well independently. On the left, the red of Jimmy's tracksuit contrasts well and adds a serious amount of colour against the white walls. Also, he is boxed in by the lines created by the floor, the wall, the roof over the door, and the support pillar.
The picture on the right captures the zaniness of Jimmy in all its glory. the facial expression captures his personality and the ;ling' with the cigar, and the tracksuit, are all caricatures of his personality.

 Huge irony exists by putting Gordon Ramsay in this setting. As one of the world's most well know specialty chefs to put him in what looks to be a cafeteria works. Also, the food too. Nothing special just simple stuff. In addition the mimicking of his dad, Gordon's son adds a duplicity to the image.


 Harsh lines and the stairwell create a perspective in this image. Off setting Murdoch to the right and lining the wall up to the left, splits the image into thirds (rule of thirds) creating a classic format for the image. The shadows combined with the white walls and black stairs give this image an almost Black and whit equality. Given the subject matter, a person, the eye wanders throughout the picture, following the lines of the shadows, the hand rails and the stairs themselves, after first looking at Rupert Murdoch.

What I like about this picture us the fact that I am thinking of doing something very similar for my assignment, so it is nice to see something professionally done, to compare. The model is slightly offset and the colour in her outfit contrasts massively with he grey wall. In addition positioning is everything. Standing in the image, scantily clad, almost looking like a prostitute there is irony in the grey marking on the wall, which looks like a cross! So we have the contrast between Saint and Sinner, or virgin and prostitute.