Preperation for Photoshoot no2

LOCATION

Darley park and Marketon park are the two areas I have chosen for this shoot. I will do shots at both and then will decide which give the best correct composition.

CLOTHES

I have decided to replicate the original the best I can. In the original he is wearing skinny type trousers with boots, a dark coloured mac with a belt.
My model has his own skinny jeans and shoes and I shall be trawling the shops to find a mac similar to the one in the picture. As the picture is in black and white it doesn't necessarily matter what colour these items of clothing are as long as they are dark.

POSITIONING

Again this I will be trying to mimic the original. I will be taking with me a printed copy of the photograph so as to be able to show my model what he is needing to do. I will also be doing my best to put my model at ease so as to feel more comfortable. I am aware that its outside in a public park and that there are going to be all sorts of people walking their dogs and such like so my model could possibly feel a little uncomfortable with this.

LIGHTING

I wont be using any lighting, only natural light. I am going to try and organise the shoot for a day where I will have sufficient natural light to be able to create the right effect. This could possibly prove to be quite difficult as the English weather is so changeable!! Luckily the model I am using doesn't currently work and is available most of the time and is just a phone call away.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As the photo shoot is in a public park I will have to be aware and conscientious of the other people and animals using the same public footpaths as I. I will have to ensure that my camera equipment doesn't obstruct any public right of way and isn't harmful to any other uses of the park. It isn't a restricted area or a nature reserve so there are no limitations as to where I can go or take photos of. I will also make my model aware of all of this so as to not cause any more problems.

Location for photoshoot No2

I went out again the other day in search of a place suitable and that some what replicates this image. I have come up with a couple of places which I think will suit it quite well.

I have taken some photos of these areas click here to see them.

These places will hopefully fulfill some of the requirements mentioned in previous blogs regarding the lines on the street and the wall all being in line with the models eyes and also these areas can be quite grim and gloomy just like the original.

Richard Avedon's work

This photograph is of Bob Dylan taken in Central Park, New York 1965.

The main focal point in this photograph is Bob's eyes, everything in this picture draws the viewers eyes to his. The lines on the cobbled road go up the picture to meet his eyes and at the top of the photograph the horizon again is in line with his eyes. The cobbled road gives plenty of texture without drawing the attention away from the main focal point of the photograph. It has clearly been a miserable day and the wet cobbles give off a glimmer where the light hits them, this would provide some natural lighting and also adds some brightness to what is a grim day. All the objects, trees, buildings, walls, lamp post and the person behind him are all out of focus and the tone of these objects along with the clothes he is wearing are all very dark All of these things along with the fact that he doesn't look happy give off a dark and mysterious side to him, which coincide with his music.

This is a fashion photograph taken in New York in 1967.

It looks like the model is suspended by something or that she is about to jump up and the photograph is taken at that precise moment, using a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement. I think that the latter is the more probable. There is allot of movement in the photograph. Firstly it looks like her hair and dress are being blown up and away from her towards the left. Secondly her body is arched and pointing in the same direction in which her hair and clothes are being blown which gives the impression that she herself is being blown away, it still looks really graceful and relaxed. There is a shadow to the left of the picture which suggests that maybe only one light was used or a couple but from the same side, to highlight her face and skin and again this lighting also gives this photograph direction like the shape of her body and her hair and dress being blown over to the left. The main focal point is the dress, the models legs draw your attention up and across to the left. Her face is further back in the photograph and although it is highlighted all the viewer can see really is the lower part and the side of her face and not her eyes.

Test shots for photo shoot No 2

Went to check out a street in Lichfield as a possibility as a backdrop of a photo which I wish to replicate. There are a couple of reasons as to why I think that this site is unsuitable for the photograph. The direction in which the photograph needs to be taken gives you a back drop of a cathedral and also due to refurbishment to the cathedral there is a unsightly white scaffolding cover over one side. The street I think is too wide, and on the original photograph there are lines on the road which is the way which the cobbles are laid which draw your eye up the photograph towards the focal point of the picture, his eyes! The buildings on the right and the bridge on the left to set the horizon line are great and quite suitable, but with the cathedral in the background and the refurb works, this I feel will ruin the whole photo which I’m trying to create.

I do have one other option at the moment, the London Embankment. This could well be an option from the pictures which I have seen, two foreseeable issues could be, too many people and finding a good spot with the right kind of buildings as its such a big area.