Ass#4: Mech Tech shoot Final Photos and Self-Assessment

Self-Assessment: Despite all my planing for the shoot, I made some mistakes in camera which forced me to choose shots that weren't in my pre-plan. However, I did do a lot of experimenting with different angles and styles while shooting and since in the end that is what saved me, it isn't all bad... I found that I did end up using a lot more available light than planned... in the end the flash was just a slight fill to add a bit more light to areas of interest, in some cases it was barely noticeable... plans sure change on location! 

In editing I discovered that I prefer the images in black and white... I don't know whether this is appropriate for this assignment so I'm posting a colour and B&W of my final image and as a bonus, my 2nd and 3rd choices (in B&W), I also am posting 4 detail shots for submission but if you can only grade one, then please grade the one with the steel circular perforated disk.

ENJOY!

Ass#4: Mech Tech shoot

To begin: Mindy and I were extremely prepared as usual (and I completely forgot to upload my "creative" stick figure lighting diagram sketch 24hrs before the shoot... my bad.

How do I visualize the final product and what elements do you I need to create it?

Answer: While the "client: aka Pat, seemed very eager to get a shot taken from above, after having tested that above shot in our pre-shoot walk around I determined that it wasn't a very good angle for that machine... therefore I was going to make a point of getting the ladder from him and taking at least one high up shot just to show him that I had listened to his request and then I was going to do a low down shot which I thought would come out nicer.

How will I direct the subject?

Answer: I made a point of asking Pat what all the machines did, mine was a gear/cog maker. I chose it so that the subject had multiple ways of "working" that had camera friendly angles. I wanted his motion to be natural, so in choosing this model I made sure that he was familiar with the machine. After that it would be just a matter of subtle photography nuances of "move slightly this way, look left, look up, etc..." I also made sure to chat up my model to make him comfortable with me.

How will I handle the fluorescent lighting? 

Answer: Green gels on the lights, then correct in photoshop.

How intense will the existing light be, what wattage would I need to create this image?

Answer: I wanted just enough available light to see around the room but the shot was going to be pre-dominantly flash.

  

What visual style of image I am producing, what kind of effect am I looking to create.

Answer: I'm looking to create an accurate image of the guy working on this machine.

What lighting equip. will I need? Props, Flags, Grids…..

Answer: Mindy and I had our equipment list selected the night of the demo. 1 profoto kit, 2 stands, filters, grid, softbox, triggers, xtension cords.

Which lens will be appropriate considering the job description?

Answer: I took out a 10-22mm just to try it and I also planned to try my 18-200mm for more telephoto shots

What will model wear? Dark, light?

Answer: I want the model to be in a mech tech jumpsuit, as dark as possible

Is there a place to change or do make-up if required?

Answer: I brought my favorite make-up the CoverFx Matte, oil absorbing powder, which doesn't show up on camera... this is the only make-up I'd need.

Is there a rest room near by? Is there electricity? Where is the breaker, do I have a contact in case of electrical issues or emergency.?

Answer: I found the washroom before hand, I found the power socket during the demo, and the power on the machine were going to be off but I planned to double check that just to be sure.

Plan your shoot with your partner carefully so you maximize the time allocated and fairly divide the time period.

Answer: Mindy and I decided that she was going to shoot first because her area wasn't contested, where-as Olivier was going to be shooting beside me so I agreed with him that he'd shoot while Mindy was shooting.

Assignment 3: Final Photoshoot Report/Self-Assessment & Photograph

Okay so going over the pre-production questions;

1.What is your intention in terms of how you plan to use the available light?

• We shot inside where it was quite dark with tungsten lighting overhead & no daylight. we used the available light on the wall to create a mood in the background, added some pop with a flash on the background, & used a single rembrant light to light our food, with a reflector.
  
  2. What is the reason for your lens choice?
  We were using a Canon 7D and my choice was a fixed 50mm (which was too wide), that left us with the 18-200mm which we chose for it's telephoto capability. We wanted to be focused on the food but include enough of the background to tell us something about the restaurant.
  
  3. What aperture do you plan to use and why?
  We were using F16 because we wanted the depth of field, but as it turned out, in the editing process we used lens blur to remove that detail... so in retrospect, we should have used a F3.5 maybe.
  
  4. What shutter speed to you plan to use and why?
  We were using 1/5 because we wanted to have a certain amount of ambient light and not to over-tax the flash.
  
  5. Do you have enough available light to achieve these camera settings?
  We did.
  
  6. Do you have enough strobe to achieve these settings?
  We did, only the vagabonds kept dying. Note to self -- don't use the modeling light.
  
  7. Do you have too much light to achieve these settings?
  No, we were good.
  
  8. Are there any technical problems that will need to be addressed at the shoot or in post-production?
  Our Vagabonds kept dying, & we had issue with his triggers.
  
  9. How will you be addressing color balance?
  In post.
  
  10. What is the equipment you will need for the shoot?
  2 white lightning, 2 vagabond power pack, 1 reflector disk, 2 shoot through white umbrella, 1 light meter, 2 big black stands, 1 extension cord
  
  Thoughts: 
  If we could have shot it again, we would have gone into the kitchen & dressed the burger ourselves, also the burger was very small in relation to the size of the bun. We should have asked them to put more fries and salad on the plate, etc. The plate we received was empty & very cheaply put together. We would have eaten it afterward, only it didn't look at all appealing to begin with. They seem to put more effort in for paying customers, & it's a shame, because this was supposed to be a representation of their restaurant. 
  
  
  Our initial intention was to have lots of depths of field but in post it seemed that the depth of field pulled too much attention from the burger, so we blurred it. Also we decided that the shooting an empty restaurant didn't portray the restaurant as a very fun place, so we set the camera on a timer and jumped in to our picture, "Cheers!"
  It was also awkward that the owner failed to mention that there was a party coming in, & she was rushing us out an hour before they were even due to start arriving. But as we were leaving we were praised for being the ones to leave first... she called it a sign of our professionalism and told us it would be considered in the judging... which shocked us a little. All in all though, I think we got a pretty good shot.
  
  
  
  
  

Ass#3 Pre-production notes and concept pic

The Plan: I wanted to shoot lower down towards the burger than you did in the demo, in an effort to achieve more background view, which I would like to mostly keep in focus. Obviously the primary concern is making the food look good but I also wanted to show off the red tones on the wall, matching the wood and leather barstool/tables combination. The pictures on the wall give it a certain class feel.

The Method: I plan to use two lights, one aimed at the food (most likely with a reflector for fill that I didn't include in my "awesome" drawing art), the second light will be lower pointed towards the wall, positioned to be hidden from the camera. I am going to do several exposures to capture the ambient light for the background, then try one with the ceiling light mixing with the back light and finally with the back light on and the ceiling lights blocked.

I will try to shoot at F16, at about 70-100mm.

Ass#2 "Today Conquering Dawson, Tomorrow the World"

The subject of this photo is Christina Garofalo who is a graduate of Dawson's Illustration and Design program. She has used her degree as a stepping stone into the Design Industry. There is some debate whether she considers herself more of a designer or an illustrator. When she first graduated and began her business, she would have said "Illustrator". But after working in the industry as an illustrator she seems to have learned that the creative control given to the designer is as important to her as the ability to execute the illustration. While her work is very general, she does a bit of everything that clients require, her pet projects are the true stimulus that fuels the design part of her business. She works very closely with local actors and has a love of costumes and props, which sometimes greatly influences the style of her design choices and niche market. This is why I photographed her in this renaissance Quebec garb, it both gives an accurate impression of Who she is, and What she does.

Ass#2 Pre-production notes and concept image

I tell the magazine that I will be doing a shot of a Quebec Designer who graduated from Dawson's Illustration and Design program. The headline will something to the effect of "Today Conquering Dawson, Tomorrow the World." So far she mainly has done illustrations for various theatre production, and has done many personal projects in costume design. Her style and focus is still very much in evolution as she gains more work experience and training in her field, but there are definitely great things to come. I wanted this photograph to bring out her own personality and it ties in nicely with her theatre experience. She is going to be dressed in a Renaissance Quebec noble's outfit, looking through a ship's spy glass, and perhaps wearing a wide brimmed hat. I will be shooting up towards her with the main sherbrooke entrance to Dawson in the background. I plan to have my lighting very simple, one white lighting and an umbrella. But just in case I've planned for a second light should I need to add some fill or add some light to the background. In case of light rain, I've chosen a secondary shoot location in the Gazebo on the far side of the school, if it is pouring rain my tertiary location is in the entrance way of the sherbrooke entrance on the stairs.

ALP2 ASS1: Final Image

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