Portfolio

So I think I've finally decided the images I want for my portfolio.

As I've decided to try and continue in the fashion/ beauty/ hairstyling work that has so far been where most of my work has been, I have tried to select images that would represent this.

Also I thought that they would help with trying to get commissions for editorial work etc.

I also wanted to add a couple of my still life images to show what I can do in that genre and also as it's an area I want to continue with when I finish the course.

Peter Lundstrom

I came across a couple of series recently by a photographer called Peter Lundstrom.

I can't say I know that much about him other than he works for a design company called Cargo Collective and he appears to do quite a lot of commercial photography.

However, it's these two personal series he has created that caught my attention.

The first is called 8 bit  and the second is called Circus Depression. They remind me a little of the work of Chris Brock, in the way he creates lovely little scenarios for his characters to interact with the environment they find themselves in.

Also he really brings out the character of his subject and has a really strong eye for composition

When I look at images like these I realise that I have a long way to go in my own work to achieve these kind of shots, even though I am really happy with my own progress as photographer.

More information: http://cargocollective.com/peterlundstrom

8bit

8bit

8bit

8bit

Circus Depression

Circus Depression

Circus Depression

Circus Depression

// DOG PORTRAITS // on the Behance Network

// DOG PORTRAITS // on the Behance Network

Some beautiful dog portraits from the Behance Network.

Obviously being a dog lover these pictures caught my eye, but it's the detail in the pictures that held my attention.

A very simple and straight forward portrait series with some lovely high key lighting that helps to capture the character of the pooches.

Flight Patterns

Really lovely fashion photography piece on Behance.

This is similar to the feel I wanted to use on my Tethered series, not sure I achieved it as well as these do, but it is an influence.

Really like fashion shoots that have good themes and you can see the conceptual thinking that goes in to the shots.

There's a real personality in these shots even though they have a very posed feel to them.

More info and furthetr shots can be found here:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Flight-Patterns/3223155

Manga inspired make up shoot

Another collaboration with my friend Lara the make up artist.

Couldn't really go to town on this one and get a location shoot organised, as we're both obviously a bit pushed for time at the moment, but she asked me to do some headshots for this manga inspired shoot.

I was more than happy to do so, and fortunately having a Bowens kit at home at the moment allowed me to get further accustomed to it.

I decided to shoot with only one light positioned to the side of the subject so as to try to create a nice shadow behind her.

Not sure what to do about this shot?

I've been trying to do something with this shot since I took it a few weeks ago now.

The problem is that the boards that I use for my backdrops have really begun to bow (which apparently is a problem caused by putting wallpaper on them.

Also I struggled slightly with the composition of this shot, but as it is I really like the end result with the look on my Dads face and his stance etc.

SO I need to decide whether to re shoot or leave it and continue trying to fix it up with Photoshop.

My problem is that a re-shoot may be unfortunately logistically not possible at the moment, and certainly not before the assignment has to be completed, and also I'm concerned that by re shooting I won't be able to recreate the shot as I have it now, which I really like.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Unaltered Shot.

So as is evident here the left hand board has bowed quite badly, there is a slight gap at the top of the head as my dad was a little taller than I was expecting compared to the backdrop.and finally there isn't in my opinion enough space to the bottom of the pic.

After Photoshop edit

This is the shot after a bit of Photoshop magic, the bow is now visibly straighter and I've added more space to the top and bottom of the image.

There is a bit of finesse still required to make it print ready but I think it is now a much more usable shot.

Also would it have been noticeable if I had not drawn attention to it?

Self Negotiated Update

March was a very busy month for shoots in my series Tether.

I was shootinhg most weeks as well as having to paint my backdrops and find props etc. Logistically this project has been quite taxing as I have had to try to make sure that everything is ready before my shoot and that all the people sitting for me were available (this sometimes was quite difficult due to peoples works schedule etc).

However, I have now managed to get the series completed with possibly one re- shoot required (more on that later).

I've also added the definition I want to use as the blurb to accompany the series.

Anyway here's the finished results below:

The lighting diagram below shows the layout of how the shots were composed,  I wanted the lighting to be consistent throughout the series, with a few minor tweaks on each different shot.

Two beauty dishes were used to light the backgrounds to an exposure of f.11, the main light on each subject was provided by two soft boxes positioned on either side of the subject. These were also set to get an exposure of f.11 (although this did vary slightly from shot to shot depending on the position of each subject.

My camera was set to 1/125 shutter speed and I set the exposure to F.10 as I was using a polarizing filter on my 50mm lens which I found help to add vibrancy to the colours but did require the camera be set a stop under the required exposure.

Walter Pfeiffer for Dazed and Confused

Really love this series from Walter Pfeiffer for this months Dazed.

It really appeals to my sense of the bizarre and love how he captures the surreal by putting them in a very contemporary setting.

What I like about Pfeiffer is his preference to work with unknowns rather than models and try to bring out their character. This is, in my opinion, a very unique approach as most portrait photographers start out by working with unknowns but then move on to work with professional models, certainly when working for magazines etc.

This is why I really like Dazed's editorial fashion shoots as they are never afraid to play around with idea, which is pretty much their raison d'etre I suppose.

Really want to do something similar myself and will start thinking about who and how I can get this to happen.

More information:

http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/13138/1/exclusive-walter-pfeiffer-fashion-film

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/in-love-with-walter-pfeiffer