Friday, 9 October 2015

Casting models and What to look for..

Casting your model

  • When casting models it is critical that you do a casting as if the model. Even if they are long distance social media such as skype or facetime can be used just so that you can see for your own eyes what the model looks like. As they may look different from what they do in images as some photographers get their images edited to make the images appear better quality and to make the model look healthier/more appealing.
  • Also remember it is not unreasonable to ask to see the model in person or to see an untouched image of them as you need to see if this model is suitable for your brief.
  • It is important to remember that Photoshop and other editing software is available to most people and easy to learn which means what you see in images isn't always real and that everyone has imperfections.

Things to look for in portfolios –
  • It is essential to check there is a variety of different poses in their portfolio as they may look good in pictures but they may stick with the same pose which would reflect badly on you as the photographer as you haven't directed them enough.
  • Ensure that you as the photographer communicate effectively with your model as they are not mind readers and cant guess what poses you require them to hold. Also it is important you don't come across negatively to blunt with your model as you want them to enjoy working with you as if they are not comfortable or happy it will be visible in the images taken.
Ensure everyone is content..
  • It is vital to make sure that the model comes away from the shoot with something whether that is monetary compensation or a se of images for their portfolio. However no matter how desperate the model is to see the images you should never let them have untouched or unfinished images as it can reflect badly on you or your work.
  • It is important to ensure you don't put yourself under too much pressure as if you are doing the hair makeup and photoshoot you need to give yourself enough time to create the look you planned and some time for the model to relax while you set up for the shoot as you don't want to leave the model waiting.
It is also important to remember..
  • That at this stage, not all of your models are going to be experienced which means that they can be nervous so you need to be careful and ensure that they are comfortable and have a lot of direction as if they feel uneasy or nervous it will come across in the images.
  • As most people work visually, bringing a tear sheet with any poses you want your model to recreate would allow you to walk into the shot and show the model exactly what you want.
  • Also as the studio can be cold a lot of the time it is important to keep your model moving so that they don't get too cold as it can make the model look quite stiff/wooden.
  • When setting up a shoot it is very easy to get stressed or anxious which could stressed the model out so it is very important to ensure you relax as it can make the model think you are not professional or that you don't know what you are doing which wouldn't reflect well on you.
  • To make your model comfortable you can ask them questions about themselves as most of the time you wont know much about them anyway, this can make your shoot run more smoothly.
  • If a pose don't look how you wanted or if you don't feel it works anymore make sure your honest but not in a way that can come across as rude.
  • It is easy to unintentionally make your model feel uncomfortable so it important to think about your body language when talking to your model and avoid whispering to people in front of your model.
  • Also if there is every something going on that puts you in a mood or affects how your feeling don't let it show as it can have a impact on your team and model.
  • Ensure that you are happy with the hair and makeup and that there is no problems with it as its easier to sort out on the set rather than in post production.
  • Make sure you let the model know that they are doing well as it can fill them with confidence making them look better in the pictures.
  • Ensure every pose you ask your model to do looks right and suits them and their style as it could ruin the images.
  • Ensure the model is relaxed as this can allow them to be caught of guard as you can get some of your best shots of when the model is completely relaxed.

Health and Safety and Camera Settings/tips

When in the studio there are a lot of things that are important to keep in mind as you are not the only person there and you need to be aware of everything and everyone around you as there are many safety hazards in the photography studios.
  • It is important to ensure that there are nor wires around to avoid anyone tripping over it as our job as the photographer is to ensure the model is safe in the studio.
  • To ensure that yourself and your model are safe it is important to create a clear path.
  • Also it is very critical that you make sure that the lighting stand it low as if it gets knocked it can fall and injure someone.
  • Ensure that a member of staff is notified when an accident or something serious happens so that they can assist or help you.
  • Don't use the lights without the orange weights on them as they can tip over and hurt someone.
Camera settings and tips - 
  • When setting up for the photoshoot it is very important to make sure that your camera is in the right settings as it may not work the way desired if not checked before so.
  • M for manual must be used when in the studio as you wont be able to set it correctly otherwise.
  • It is also important to only ever use one shutter speed of 1/160.
  • ISO – Exposure of 100 is also needed.
  • Portrait shots are most frequently used for beauty shots as the proportions wont look right.
  • With the sync lead, wrap it around the tripod so that when it falls out its still attached and close and more convenient as you can plug it in again and get started quicker.
  • Use the lense of 50mm as it is highly recommended and has a short depth of field.
  • Never get too close to the model as they need their personal space and you don't want to make them feel uneasy as it will be visible in the pictures.
  • It is also important to ensure the camera is set to auto focus so that you don't need to worry about the images being focused as if they aren't you can't fix it in post production and will need to re-do the shoot.
  • Also make sure that the focus number is set to F2 or F8 to adjust the flash.
  • Make sure you don't make the mistake of getting a Canon 500D instead of the 550D as the 550D is a better and more updated camera and is easier to use.
  • It is also important to make sure the image quality is set to RAW.

When preparing for your shoot you will need..
  • Sync lead
  • Hotshoe adapter
  • Tripod
  • Reflector 
  • Canon 550D

Thursday, 8 October 2015

The seven photographers that changed fashion & Rankin

"To capture the pure essence and beauty of life, to tell a story, or to simply communicate and idea is the art of photography. It has been David's natural talent and ability as a photographer to visually communicate that has garnered him the respect and recognition of his peers."
David baileys work in terms of when he captures portraiture is very inspiring and effective as there is always a main focus within this work. The rule of third within his imagery is present as the eyes are always the main focus and captures your attention.

What is my opinion on his work?David Baileys work in my opinions is very unique and the work created by him tells a story. Within some of his images you are able to see that its more than just a picture and that he has carefully thought out what the image will be like.


"At the age of twenty-two, Avedon began working as a freelance photographer, primarily for Harper’s Bazaar. Initially denied the use of a studio by the magazine, he photographed models and fashions on the streets, in nightclubs, at the circus, on the beach and at other uncommon locations, employing the endless resourcefulness and inventiveness that became a hallmark of his art. Under Brodovitch’s tutelage, he quickly became the lead photographer for Harper’s Bazaar."
Richard Avedon’s work is mostly grayscale which makes the images more effective as the shadows and tone in the images make the photos more dramatic.

What is my opinion on his work?Richard Avedon’s work seems to capture any wrinkles or natural signs of growing older which is evident as the images are so high quality. Personally I like images that capture someone’s imperfections as apposed to hiding any imperfections someone has as it creates a false image for people to look up to.

"Guy Bourdin’s career spanned more than forty years during which time he worked for the world’s leading fashion houses and magazines. With the eye of a painter, Guy Bourdin created images that contained fascinating stories, compositions, both in B&W and in colors." 
"Famed for his suggestive narratives and surreal aesthetics, he radically broke conventions of commercial photography with a relentless perfectionism and sharp humor."
Guy Bourdin is quite a unique artist and his work is very intriguing and eye-catching. A lot of this artist’s work contain bright colours that pop and catch your attention giving the image a focus point.

What is my opinion of this artist work?Guy Bourdin creates quite unusual images that capture a story, when looking at his work you are unable to tell what is actually going on in the image as its so different to what you would expect to see. Also the fact that this artists work is different from most makes his work stand out as a lot of photographers are quite similar.

"During the course of a career spanning five decades, Helmut newton became regarded as one of the world's leading photographers. a prolific image maker and genuine visionary - whose daring work bought him both fortune and notoriety - he continues to prove a major influence on modern photography and visual art."
Helmut Newton’s work is often in grayscale which tends to make the images more tonal and dramatic as there are a lot of shadows casted on the face.

What do I like about this artist’s work?I like how the images look natural as some can look staged and over the top. However with this artist as most of his images are in black and white the tone within them captures your attention and makes the images look dramatic.

Erwin Blumenfeld

"In the 73 years of life that intervened, Erwin Blumenfeld was to become one of the most innovative and influential photographers of the 20th century. His early black-and-white nudes are widely considered to be among his best work, although it is his colour fashion photography, which combined his technical expertise in the darkroom (where he experimented with solarisation, multiple images and combining positive and negative images) with an innate sense of style and artistry, that made him rich and famous. He was innovating right up until the 1960s, making films to be used as beauty advertising: an idea that was ahead of its time."

What do i like about this artist's work? Personally Erwin Blumenfeld's work inspires me as within this artists work he is able to capture the beauty of the model and makes them look flawless. Within this artists work there seems to be a story within as he has a few action shots which will intrigue people. 

Herb Ritts
Ritts' work often appeared in magazines like Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. His photos graced album covers, including Madonna's True Blue (1986), and appeared in advertisements for companies like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, the Gap and Giorgio Armani. He has published books of his work, and his photography has also been displayed in galleries and museums. Some of Ritts' well-known music videos include Madonna's "Cherish," Chris Isaak's breakthrough "Wicked Game," Janet Jackson's "Love Will Never Do (Without You)." 

What do I like about this artists work?With this artists work I like that in most of his images he captures the women look very natural and radiant which is nice to see as a lot of images now days have women plastered in makeup finding all of their imperfections which gives a false representation and role model to women.

Cecil Beaton

Seeking to pursue his interest in photography, Beaton sent photos to editors and fell in with the Bright Young Things, London's bohemian crowd. He was eventually hired as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue, where he developed a unique style of posing sitters with unusual backgrounds. Beaton published his first collection of works in 1930 with The Book of Beauty, and his fame grew to the point where he was tapped to photograph the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth in 1939.                                                                                          
What do I like about this artists work? With this artists work it is clear they have an eye for detail and create quite old fashioned and a lot of black and white images which may just be due to the time they were created but within the images created by this image I like that a lot od them seem to be action shots and tell a story which inspires me as when I take an image I was there to be more to it than just a model posing.
Rankin                                                                                                                                                
Rankin has created landmark editorial and advertising campaigns. His body of work features some of the most celebrated publications, biggest brands and pioneering charities, including Nike, Swatch, Dove, Pantene, Diageo, Women’s Aid, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. He has shot covers for Elle, German Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone and Wonderland. His work has always endeavoured to question social norms and ideas of beauty and, in late 2000, Rankin published the heteroclite quarterly Rank, an experimental anti-fashion magazine celebrating the unconventional.                                                                           
What do I like about this artists work?With this artists work I like how perfect and nice the skin looks as a lot of the models look flawless however with a lot of Rankin's work he over works the image in post production which is something I would prefer to avoid as I work prefer to capture the natural beauty of the model rather than changing how the model looks completely.
References
Image 1 - David Bailey: Look | photography | agenda (no date) Available at: http://uk.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/picture-galleries/2010/april/13/david-bailey-look/ (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 2 - Richard Avedon (2015) Available at: http://www.famousphotographers.net/richard-avedon (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 3 - Paris Photo grand Palais 2015 – solo show Guy Bourdin - Louise Alexander Gallery (no date) Available at: http://www.louise-alexander.com/exhibition/paris-photo-grand-palais-2015-solo-show-guy-bourdin/ (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 4 - Helmut Newton (no date) Available at: http://media.photobucket.com/user/dcm444/media/Helmut%20Newton/helmut_newton_various_photos07.jpg.html?filters[term]=helmut%20newton&filters[primary]=images&filters[secondary]=videos&sort=1&o=4 (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 5 - (no date) Available at: http://www.erwinblumenfeld.com/photography/?galItem=11&galAlbum=1&galTag= (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 6 - Vogue (no date) Available at: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/herb-ritts/#929746 (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 7 - Vogue (no date) Available at: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/photographer/cecil-beaton/#2152189 (Accessed: 6 December 2015).
Image 8 - Portfolio | beauty (no date) Available at: http://rankin.co.uk/beauty/5815-106-049_f3/ (Accessed: 6 December 2015).