Copy work

This week we were given an introduction on copy work.

We were required to take two images of two separate art works using two different cameras.

these are the resulting images taken:

Black and white sketch with glass frame: Taken with studio lights at 45 degrees to each other with the art work on the floor

The light on all four corners were measured and were within 0.1 of a stop from each other.

Final image white balance was obtained post production using the eye dropper in Lightroom on the white patch from the colour/tone test strip

With this textured oil image we utilised polarising filters on both the lights and a CPL on the camera to reduce specular highlights whilst still maintaining the lustre and gold effect of the fame. Final image white balance was obtained post production using the eye dropper in Lightroom on the white patch from the colour/tone test strip

Chrome

This week we discussed the process of shooting chrome objects in the studio. The issue being that chrome objects reflect everything in the studio including the surface on which they are positioned.

These are our images from the shoot

Glass objects

This week we looked at dark field and light field lighting techniques for lighting of glass objects. The practice being so that the definition of the glass object is either created by dark edges (light/bright field) or light highlighted edges (dark field)

Generally a light field is shot onto a black background and the surrounding lights in the studio/set up create the shape of the subject, and conversely a dark field set up shoots onto a white back ground and the darkness of the surrounding studio "reflects" onto the glass providing dark edges.

We tried both techniques but found the dark field technique worked better on this occasion

This image looks too much like it could be porcelain and needed a pattern on the background or reflected in the mirror to advise the eye that it is see through

Macro/close up practice

This week we discussed and practiced using macro lenses and extension tubes

The focal length of a lens is the (focal) distance from the centre nodal point of the lens to the film/sensor plane when focussing on an object @infinity.

Focussing on a closer object requires this (focal) distance to increase.

For an object to be captured lifesize the proportion of focal distance to image distance needs to be 2f-2f

A conventional lens's proportion of focal distance to subject distance is low wheres as a macro setup is the opposite in as much as the focal distance is relatively high in proportion to the subject distance.

As the lens is relatively long to the subject the DOF is narrow, therefore in order to capture enough detail a smaller aperture is required, and this in turn limits the amount of light to the sensor, so long exposures and or flash is required to light the subject. Long exposures and exaggerated lateral camera movement/shake necessitates the use of a tripod and where possible remote shutter release as well as mirror up mode .

There are several ways of adapting the camera to suit for macro

1) Close up lens.... lowest quality option .. but inexpensive, basically a magnifying glass (rated in diopters )
2) Extension tubes.. Magnification is calculated by image size/original size  ie 1:1 2:1 etc
use formula to determine what extension tube length is required
3)Macro lens.. specifically designed for close up work

We were given the task of taking two macro shots. One using the extension tubes on an SLR and one using the Hasselblads, the image sizes needed to be 1:1 and 2:1.

Using the formula V=(m+1)f  we needed to calculate the length of extension tube required to effectively shoot our images at a magnification ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 ratio

Where V=total focal distance (lens length + extension tube) There fore to work out tubes length just subtract lens length.
We came up with needing 50mm for 1:1 and 25mm for 1:2


 ..These are the shots we got

Hasselblad practice

Today we were introduced to the Hasselbald H3D2 medium format cameras that are available for us to borrow for studio usage

The brief was to shoot 2 images the first was a magazine corporate cover shot and the second one was to be a centre spread taking note of were the centre fold line will be and featuring a product that to which  the model is related.

As basic in operation as the cameras were they were so tactile and beautiful to use especially the view finder that was amazing

We ran out of time to complete the second centre fold shot however this is our cover shot.

Class exercise-solid object revision

Today we were assigned to shoot 2 small solid products/objects in the studio

The first  brief was that the product was to be composed in a scene with suitable props suggesting or relating to the the products usage staged in the background. As well, it was needing to suggest a household environment, with the lighting setup  to suggest this environment.

The first product was a blue packet of chips.


It was agreed that we would try to simulate an outdoor patio scene/around the pool, with a graduated blue background to give separation from as well as colour co-ordination to the product. The scene was to be bright summery and crisp.

The suggested usage was created by having  a plate with some chips displayed and a glass of orange juice with a straw and as a perfect accompaniment to the salty chips and  in keeping with a relaxing  time on  the patio.

This was the final image we chose :

As we were not permitted to use a soft box, our lighting set up was as follows:

(insert lighting diagram here)

Main light over head 45 degree, to the side 45 degree, and positioned close-ish so as to achieve a softer light, with the power turned down to minimum.  As a fill light we used a speed light just behind and to the left of  the main product. To light the background we used a second mono block pointed at 45 degrees onto the background facing upwards to provide separation, assisting the product to standout.



The second brief gave us more freedom with the second product and specified that the lighting was to be stylistically different from the first.

The second product decided to shoot was a camera flash.

We thought to try more dramatic lighting on this occasion. We were going to use a snoot on the same main light positioning but decided that the light was hard enough as it was if we just pulled this light back a little from the scene.

The background light was similarly positioned as the previous shot but we employed a snoot to give a bolder lighting effect. A white reflector was used on the right hand side of the product to reduce the shadows that were too harsh and ended up losing the detail in the products foot/base.

Overall the results were average as the product was a little over exposed and the background was a little under exposed creating disharmony and letting the eye get distracted from the main product

This was the final product: