Shoot 1

For my first shoot, I photographed the model sat on a stool, against a purple backdrop, wearing shorts, converse, a thin jumper with the sleeves rolled up with sunglasses on. Which all contributed to create a very bright and happy summer look. The lighting is also an aspect that helps to contribute towards the bright and happy look, which I created by using plenty of lighting throughout my shoot, such as soft boxes, beauty dish and a snoot. I sat the model on a stool because I felt that it would create a more natural look and would also help to make my photograph stand out, also her wearing no make up also helps to create the more natural look. I asked her to wear the clothes I had chosen because this also helps to contribute to the summer look, and I also asked her to roll up the sleeves on the jumper because it looked better and more summery than with them normal, and I think that this would also make people question why, was it too hot? Or was it part of the outfit? My aim for this shoot was to give off a happy and cheerful vibe, to make the viewers feel happy and hopeful, with a bright summer theme, and I think I created this successfully by using the bright lighting and a colorful backdrop. Throughout the shoot I shot from a couple of different angles and got the model to change to different positions, from sitting forward to facing the opposite way whilst looking over her shoulder, the process of directing the model was different and new but enjoyable and made it easier for me to get the images I wanted. I used a soft box on the background and a beauty dish facing towards her with the flash on which helped to create plenty of light to create a high key image. I used the correct  camera settings to make sure it wasn't too bright, which I figured out by using a light meter to ensure these settings as quick as possible which gave me more time to shoot. I also shot from a range of distances, which include full-length shots, just above the knee and just above the waist, which helps to show a range of different techniques and different types of images, each giving different effects. Within these images there were a couple of times where the flash didn't fire, which then created a darker image with almost complete shadow, which although it wasn't supposed to happen they don't look bad or unsuccessful, and although it doesn't fit in with the theme of my idea and how my images should look, the darkness and shadow makes them look interesting. All of the images from my shoot have been shown on this blog post within contact sheets to show evidence of each image I shot in this shoot. There is also an image or two where the soft box has been caught in the corner of the shot or that the edge of the backdrop is visible, and I have shown this in the images on the contact sheets to show as evidence of something that needs to be fixed and improved on. I think that I have a range of successful images within this shoot and that fit in well with my aim of what I want them to be like, the message I want to give and the feeling of happiness when looking at them. For me the most successful out of the shoot are many of the images where she has her back to the camera but is looking over her shoulder, it gives off a different message and I think it creates a better image as a whole than when she is facing forward. My shoot may also give the viewers the thought of happiness in her personality and that she is someone who enjoys the summer. In some of the images the stool is not visible, which creates a different effect from the images where it is visible, because within the ones where it is not it gives a different effect than to when is is visible because then there is more to focus on. I am going to continue with this theme and colour backdrop within my next shoot to create a final outcome, I will develop on this by changing to clothes to fit the theme a lot better and will try to make the images slightly brighter and continue to use a range of techniques.

I have chosen to focus on this image and annotate this because I feel that is it successful in many ways and also I can pick out areas for development. This image was shot around half way through my shot where I was experimenting with taking full-length shot and close ups. This image is interesting and successful because it helps the background to stand out as it is close up so there isn't much more colour. It is also interesting because she has the glasses on her head instead of them being on, which will make people wonder why. These aspects and many more are the reason I like this image and chose it from the others. Many other reasons are the lighting and the positioning. The lighting is very high key, with no shadow apart from on the jumper. I particularly like the position of this photo because of the way she is looking over her shoulder, and the way she has her back to the camera makes it slightly mysterious, sort of like she has something to hide. All of these aspects of this image contribute towards the creation and successfulness of this image. There are also areas for improvement within this which include the focus, although it doesn't look too bad it is not completely in focus and this is something I need to improve and develop on within my next shoot.