Calke Abbey - Sunday 24th October

What a beautiful day!!!

So we set out mid morning to Calke Abbey, a beautiful sunny but crisp morning, with great light and bright blue skies providing plenty of opportunity for capturing the stunning Autumn colours at this time of year.

Here are a selection of shots.....



Aperture: f/5.0 Shutter Speed: 1/320 Focal Length: 56mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/100 Focal Length: 40mm ISO: 200

I decided to explore two techniques, the above shoes a slow shutter speed causing the leaves and the wellie to blur, showing the action and speed of the leaves moving.

Aperture: f/5.0 Shutter Speed: 1/640 Focal Length: 40mm ISO: 200


The above image shows my second shot using a faster shutter speed in order to keep both the wellies and the leaves sharp.

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/60 Focal Length: 200mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/10 Shutter Speed: 1/200 Focal Length: 56mm ISO: 200


My favourite part of this image is how the light is shining through the trees onto the fallen chestnuts, like a spotlight on an Autumn scene.

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/60 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/6.3 Shutter Speed: 1/640 Focus Length: 120mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/800 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200

If I was to take this shot again I would ensure the strand of grass was out of the way to enable focus  into the shot and reduce distraction, although I do like the dimmed light creating mystery in the shot.

Aperture: f/5.0 Shutter Speed: 1/400 Focus Length: 44mm ISO: 200


Although I am happy with this shot I feel that with the tree in the same line as the toadstool this causes distraction and therefore had I not also taken the image below I would have cropped this in post production to bring focus onto the detail and texture of the toadstool.

Aperture: f/5.3 Shutter Speed: 1/200 Focus Length: 95mm ISO: 200

The idea of this image was to capture the texture the toadstool adds to the composition, as well as using a shallow depth of field to show it in all its glory without distractions.
This is one of my favourite shots of the day, maybe in post production the strand of grass to the left of the shot could be removed, however I quite like the different element it adds.  The thing I love most about this shot though has to be the texture in the toadstool and how the grass in the foreground is out of focus showing that I took this at the level of the toadstool showing the ground perspective of this shot.

Aperture: f/9 Shutter Speed: 1/320 Focus Length: 55mm ISO: 200

This shot and the following two were influenced by Charles Binns, taken on my back pointing upwards at the tree to capture the sunlight through the leaves.

Aperture: f/9 Shutter Speed: 1/300 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/11 Shutter Speed: 1/250 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/11 Shutter Speed: 1/250 Focus Length: 18mm ISO: 200

This shot was inspired by that of Jonathan Horrocks giving the perception of the tree being at the bottom of hill, where his was at the top, the colours are also similar with the little cloud that there is almost acting as an extension of the trees branches. If I was to take this shot agin I would probably take a wide angle shot to show more of the sky and also to allow the shot to be split into thrids, although I do like the way the tree in the composition is set off to the left but dominates the majority of the shot.  The colour is also great how the tree is just starting its transformation to Autumn starting at the tips.

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/250 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 125

Aperture: f/5.3 Shutter Speed: 1/30 Focus Length: 90mm ISO: 125

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/25 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200

Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/15 Focus Length: 200mm ISO: 200 (Cropped)

Aperture: f/4.8 Shutter Speed: 1/400 Focus Length: 52mm ISO: 200

Calke Abbey Visit - Planning

I have chosen Calke Abbey as one of my main sources for Autumn scenery, I intend to keep visiting throughout the season to capture the changes in colour, trees, plants and wildlife.

Intentions

I have planned my first visit to Calke Abbey on Sunday 24th October. The intention of this visit is to get some photos of leaves being kicked into the air and to capture the colour of the trees and leaves similar to some of the photographers I have research, in particular Charles Binns.

The aim is also to familiarise myself with the grounds so that I can capture some of the common Autumn sites, but also some of the more unusual.

Equipment

I will be taking with me my Nikon D90, 18mm-200mm lens and a tripod.

Safety Considerations

As with all location photography there are always risks.  Given the recent wet weather obviously suitable footwear to avoid slipping and warm clothing are essential.  However there are other facters to take into consideration such as The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (an Act of Parliament) which has been set up to protect wildlife, birds and their eggs and nests, plants and sites of scientific interest (protected areas of conservation), as well as national nature reserves.


Calke Abbey also falls into the category of National Nature Reserve these reserves are established and managed by English Nature (a Government agency to protect conservation and wildlife) or by non-governmental organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or the National Trust.

Ref: Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
       Sites of Scientific Interest
       National Nature Reserves      

Fashion Photographer - Jason Christopher

One of my main sources for Fashion Photographers has been Britain's Next Top Model as these are normally some of the highest regarded within the business and those that shoot on location and like to try out different things.

One of my favourites from this has to be Jason Christopher.  

Biography

A photographer since the age of 14, having bought his first camera with money saved from a paper round, Jason began taking photos around his local town. He then grew more and more interested in fashion looking at magazines such as Vogue.  He then shadowed Jerry Avanaim a celebrity photographer who helped in make a career in the fashion industry.

I have chosen a selection of his images that not only inspire me but the models positions, shapes, etc I feel could be put into practice when photographing the shoes for my second theme.



This image is composed in such a way that due to the pose of the model and the fact that there are no eyes in shot to draw to this enables the line of the leg to act as a leading line to the foot telling you about the girl in the shot and obviously that she is a ballerina.  I believe I can incorporate this type of pose into my fashion shots in order to draw the viewer to the shoe I want to be noticed.

The lighting in this shot is fantastic and instantly draws the eye to the model  The visibility of the wall at the base of the shot also helps frame the model and draw the eye to the models face where there is less distraction, while adding pattern to the shot.

Like the first shot the models pose draws the eye to the her shoes, very cleverly done by not only using the hand as almost a pointer to the product but also by not including the models eyes, so contact is never made to the face but straight at the product.  The light also draws the eye to the centre of the shot like a spotlight to the product while the dress screen adds patterns and framing to the shot.  The rule of thirds is also present in this shot enabling space for the advertising of the product as well as the visual of the product and an impression of the wearer.

This shot uses the rule of thirds with the model being the main centre focal point.  The trees in the background add height perspective and texture while the green foliage gives a contrast in colour between the black of the models dress and the dark of the trees.

Again a shot incorporating the rule of thirds with the model being the main focal point of this shot to the left, while seeing the top of the buildings enables the model to dominate the shot.  The light in this image also focuses on the model drawing attention to the main focal point.

My favourite part of this shot is the contrast between the domestic setting and the glamour of the pink shoes while the windows in the background help frame the model in the shot while adding natural light to the shot which in this case has almost been blown out around the model with a vignette added to add shape and perspective to the shot.

Had to Add This One!!!



While trawling the internet for landscape photographers I stumbled upon this image by Nah Iksung and had to add it.  The effect using a slow shutter speed that has been incorporated to this shot showing the water as almost a mist under the log is great for creating atmosphere.  It also helps to enhance the colours of the green moss and the Autumn coloured leaves.  The tree trunk in this composition also creates a centre line in the shot drawing the eye along it to the leaves that have fallen.

Fashion Shoot with Photographer Jason Christopher

I chose this clip while browsing through YouTube to show research of the equipment used by one of the big names in fashion photography and to get a feel for just how much equipment is required to produce great shots.  I'm beginning to realise that often less is more.

Terrell Suggs Fashion Shoot By Jason Christopher: Behind The Scenes

This video is a great example of just how little equipment is required to take professional style shots, as well as giving an ameteur like myself the chance to see the types of equipment that is used on fashion shoots such as this onbe for Terrell Suggs.

City & Guilds Photography Level 2 - Specialist Photography & Photo Presentation

Module 208 - Principles of Location Photography

Statement of Intent Theme 2 - Fashion/Shoes

Why this theme?

What girl doesn't love shoes? It is this love of shoes and the collection I have now acquired that led me to this theme, along with the work of a number of photographers such as Horst P Horst who's photo Rock Around the Clock I (1987) caught my eye (more on these later):

Intentions

The aim of my photography will be to catch the personality and the type of person who may be wearing the shoes, only rarely showing the actual face of the person. Without using the face a character can still be created  as they say 'you can often tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear'. 
Living within Derbyshire and having so many great loactions to shoot I have chosen to try and capture High Fashion meets English Heritage by using Sutton Scarsdale Hall an English Heritage site and bringing a selection of my highly fashionable shoes along for the ride. 


Techniques 
In this theme I will be looking to capture the shoes in relevant surroundings to fit the theme and when using a model creating a character almost by matching the clothing with the shoes.  In order to do this I will be using a number of different thecniques including:
Changing shutter speeds to capture movement and motion blur
Incorporating the Rule of Thirds into my composition to draw the eye to the key focal points.
Using a greater depth of field in comparison to my Autumn theme in order to capture more of the surroundings of the shoes and keep the model in focus.
Equipment
Nikon D90, Giottos Tripod and 18-200mm Nikon Lens.


Light
As with theme one I will be relying on natural light as my main source.



Safety

Carrying out shoots on location come with a number of considerations and laws to be adhered to:

• If running photography as a business it is important to have employer and public liability insurance, including cover for people taking part/modelling on an occasional basis.
• Any vehicles being used to frive to and from locations should be insured on a business basis.
• Any permissions to access including the right to take photographs should be confirmed prior to shooting at certain locations.
• Risk assessments should also be carried out to ensure safety for both the photographer, models and any assistants and the level of risk involved when using a planned loaction.
• Equipment should be checked regularly to ensure all is safe to use. Ref: http://www.skillset.org/photo/careers/freelancers/article_4617_1.asp

Landscape Photographer - Charles Binns

Biography

Being born near the Thames but having a Spanish mother Charlie has had plenty of opportunity to take photos both in the UK and Europe.  Now based in the Chilterns and being married to a Mexican his work is still very much based on Travel, alongside Nature and Landscape Photography.

On his gallery Charles has a number of landscape images with one particular group labelled Autumn Colours which is perfect for the nature theme I have chosen.  Below are some of the images that inspire me...

The colours in this shot are fantastic showing the change from Summer into Autumn with many of the leaves still holding on to their shades of green while the other leaves have begun their transformation through yellow to brown.  The composition of this image and the way Binns has incprporated partial blue sky also helps to set the theme of the shot.

The colours in this shot are representative of the changes in colour the leaves go through to reach their Autumn golds, reds and browns.  Strategically placed I'm sure are these leaves, however having done this the eye seems drawn tothe centre point within the three leaves so that the eye gets almost sight of all three colours at once adding effect to the image.  The detail on the leaves also adds texture while the dried brown leaves in the background help enhance the vibrancy of the three leaves chosen by Binns.

The height persepctive of this shot draws the eye from the base of the tree up through the yellow to the tip making the tree feel quite imposing in this compostion despite being set to the left of the shot.

Fashion Photographer - Rankin

Biography

I chose this selection of images by Rankin for the model poses and because the way the lighting is used to enhance the focal points of the compsition is just brilliant, not to mention how the simple composition used creates such stunning shots.

Having chosen location fashion photography I will also be looking at further fashion photographers whose focus is more on location, however there is no reason the lighting methods and composition ideas used by Rankin can't be incorporated into my location shots.

This image is interesting in the fact that the way the model is positioned in the composition and the angle at which she is standing enables her within to almost become an extension of the table. The lighting in this shot also draws the eye to the model while the grain of the table adds a little texture to a very plain compsition.



The uplighting of this image draws the eye to the focal point of the models face, while the composition is quite simple with only the models clothing adding colour to the shot.

The motion in this image gives a perception of power while the lines draw you further either in to the model or off to left, almost like the model is connecting with something out of shot. I also like the composition of this image how both the model and the light are set off to the right hand side and with the light almost spotlighting the model like there is a strong beam of headlights facing the model.

Different to the above image the lines from the model give the perception of movement within the composition, however again the model is featured off to one side of the composition in a spotlight to give off the shadow in the background.



Different from the other shots in this collection this image has been done on location as opposed to in the studio, in doing so the wall in this composition adds texture while the light draws you in the the focal point of Kate Olsens face.  The perspective of this shot also draws the eye up from the feet to the focal point of the face.