- The technical edit
- The selects
- The first selects
- Group and review
- A final choice
I have decided to use the images from the first exercise (your own workflow 1) for this exercise.
I took a large volume of photos for the shoot and uploaded them to photoshop elements organiser.
The images -
These were the first page full of images that I uploaded. I took in the region of about 250 images in a half hour session. At first glance there were a lot that were immediately noticeable as no good, including lighting test shots.
The technical edit -
These images were the first lot I decided to cull out of the main bulk of images. As you can see from this first page, above, they were mainly lighting issues where the shots were over or under exposed, where the shots were blurry due to my shutter speed being too slow or simply where the model is moving or blinking/laughing.
The selects -
I then had a good look through all the remaining images and decided on the shots with the poses I had visualized. As you can see, there were some images that were the same except for slight alterations, like camera angle or focal length. I included all these in my 'selects' so that I could differentiate between them later.
The first selects -
After MUCH deliberation, I settled on the above images as my 'first selects'. Again, I included two images the same but with different focal lengths, as I still wasn't sure which one I wanted. I converted the wide angle shot (the first shown here) into black and white to help to decide between that and the next image. The third image was one of the only images I shot at this camera angle and I like this as I am level to the model, emphasizing him over the graffiti, but also as I am lower and looking up at him slightly, It makes him fill the frame and look larger through perspective. These were the only three I really liked out of the first 'location' on the shoot. The graffiti was mainly oranges and I preferred the second 'location' as I felt the colouring worked better visually in the images, possibly due to the colours highlighting the models clothing. The fourth image I felt was a lot more natural looking than the rest and I wanted to include this for that reason. The highlight clipping would've kicked in on the wall in the background, but that could be altered in processing. Images five and six I felt really give good emphasis on the graffiti without taking from the model. I like the poses and the facial expressions as well as his position against the graffiti. Seven and eight really emphasize the model. I liked the fact the camera angle was tilted in seven and again was more relaxed, but it wasn't too similar to image four so that it still seemed to be a completely different image. Eight is a classic head shot and I liked the angle of the models head and the camera angle making lovely diagonal lines through the image. You will see that this one image is over exposed. I had a selection throughout this process that were overexposed, due to using a flashgun, but I really liked the images so decided to keep them in the selection as I could always alter them during processing.The final two I loved because I I found it less 'norm' having the model looking in the complete opposite direction. Also the camera angle was quirky to highlight both the model and the graffiti. All of these images were pure personal choice, narrowing down simply to angles, facial expressions, poses and focal length.
Group and review -
So, originally I was happy with the images I had chosen. But a day later, I had another good look through all my images and decided to add a few more for this selection.
I added an extra five images to this selection that you can see here in the bottom row of images. All very similar to the ones I had already selected but again with a few alterations to poses and camera angles. I was now happy with this selection.
A final choice -
This bit was not easy. I wanted to include them all and here is where I probably would have processed them all and then chosen, after adding fancy filters, etc. Eventually I got down to the final two.
These are my final choices. I decided I wanted a head/shoulders shot to focus on the model and then a full length which highlighted the graffiti as well.
Of all the images, I really like this image of the model. A strong close up of his face but still quirky enough with his head to the side. I though the composition was probably better in this than any other close up one and I love how the line of his shoulder is not only emphasized by the graffiti line behind him but also continues up through his face by his beard. The graffiti is still visible here but is not the main focus of the image.
After processing
My second image shows off the graffiti really well. I like the diagonal lines again in this image and the low camera angle making the wall seem as though it goes on and on. The model being at the front of the image and filling the frame shows his dominance in the image but I don't feel that he in any way takes away from the art on the wall.
After processing
Conclusion -
I found this exercise brilliant. It really focuses on enhancing your personal creative side and the procedure of using the steps is great to avoid being completely overwhelmed when taking a high volume of images.
The images -
These were the first page full of images that I uploaded. I took in the region of about 250 images in a half hour session. At first glance there were a lot that were immediately noticeable as no good, including lighting test shots.
The technical edit -
These images were the first lot I decided to cull out of the main bulk of images. As you can see from this first page, above, they were mainly lighting issues where the shots were over or under exposed, where the shots were blurry due to my shutter speed being too slow or simply where the model is moving or blinking/laughing.
The selects -
I then had a good look through all the remaining images and decided on the shots with the poses I had visualized. As you can see, there were some images that were the same except for slight alterations, like camera angle or focal length. I included all these in my 'selects' so that I could differentiate between them later.
The first selects -
After MUCH deliberation, I settled on the above images as my 'first selects'. Again, I included two images the same but with different focal lengths, as I still wasn't sure which one I wanted. I converted the wide angle shot (the first shown here) into black and white to help to decide between that and the next image. The third image was one of the only images I shot at this camera angle and I like this as I am level to the model, emphasizing him over the graffiti, but also as I am lower and looking up at him slightly, It makes him fill the frame and look larger through perspective. These were the only three I really liked out of the first 'location' on the shoot. The graffiti was mainly oranges and I preferred the second 'location' as I felt the colouring worked better visually in the images, possibly due to the colours highlighting the models clothing. The fourth image I felt was a lot more natural looking than the rest and I wanted to include this for that reason. The highlight clipping would've kicked in on the wall in the background, but that could be altered in processing. Images five and six I felt really give good emphasis on the graffiti without taking from the model. I like the poses and the facial expressions as well as his position against the graffiti. Seven and eight really emphasize the model. I liked the fact the camera angle was tilted in seven and again was more relaxed, but it wasn't too similar to image four so that it still seemed to be a completely different image. Eight is a classic head shot and I liked the angle of the models head and the camera angle making lovely diagonal lines through the image. You will see that this one image is over exposed. I had a selection throughout this process that were overexposed, due to using a flashgun, but I really liked the images so decided to keep them in the selection as I could always alter them during processing.The final two I loved because I I found it less 'norm' having the model looking in the complete opposite direction. Also the camera angle was quirky to highlight both the model and the graffiti. All of these images were pure personal choice, narrowing down simply to angles, facial expressions, poses and focal length.
Group and review -
So, originally I was happy with the images I had chosen. But a day later, I had another good look through all my images and decided to add a few more for this selection.
I added an extra five images to this selection that you can see here in the bottom row of images. All very similar to the ones I had already selected but again with a few alterations to poses and camera angles. I was now happy with this selection.
A final choice -
This bit was not easy. I wanted to include them all and here is where I probably would have processed them all and then chosen, after adding fancy filters, etc. Eventually I got down to the final two.
These are my final choices. I decided I wanted a head/shoulders shot to focus on the model and then a full length which highlighted the graffiti as well.
Of all the images, I really like this image of the model. A strong close up of his face but still quirky enough with his head to the side. I though the composition was probably better in this than any other close up one and I love how the line of his shoulder is not only emphasized by the graffiti line behind him but also continues up through his face by his beard. The graffiti is still visible here but is not the main focus of the image.
After processing
My second image shows off the graffiti really well. I like the diagonal lines again in this image and the low camera angle making the wall seem as though it goes on and on. The model being at the front of the image and filling the frame shows his dominance in the image but I don't feel that he in any way takes away from the art on the wall.
After processing
Conclusion -
I found this exercise brilliant. It really focuses on enhancing your personal creative side and the procedure of using the steps is great to avoid being completely overwhelmed when taking a high volume of images.
