The Final Shoot!

12 days till deadline for my final images and I've finally shot my final shoot! 250 images shot in total of my two models who were amazing! I couldn't be more grateful for their help. Right now I have just narrowed down those 250 images to 76... This has to narrow down to 6 final images OH MY GOD.
I am thinking of putting other images, including the ones from the exhibition into a book and having that at the exhibition also. Lots still to think about, by next week I should have finalized printing, the final images, the book, and artist statement. Then its on to finishing my journals! Not long to go till my three years at University are over, then its time to get into the real world and make a living in the photography world!

Here's a sneak preview of one of the images I test edited of the girls in street dance gear. To capture this they free styled a few moves and this was the result.

Lighting set up practice

Yesterday I had a studio to practice what lighting I wanted for my final shoots, I knew I wanted a white backdrop, but I wasn't sure whether to have it bleached out, or just light the subject, to have shadows in or not...
So with help I set up a few different lighting set ups, they include using different size soft boxes, a beauty dish, and lights with no attachments.

Ok the first set up was to bleach the background out.

These are some images I have cropped that came out of this set up.

I'm not sure if the shadow works on the images that have the model on the floor in, I didn't want to model to appear to be floating.

The next set up doesn't bleach the backdrop, instead I opted to light up the subject and to create a shadow.

In these I had to paint out the dirty marks and fiddled with the contrast slightly, and I like the shadows on the backdrop, it sets it apart and makes it appear more three dimensional rather than flat.

If you have any comments please let me know, I may try both of these set ups in my final shoot and then print one of each to decide which I prefer.

Community center test dance shoot

Finally got chance to take some more images of dance, this time I used a real dancer. I only had about an hour to get some shots which included setting up and costume changes, and I only had a community center to have some space so the backgrounds are not what I want to use but I wanted to try out real dance positions. The lighting wasn't strong enough to capture a completely sharp image and so I had to have a high ISO so that I could use a wider aperture and faster shutter speed.
Here are some of the shots I have taken, some have been edited to get out chairs and corners of rooms but will still be going in my journal as research.

Test shots two

Another photo shoot testing with a black flowy dress, thank you to my amazing model shes so good! By the end of it her legs were so tierd, she can work those layers :) I think I am getting hang of the capturing movement, when I get my studio time I will be practicing more lighting techniques to see other effects I can create.

Testing one

Today I've tried out my first bit of movement in dance photography. My model may not be a dancer but she can do some amazing things :)
These are only testing shots of movement, however the area I found I love now its a case of creating a more professional look. I'd like images that have some movements like this is and incorporating different floaty materials and floaty clothing creating a gravity less place.

This shoot was so fun to do, and I can't wait to try more especially in the studio.

Oh my I am bad at remembering to blog... Well now I'm back. It is now my last semester at University and I am so scared! Trying to push all the questions to the back of my mind to complete my final major project, I guess the 'what if's are going to have to be put on hold to answer as I don't have a clue about after University just yet.

Since beginning my last year thinking about what I want to show for my end of year show, I have been fascinated by dance photography. I don't tend to take photographs of movement so I thought this would be a challenge but if I accomplish what I set out to achieve, I will be a very happy woman. In the library I picked up a book by Lois Greenfield, 'Airborne', and I loved the intensity and precision the dancers put into their movements.

                                       
                                  Greenfield. L. Kathy Buccellato at al. (1994) Available at:      
                                <http://www.loisgreenfield.com/galleries/airborne/page9.html>

Although I've been told it could be hard as a lot of dance photographers have done dance themselves, and I haven't danced for about 20 years, and the other photographers could know precision of the dancers moves, I will work hard and try envision what the image outcomes will be.

First blog of 2012

Well this is my first ever blog. My life at University is almost over and it's time to start planning! Recently my photography class put on an exhibition in Manchester 'New Vision'. It was hard work but was worth it in the end seeing a blank canvas of a room turned into a gallery full of amazing photographers work. Now that is over it's time to start thinking of my final exhibition/ final major project, and also putting together my portfolio.
Whilst researching for my final I will be blogging (maybe useful) things that I have seen, and also how my work is developing, hopefully pushing me to put more into it and getting my work out there.
Short but sweet little blog addition for my first time, but for now, a girl must work to get pennies in the purse.