People and Place: Assignment 5: Shoot 7

Shoot 7: Bryan, Writer, 15/02/2014

Location

The shoot took place in the education wing of the office building where Wrekin Writers meet each month.  Bryan lives some distance away so I did not visit his home.  I found an unused classroom and we worked there.

Poses

The first shot; reflector used to lighten shadow

Bryan brought various props.  Here he is searching for inspiration.  Not a very interesting or flattering shot.

This is a bit more like it.

Bryan's day job is as a scientist.  I asked him to write on the whiteboard

That's better.  I don't understand the joke, though.

At his laptop

Portrait.   

A very similar view

Bryan writes vampire novels.  He brought his own mug

And signed some of his books

Taken's his first novel.  He has a sequel in draft and has also collaborated on a novel.

Pensive.  Hands can be props too

Moody

I prefer this close-up 

Thoughtful, in spectacles

Lessons Learned

Hands can be props too.  Their use can be very expressive and look natural.
While one should have some kind of plan for every shoot, it should not restrict what you do; the best shots arise out of the situation and interaction with the model.  I was lucky in having a model who'd thought about the proces and was prepared.  He'd brought changes of clothing, which in the end I didn't use.

People and Place: Assignment 5: Shoot 6

Shoot 6: Mollie, Writer, 10/02/2014 

Location

Mollie doesn't have an office; she writes where the mood takes her - often in bed - I didn't ask her to pose there.  I took pictures in her dining room and music room, where she plays her grand piano.

Poses

We began by the bookcase in the dining room.  This is the very first shot

 I like these solemn, rather severe poses

 But she can smile and laugh, too

 Mollie reads a lot, as every writer should

 Overhead shot.  I like the thoughtfulness here

Seated at the piano 

Overhead lighting softened for this one.

 And with lamps at the side and mainly lit by daylight through the window

 Despite the low contrast on the face, I like this one

Playing the piano

Now miming playing the piano 

Very similar to the previous one - which I prefer.

And, without spectacles:

This is the one Mollie and her husband chose.

 I wanted to get her closer to the books, but if you make the model do something uncomfortable, she'll generally look uncomfortable.  Lesson learned

Lessons Learned

I can do it on my own.  I didn't use an assistant.  Accept hospitality; it'll calm you down.
Talk, and listen.  I'm not great at either, but I know what I should be doing.  We're both fond of cats so there was lots to talk about.  I didn't try to include the cat, though.
Mollie asked me before the shoot if I want her to wear any specific clothing: light or dark.  I didn't know so I left it up to her.  Something lighter would have prevented her merging with the carpet in the last picture, but where the background was light, the dark clothing worked fine.
I'd planned to use reflections off the shiny surface of the piano, but the inverted face looks weird and isn't flattering.  I guess there's somethng to be made of this, but not for the current brief.

People and Place: Assignment 5: Shoot 5

Shoot 5: Angeline, Writer, 03/02/2014

Angeline is a musician, seamstress, knitter, and a modern grandmother who looks after grandchildren.  She also finds time to write.

Location

I took some pictures in the office where Angeline writes and sews, and the others in her living room.

Poses

My assistant, Suki and I accepted cups of tea and we sat down to talk. 

I took a series of portraits, using daylight coming through the window.

 

This shows the effect without the reflector. 

 With the reflector

Thoughtful

In addition to her writing, Angeline has several pursuits:

The piano accordion

And sewing

She also knitted the white hat, mid right

And finds time to write

I teased her about this

But Angeline is forgiving and has a fine sense of humour

Lessons Learned

Taking time to relax helps both photographer and model.
I think I've managed to vary camera angle more in this shoot.
People don't have to smile all the time; they rarely do it when they're concentrating.  But that's all right.

People and Place: Assignment 5, Shoot 4

Shoot 4: Darren, writer 02/02/2014

Darren's a writer, and chairman of Wrekin Writers.  He offered me a cup of tea when I arrived at his house.  On reflection I should have accepted it; this would have given me more time to consider and think about the shoot in its location.

Location

Darren has an 'office' in a corner of the living room.  Some photographs were taken in the garden - he's a keen golfer - and some at the other end of the living room.

Poses

At his desk.  I took some time to correct exposure in this high-contrast situation, eventually switching from aperture priority to manual.



A confusing view; is he in the garden, or is he at his desk?

 

There was a trellis in the garden.  I arranged the pose so that it framed him, then cropped the result.

Now he's clearly in the garden.

In monochrome

At the desk, pretending to type

 And smiling

 In the garden with the golf club

 And a clutch of balls.  My idea, I'm afraid, but Darren's a good sport

Cropped version of a very similar shot.  I've darkened and de-saturated the background foliage 

 Simple portrait, using light from the window on the right and reflected sunlight low on the left

Monochrome

 A more direct view, with stronger light on the right

 Monochrome. 

Of these two direct portrait views, I prefer this one in monochrome, and the previous one in colour

A similar view

Mrs Bailey was in the house; I took the opportunity to capture them together

And, monochrome

 

Lessons Learned

Accept hospitality: it takes pressure off and gives time to think and plan.   Irrespective of the effect on the model (who should be put at his ease)  think I would benefit from sitting and chatting prior to starting to take pictures.
I could have used different angles to add variety; all these shots are taken close to eye-level.