Gavin Blue workshop

I was first introduced to Gavin Blue about a year ago when he visited CIT and gave a similar talk to the one he gave to all the students this time around. It's always interesting to hear about the real world of Photography from those making a living from it. I don't necessarily count myself in that category as I get paid to turn up to work regardless of whether I take a photo or not. I'm not exchanging a photo shoot for cash although that is my goal, to rid the constraints of being an employee of the Government.

Gavin Blue's talk was aimed at speed lights and there use as a viable portable lighting solution. I use speed lights extensively with up to three heads firing remotely yet I still don't think I control the lighting as well as what Gavin was demonstrating. His use of speed lights as a high powered light source with a great degree of control was impressive to watch. It makes me re-evaluate speed lights as a viable alternative to portable studio kits.

Most of Gavin's portraiture has an element of 'sameness' to it. He likes keeping the subject facing out of frame, a blue cast in the background takes pride of place in his repertoire and tilted horizons.

Blue, G 2011, Blue, Gavin Blue Photography, viewed 31 March 2011, <http://www.gavinblue.com>

Liz Ham

I've been searching a little closer to home on the photographer front that works in the fashion industries that I've been looking at, that being editorial and editorial style advertising.

I came across a photographer by the name of Liz Ham whose work I don't mind and in particular an editorial piece she shot for Helmet magazine. It's quite a simple piece yet it tells the story of 4 woman competing in some kids party games. The story doesn't seem to have an ending though, who won? who gets the trophy? Like any good story, I think fashion narratives, especially if there is a series of images, should have a beginning, a middle and the all important conclusion. If this series removed the image of the girl eating the apple and replaced it with her getting sprayed with water by her friends or something else that picks out one girl from her friends I think this would provide an adequate conclusion to satisfy my need for a story.

Saying that, the lighting and composition works quite well. The mix of black and white and colour is not necessary in my opinion and sticking with colour, even with the desaturation used, would be a stronger series and thus story.

All images by Liz Ham for issue 2 of Helmet magazine.
Liz Ham - http://www.lizham.com/contact/contact.php

 

 

 

Ham, L 2011, The apple of my eye, Touch Puppet, viewed 30 March 2011, <http://www.touchpuppet.com/2011/03/24/liz-ham-for-helmet-magazine/#more-18891>

Fashion shoot I like

Every day I look at a couple fashion sources to see what fashion shoots are being carried out across the world. I often come across some very interesting shoots, some inspiring and some quite odd. The sites I visit regularly are:

http://fashiongonerogue.com
http://www.sassybella.com
http://thestyleregistry.tumblr.com/
http://www.thefashionspot.com/
http://www.touchpuppet.com/

My favourites being Fashion Gone Rogue and Touch Puppet

I found another inspiring shoot today shot by David Sims for Vogue Paris. I love the grittiness of this shoot. It's clearly inspired by western movies and it reminds me of a couple films I saw as a child, The Gunfighter and The Magnificent Seven. I like all the shots of this series bar one. The shot where Isabeli is wearing white pants that are baggy around her crotch doesn't do it for me. I don't think that image fits well with the series and should have been excluded. The style, the posing and the fit of the clothing all lead to a poor shot in my opinion.

Sims, D 2011, Isabeli Fontana by David Sims for Vogue Paris April 2011, Fashion Gone Rogue, viewed 28 March 2011, <http://fashiongonerogue.com/isabeli-fontana-david-sims-vogue-paris-april-2011/#more-49593>

Inspiration - Dave Hill

Alexia Sinclair mentioned the work of Dave Hill as a source of inspiration for her. I can now see why. His work is cinematic in quality and very much based on a narrative. He manipulates his photos to acheive his artistic vision and I think there are a couple images of his that stand out more than other.

This is my favourite photo from his collection;

Hill, D 2009, Girl on an adventure, Dave Hill Photography, viewed 25 March 2011, <http://www.davehillphoto.com/>

What appeals to me most is the narrative built into the image. We can see the young girl behind the counter is fed up with her job and having to deal with people like this all the time. The map she's hiding with her left hand tells us that she yearns to get away and live an adventure. This image is part of a series which tells the story of this young girls adventure as it unfolds. Each image is shot and manipulated in a way that is still believable. I find Dave Hill's work more appealling than Alexia Sinclairs in the fact that Dave leaves the believable element in his images. It is possible the girl is riding her motorbike with all those people chasing her. It is possible that she is behind the teller with that elaborate scene behind her.

Here are the other images from this amazing series;

 

Hill, D 2009, Girl on an adventure, Dave Hill Photography, viewed 25 March 2011, <http://www.davehillphoto.com/>

Inspiration

Just came across this spread for Grey by Yelena Yemchuk which I like. I guess I'm it's the narrative idea of the shoot. The set and lighting could put it into a 1950s movie.

Here's samples:

All images shot by Yelena Yemchuck for Grey magazine
http://fashiongonerogue.com/hannelore-knuts-yelena-yemchuk-grey-ss-2011/#more-49530

Craft ACT shoot

I shot a look book for Craft ACT today. It was an interesting shoot in the fact that neither I nor the client really new what the client wanted. She new she needed shots of the scarves and accessories in the collection for an advertising campaign to be run in April. I tried to coax more info out of her prior to the shoot with no avail.

I did some research on different look book styles as this sounded to be what she wanted. I looked on a great site which has recent campaigns and look books for most major labels: http://fashiongonerogue.com

After coming up with an idea and printing a few samples I turned up this morning and laid an idea on the client that I had come up with. With a few minor adjustments we both agreed on a look and style. I setup some lighting and their gallery space and we were away.

Here are a few samples from the shoot.

Alexia Sinclair Workshop

It was great to meet Alexia Sinclair today. I really admire her work, the talent and the dedication to see her dream come true. Personally her style is not one I wish to pursue but I appreciate amazing works of art when I see them.

One of the videos she showed during her talk in the morning was a behind the scenes look at the shoot "Charles II - The Merrie Monarch (1630-1685)" from shooting to digital manipulation after the shoot.

Alexia Sinclair

Charles II - The Merrie Monarch (1630-1685)

http://alexiasinclair.com/portfolio

She shot this image for the New Zealand Opera. It was amazing to see how much work she does in post to get to the final result. I admit that the amount of work she does is justified when you view her work.


It was great to talk to her with the small group of third years in the afternoon. She talked about how she got into the industry and talked about the fact that you're never really in the industry. She has to fight for all her work, a by product of being a fine art photographer trying to work in a commercial world.


She gave us a few names of photographers she gains inspiration from. I'll have to have a look at their work and see if I can take any inspiration for my own work.


Here's a couple pics of Alexia Sinclair's that I really like:

Alexia Sinclair

Charles II - The Merrie Monarch (1630-1685)

Alexia Sinclair

Pope Alexander VI – The Borgia Pope (1431 –1503)