In my last project called " Project 2" I have been doing few photoshoot sessions regarding the portriat brief crateria. What I wanted to present was the actual topic that I have discussed with my collaborator. Together with her we were making very interesting scenarios on each shoot that we did together. The main topic was about , healthy life style and physical & mental health. Also I have considered what she enjoying doing the most and what she use to like to do when she was a little girl. I thought of doing one session outside when the weather was alright, as at the time the weather conditions were horrible and I was worried that, the equipment could get damaged because of the amount of rain that have covered entire town. Afterwords I planned to do another 2 sessions in the studio to present my collaborator in a studio lights.
At the beginning of the outside photo-shoot I was a bit disappointed because the shoots didn't go well as I planned and wished at the time. I think this was because I have forgotten to borrow an extended flash. It was after 4 pm and there was beautiful sunset which I was trying to capture as a background to the image , but it seemed to be to difficult for me, and I couldn't set up the camera , and do one good shot of my collaborator together with sunset in the background. So I think at the time my experience with DSL camera wasn't too confidant unfortunately, however I have learned to watch tutorials and remember about an extra equipment that I may have to use shooting pictures outside while the sun is down.
The next step was to start experience with a studio lighting and equipment. I had some photography studio experience before, but it was long time ago, so I think that I have forgotten most of the important information about how to work in the studio while taking shots. However, when I started setting up the studio lights and shoot scene like the background gels etc. I personally think I did quit well. I have been in the studio only twice while taking shots to the project, and each time I was learning something different. Each time I had some new ideas coming up to my and my collaborator's mind, and we were trying to progress those ideas in a best possible way. Of course the main focus was on the correct lighting and how to present the topic on the collaborator.
I think working on my own without any help is the best way to learn because nobody can do anything for you. I just had to try hundred of times to set up the lights and finally I had the right light with the right pose and face expression. I personally believe if somebody would have to change the setting of the lights each time we wished to then we wouldn't learn as much as on our own. I have also learned to make sure that the background is clean enough to avoid unwanted finger or foot prints later on, during editing the photos.
Working experience with my model was amazing. I think , this time I had a very really good model if we are talking about cooperation! We have spoken in the same mind language, she completely understood what message I was trying to pass onto the photos, and she gave her best to show it off to the camera. Like I have shown before , we have spoken about her favourites, her personality , her hobbies etc. and later on that day we came up with the plan for the photo-shoot that we could do together. Sometimes me or her came up with a new ideas while we were shooting in the studio or outside.
While I was editing in the Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop I didn't find any difficulties doing that. I like working on a Adobe programs , producing great pieces of work, not just the photography one but the illustrated one as well. I tried to do well shots so I wouldn't have to spend too much time on editing my images from any of those sessions, but session like the outside one was just so difficult to capture for me so I had to use the photoshop and lightroom for bit longer than I usually do while editing the images for a final prints.
The prints were bit more difficult because, once I have produced all necessarily images and final pieces to print out my pen drive broke down, and all the memory was unable to reopen or even print. This situation happened just a week before the deadline, and at the moment I had nothing to show in my portfolio as a print version, because non of my images were ready to put in portfolio therefore , I tried my best to edit those pictures that I have done before. Unfortunately I didn't have a time to do them all , like I did before. Therefore I don't have own any prints on me from this project. And this is another lesson I have learned, to make sure you have saved all of your pictures as a back up just in case something goes wrong.
Keeping my journal was a very easy thing. I like to write either on the blog or in the sketchbook about my experience and my goals and achievements. The only thing in my blog that I have forgot to write about is the very first sessions of how to use a camera, and my sample shots from outside. Maybe I should make a note of that next time as I could remember to take extended flash with me next time I am out to take some shots. Writing the journals is a good thing to have a recap of what I have done so far and where I am at, so I don't get into confusion and making sure what I have to do next to achieve the best results possible. Also the journal is a good place to write a quick comment about your own work and what you like about it and what you're planning to do to improve it maybe.
I personally believe that the best part I have done in this project was the end results. I have spent a lot of time trying to make the end effects the best possible. Unfortunately, as I said before I had to do my work twice, and I was very short with deadlines etc. However from what I have done so far I'm pretty positive to be honest with my audience. I also enjoyed thinking about new ideas while being in the studio. I don't also like planning so much stuff ahead of me because sometimes they just don't seem to work the way I wished, therefore spontaneous ideas are good to do sometimes. I also think I improved my skills in setting up the lighting on my own.
On the other hand the most difficult part of this project was, the actual outside shoot. The dark light was just so depressing for me, and I wasn't too happy with the end results when I have finished shooting pictures that day.
If there would be anything that I would like to improve next time, it is definitely the photo-shoot outside, trying to catch the sunset. Next time I will use extended flash light to my camera to make sure my images are the best quality possible. And another big problem, printing my images that I have done. Next time I will print them straight after I have done them so I could have at least samples for my portfolio next time. On the other hand it is always handy to own memory device that is good quality and it's save to keep your beloved images that you desperately need.
