Pre-Proposal: Time

For the time concept I was thinking of shooting at union station preferably at dusk, I would go early to scout an area and prepare. I would like to work with a slow shutter speed and the people scrambling around to leave a blurred trail. The idea being that time is of the essence there in order to not miss the train and derail the days plans.

I have only passed through the station once never with my camera. I looked online and noticed that not alot of photos had any elements of this so I researched the policy of cameras in there. I saw no tripods are allowed so I was advised to bring a tabletop tiny tripod to set somewhere and try to make it work.

Pre-Project Proposal: Direction

Being that I've been delving into Sports Photography and that I will be heading to the snow for a couple of days I thought I could try to seize the chance to shoot up while there. Weather permitting a blue day and not this. Since there is an expectation of fresh loose snow, It would be nice to capture a rider carving with their board when changing directions on the board. It usually entails a turn in going heelside to toeside or vice versa often times causing a spray with enough speed.

If the sun would grace me with its presence it would ideally be a sun in shot, since the sun tends to be on the south side of the mountain i would be facing south standing in place, while a rider approaches and I can shoot from a lower angle.

Being that the lift does not operate after 4pm sun in shot is my only real option the next few days. I plan to bring my zoom lens and possibly a speedlite as backup.

Hero Post: Music

Hero

I had planned to shoot this project in the studio using the grey wall. Since that did not provide enough coverage we added a grey seamless on the side so I would be able to shoot at an angle. I setup up two lights behind the model overhead on a boom. The light on the right had a double layered pink gel and the left had doubled up deep blue gel. The model/DJ setup about 2-3 feet from the background. Once the faulty lighting situations were fixed it was nice tweaking lights to match how I had pictured it. Initially I had two gelled soft boxes on him but that left out some contrast between him and his background. Then removed the softbox and red gel from the light on the camera right and put the reflector back on to cast light on the subject. He had plugged in his equipment so they too would cast some light.

Unedited Hero

Towards the last hour we turned on the lasers, one of the two would not create much design unless it was sound activated. Not just music from a phone but it needed loud booming bass. So my assistant had to crouch down to constantly tap it. We turned off the overhead red gelled light and I had to use my tri-pod and a slower speed to catch the movement of the light.

Initial the rejected Hero pick

In the final few minutes we tried no lights except the lasers to hope to create a silhouetted shape. So in the dark for 20 seconds while the shutter was open, about 6 people were clapping in the dark while the subject stayed still for 20 seconds that was admittedly fun and felt silly. Will reattempt the post edit. These shots did not come out too great, the light from the exit sign cast a red light and lit up the subject.

Lasers & blue gel

Setup shot- started dismantling thus drawn alien bee

Pre-Project Proposal: Music

Ancient iphone Photo

For the music theme I was initially inspired by the Genres and Mood options on the Spotify music player. Rather than shoot a product or a model to fake it I thought I would bring in a model who used to be a DJ, or mostly as a hobby these days, and who still has a mixer and lighting to shoot in the studio. IIt may be the photojournalism ethics creeping in because I would rather have a real deal person than an actor. It is highly unlikely going forward I will have that option. I would really like to experiment in the studio with colored gels. I'm particular to neon bright colors reminiscent of the 80s era which can also work with the color laser light shows found at DJ events.

Lighting Goal

As far as lighting in the studio, to achieve a look like my Lighting Goal photo is placing two lights on either side of the subject with red and blue gels respectively in a setup like this.

I would crop the images so the image is not so much about the person but the music or the feelings of music I hope to convey. Also if time allows I'd like to experiment with DJ lighting behind the model so there is a clear silhouette of the model with green lasers behind him.

Potential Pose

Hero Post: Avatar Photo

My final avatar portrait was done using a speed light & Omni-bounce on a wet street in the rain with constant light in the background. My schedule had allowed me to shoot this Wednesday after 5pm, as a LA resident I did not anticipate constant rain and a lack of sun throughout the day. So plans changed instead of shooting at some trail during golden light, Plan B was a wet reflective night.

Location 1 - rejected obvious signs

Location 2 - approved.

I drove around Encino later in the evening trying to find a somewhat lit sidewalk preferably under an awning without noticeable logos, signs or billboards in the background. My camera was set on a tripod about eye level with the flash at a 45◦ angle. The shutter speed was a tad slower than usual and the ISO was at 100. The final shot picket unfortunately did not have cars passing enough to create the streaks as other rejects.It was raining lightly so I did not think of getting a photo of the ridiculous waterproofed setup made with plastic and scrunchies.

In post, I added a vignette to slightly get rid of the light on the top right coming from the lamp on the wall which initially i thought I wanted in the shot. I fixed two gaps on my bangs because that's always a problem and I accepted my humid hair because it fits with the rainy night.Changed it to black and white as I had desired and messed with the levels as I saw fit. Once I posted it on my blog I see the pose is so similar to W. Eugene Smith and that was super not intentional. I'm not so great at posing I just reached into my pocket to stay dry and looked at the camera.

If I chose to go with a color Hero Post

Pre-Project Proposal: Blog Avatar

The idea I have for my blog's avatar is a photo of myself in a work setting. Particularly inspired of this photo of W. Eugene Smith. One on my favorite photographers and master of Photo Essays.

W. Eugene Smith

Unlike most photos of photographers seen peering through a viewfinder, blocking half of their face; this seems to be a candid moment in between shooting. I also like the various cameras strapped around the neck, it sort of reminds me of the push for variety on assignment in a short span of time to get the "Wide, Medium, Tight, Detail!" as my prior teacher would insist in Caps lock.

Larry Burrows

As for location I was thinking of Vasquez Rocks, a busy sidewalk or simply in front of a wood panel wall depending on where Jasmin is willing to go we can make it work. Ideally I would like to shoot this during the golden hour the sunlight just before sunset as that is the lighting is a most ideal to shoot in. I would keep the final result in Black and White and up the contrast.