This project was dedicated to photographing Still Life; we
had many different workshops introducing us to some of the different types of
still life subgenres. We had to create a final photograph for each of the
workshops and then further we also had to decide upon a series we could create;
I chose to create a series of perfume bottle advertisements, as this would
combine skills from many of the workshops I had attended such as styling the
bottles and in the Product workshop I was introduced to a studio set up for
photographing perfume bottles.
Our first workshop was the for Food, we had a studio
demonstration which introduced us to photographing fruit, this helped me with
this project because it made me spend more time carefully selecting the food I
was going to be photographing. For my final photograph I chose to look at
strawberries as I thought a close up of food would be more interesting than a
meal; I created a high-speed photograph of the strawberry splashing into a bowl
of strawberry milk. I think this image is successful however if I was
reshooting this I change my lighting, as it appears flat.
The next workshop was Product work, being able to shoot
products is very useful as there will always be available work in this genre.
Our workshop was designed to get us thinking about some of the problems that
would be encountered and I think that with the team I was working with we
managed to solve the issues and we worked very creatively. I photographed many different products for
this workshop but I chose one of a row of CD’s as my final because I think the
reflection in the glass is successful and because I felt it could be used in a
catalog.
The Documentary workshop I struggled with because this is
not my preferred shooting style and I prefer commercial. I chose to look at
people’s jewellery boxes and the necklaces within them as everybody wears
necklaces yet everybody wears different. My final image is a triptych of
photographs showing the necklaces on a background of clothes that they could be
worn with. It was required to work with only natural lighting for this project;
I found this difficult to begin with because of the window reflections that
could be seen on the necklace, however after rearranging the scene I managed to
photograph them quite easily.
Vanitas was a workshop in which I worked with a team to
create the final outcome, instead of using the two weeks photographing both
times we used the first week to research into the painting, the symbolism
behind it and organising our object responsibilities within the group. I think
that our final piece was very successful in portraying a Vanitas style
photograph because we understood the importance of the object that was being
included. I very much enjoyed this genre and I am looking forward to continuing
in this style with a commercial variation.
I am experienced using Photoshop so the Digital Montage
workshop was a very enjoyable one. In this workshop I created three different
advertisement style outcomes for three different canned drinks (Coca Cola,
Fanta Orange and Coca Cola Cherry). I used photographs that I had taken as I
felt unsure about taking photographs that belong to somebody else. However I
did use some logo’s and small fruit photographs that were not mine. I think my
strongest outcome is for Coca cola as I had taken more photographs of these
cans because I was intending to use these for my Product workshop.
The second half of this brief I was photographing perfume
bottles, I researched into the intended brand identity and the target audience
for the perfumes; I then created a photograph that could be used on websites or
billboards to advertise the perfume bottle. I did this so that I could change from
the standard portrait orientation style works that are typically produced.
Working with these bottles has inspired me to continue photographing in this
style as I enjoyed it immensely and I think the skills that can be learnt are
easily transferable onto other product works.
Overall I think that this project has been a success as I
have learnt many new skills and I have found work I want to continue working in
this style in future projects. I think over the course of this project I have
developed more into my own style and that this has become noticeable and
recognisable as my works. I am also feeling more confident with working in
front and collaboratively with people although I do still struggle with some
types of personalities. I did not run into any major problems during the course
of this project and the only final outcome I do not feel is successful is the
Food workshop.
If I was going to change anything in this project I think I
would spend more time perfecting the Food outcome and perhaps try reshooting in
the studio so that I can better control the lighting. Another point of change
is the Documentary workshop as I neglected this slightly as I did not enjoy
shooting in the style of documentary, I would take more time to develop my idea
further and expand this workshop further in depth by taking more photographs
out on location of peoples jewellery boxes.
I want to continue in the Commercial Pathway because I enjoy
working in this style and creating works for “clients”. I feel that this series
of work is my strongest outcome from the modules so far and I want to expand
and develop my portfolio with similar series of works. I want to learn more
skills that will help me succeed in the retouching industry and I feel that
working commercially over the next year will give me more opportunities to
practice and that experience will be valuable, furthermore I feel that the
networking skills I can learn will also be very beneficial to me.