Content
- Abstract
- Assignment 01 – Fashion Series
- Assignment 02 – Fashion Photography History
- Assignment 03 – Portrait Vermeer Style
- Assignment 04 – Character Portraits
- School Day 01 – Introduction
- School Day 02 – Simple Lighting
- School Day 03 – High-Key, Mid Key, Low-Key
- School Day 04 – Portrait of a Stranger
- School Day 05 – Complex Lighting
- School Day 06 & 07 – Model Shoot
- School Day 08 – Photoshop
- School Day 09 – Presentations
- School Day 10 – Assessment
- School Day 11 – Bonus Day
Abstract
This is a selection of the results generated during “Module 04 – Portrait and Fashion”.
Module Content:
Portrait and Fashion Photography
Module Teacher: Roel
Stevens
Assignment 01 – Fashion Series
Description
Choose a fashion magazine and shoot a series of 7–10 fashion images matching the style of the magazine.
Plan
Basic ideas for shoot:
- Near abstract shots.
- Faces not shown.
- High contrast, Black and white.
- Spotlight effect with only (part of) the subject lit.
- Shadows cast on the white background.
- Theme: “Shoes for Business and Pleasure”, one shot for each environment of model wearing the same shoes.
- Keywords: Stylish, Classy, Design, Clean, Minimalistic, Arrogant, …
- Target Magazine: Blend.
Inspiration taken from:
- Blend – a fashion, people, music, media, and art magazine.
- Karl Lagerfeld ads (but then without showing the faces).
- Bill Brandt's abstract nudes.
Results
After receiving feedback on a first version of the fashion series, I have (dramatically) increased the contrast of the images (as I had originally intended anyway…).Time permitting, I will also take another business & Pleasure shot, this time experimenting with a different angle. I will use this to replace the shot with the model sitting in a chair (somehow, these don't really work). — Done ✓
 Mood Board Impression of the style I'm after. The two (actually three; the top left image has a back side image as well) black and white images reflect the style of photography I am looking to create. The bottom left image is more an indication of the content. |
 Faith I – Business & Pleasure |
Encanto – Business & Pleasure |
 Oxmox – Business & Pleasure |
 Manfield – Business & Pleasure |
 Faith II – Business & Pleasure Retry of the first shot with the model in a chair, this time using a different angle to try to make the image more exciting. This sort of worked. |
Assignment 02 – Fashion Photography History
Description
Group assignement researching a particular era of fashion photography.
Plan
Research fasion photography in the 1950's.
Results
Please see separate presentation (Dutch).
Assignment 03 – Portrait Vermeer Style
Description
Take a portrait shot using “Vermeer” lighting.
Plan
Take a shot of my wife working at her desk. Us ethe light from the window to create the requested sphere.
Results
 Sporty Maartje – Vermeer style Not part of the plan (actually more of a test shot), but still nice and with the correct “Vermeer” lighting. |
 Maartje at work – Vermeer style Shot as planned. |
 Maartje at work – Vermeer style Alternative version, first one is my favourite. |
Assignment 04 – Character Portraits
Description
Create a series of three to five “character portraits”, use a single concept for the whole series.
Plan
Take a series of portraits of the people working at Abrona Kunst & Koffie, a local organisation providing daytime occupation and work for a group of mentally handicapped people.
Results
 Esmee Bunnik, 20 |
 Iris de Rooij, 24 |
 Angela Baars, 19 |
 Henrieke Floor, 23 |
 Coby Lancee, 65 |
 Dirk Nap, 61 |
 Maike Fenstra, 25 |
 Katelijne Rijnink, 20 |
School Day 01 – Introduction
Description
Take portrait shots of each other using existing light.
Plan
Try different poses under different lighting conditions, use curtains, reflectors, etc. to control the light when necessary.Results
 Ayu Yusoff |
 Ayu Yusoff |
 Ayu Yusoff |
 Ayu Yusoff |
School Day 02 – Simple Lighting
Description
Take portrait shots, lighting the subject with only one light. Take shots ligthing the subject from different directions (i.e., make a round of light).
Plan
See description.
Results
 Tom Sanner – Round of Light Light from the right side and slightly behind the subject. |
 Tom Sanner – Round of Light Light from the left side and behind the subject. |
 Tom Sanner – Round of Light Light straight on. |
School Day 03 – High-Key, Mid Key, Low-Key
Description
Experiment with high-key, mid-key, and low-key lighting.Plan
See description.
Results
 Tom Sanner – Mid Key Simple lighting with two lights. |
 Tom Sanner – Mid Key Simple lighting with two lights. |
 Ronald Smits – Mid Key One light from below, another to light the background. |
 Ronald Smits – Mid Key One light illuminating the face, the other the background (with a honeycomb). |
 Ronald Smits – Mid Key One light illuminating the face, the other the background (with a honeycomb). |
 Ronald Smits – Mid Key One light illuminating the face, the other the background (with a honeycomb). |
 Ronald Smits – Low Key One light for the side of the face. |
School Day 04 – Portrait of a Stranger
Description
Take a series of pictures of strangers and make a note of their name, occupation, and residence. Make sure that both form and content are similar.
Plan
Go to the public library and take pictures of the people behind the public computers.
Results
While form and content are indeed constant, and the assignment succesful in that respect, I think the images still lack something to make the series really interesting. Perhaps I should have taken a different viewing angle, showing more of the person's face and expression. A good thing to take into account on a next portrait assignment.
 Mike, Traveller – Europe & Asia |
 Josine, Lawyer – Amsterdam |
 Loes, Translator (retired) – Amsterdam |
 Willem, looking for a job – Amsterdam |
 Kenneth, Cook – Amsterdam |
 Jaouad, Biology Teacher (student) – Amsterdam |
 Suman, unknown – Amsterdam |
 Victorine, Costume Designer – Amsterdam |
School Day 05 – Complex Lighting
Description
Recreate a complex lighting condition.
Plan
In our case we tried to recreate the complex lighting condition as used by e.g., Jill Greenberg in her crying baby shots. We used a total of 7 lights and two large reflectors. Two times four lights were used to evenly light the white background via two large reflectors. This light was also used as skim light from behind the subject. Two more lamps were placed in front of the subject to light both sides of the face from the front. Finally a light was placed directly above the subject to light the hair.
Results
 Mieke de Wit – Tear Heavilly manipulated to attempt to match Jill Greenberg's style. |
School Day 06 & 07 – Model Shoot
Description
Take a model to the studio and take images of him/her. Use an existing image to base your lighting on.
Plan
Lighting setup and inspiration for shoot: an image of Philip Riches where a male model is lit with only one spotlight in a church (?) setting.
Thanks go to model Eline Visscher and to class mate Elizabeth van Hasselt for arranging the model!
Results
 Daniël Goldman Actually only a test shot to check the lighting, but still fun enough to keep. |
 Daniël Goldman Another fun test shot. |
 Eline Visscher Holy |
 Eline Visscher Holy |
 Eline Visscher Holy |
 Eline Visscher Holy |
 Eline Visscher Holy Personal favourite number 1. |
 Eline Visscher Personal favourite number 2. |
 Eline Visscher Personal favourite number 3. |
School Day 08 – Photoshop
Some hands-on training on various Photoshop (retouching) tricks.
School Day 09 – Presentations
Each group presented their results of the Fashion Photography History assignment.
School Day 10 – Assessment
My Own Learnings this Module
- Some more creativity (at least I hope…)
- The work of many, many, good photographers.
- Some more Photoshop tricks for enhancing (portrait) shots.
- More studio lighting.
Input
The following material was used as the basis of the Assessment:
- Results of all the assignments.
- My own learnings.
Results
- Study Points: 6
- Advise: Allow yourself more freedom when taking images.
- Additional work required: None
School Day 11 – Bonus Day
An additional day in the module, used for various things:
- An interesting video showing the way Dutch photographer Dana Lixenberg works.
- The remaining Fashion Photography History presentations.
- First introduction to the technical (view) camera.
