Assignment 3a&3b

top

front

side with fill

back/side with fill

45/45 with fill

45/45with fill and controlled background spill

Seamless sweep background:

The first still life exercise explored the use of a single plane table-top design. In other words, we were shooting from above, down onto the subject and the table. There was not a horizon line or a separate background plane (such as a wall)

The second design will be, technically, a two plane still life. It will have a table surface and a wall surface, perpendicular to it. However, the transition between these two planes will be moderated through the use of a sweep. As a result, there will be no visible horizon line. Instead we will have a gradual transition between the two planes. This set-up is useful, also, for exploring the use of light fall-off to create the illusion of depth, especially with the use of top-light. It is a "classic," and versatile set-up for photographing things like products, art objects, in a way that is clean, neutral, and perhaps a bit formal.

Exploring light direction:

Orientation of light direction to the subject can affect how that subject appears, in a major way. For your subject, explore the effect of the following light directions. Please use lower contrast light for this assignment, but optimize as you see fit. A soft box is recommended. Meter every time the light is moved.

• Top*
• Front
• Side
• Side/back
• 45/45
• 45/45 with controlled background spill

Variations: For each, shoot with and without fill

*Top light

The top-light design can be used to effectively illuminate many subjects with a good sense of volume. It is a fairly passive lighting design that calls little attention to itself, allowing the subject to be revealed in a faithful way. 

However, this elegant design has another great advantage...it can be used to create a gradient background, through the use of light fall-off. This can lend a sense of formal polish to the photography of objects. While it generally has more commercial application...it can also be used creatively. See chapter 5 in the book.

Due dates:

3a, shooting (in groups) due by end of class 9/2

3b, individual creative exploration due 9/9, beginning of class.