Module: Practice enrichment photographic practice. AB1

Assignment Brief 1: 

To create and make a portrait image in low or mid-key in the studio of a person wearing a hat, you have made!  Lighting to be provided using one but at the most two tungsten lights and accessories.

Hat you have made!  That was unexpected.

The brief also requires evidence of the research that informs the decision making process of selecting the hat and portrait style. 

Reflection on the brief: 

This is quite clever as this requires you to effectively create a mood board through undertaking research on both portrait style and the history of the hat and thereby informing your choice of hat to create. 

Oh the hat! I’m not a milliner and never really watched Blue Peter (for those that can remember Blue Peter on TV) so this will indeed be a challenge.  That said, it could be argued it follows the thinking and creation process many photographers have to go through when creating an image to fulfil a client’s brief or when creating and putting together a possible editorial piece requiring bespoke props and sets.

 

Decisions decisions:

To cut to the chase and after undertaking my research I have decided to make a contemporary Top Hat.  The idea is to create a contrast with what is considered the typical historic convention of the style and wearer and mine will be worn by a female.  The hat I've decided also needs to be different and unique.  For this assignment I also wanted to include green initiatives (i.e. recycling materials) so I will need to ensure the main material has been used for another purpose and no longer required.

The Hat

Following origami principles and using an old discarded photograph, I have constructed my hat (see images below).  This was indeed difficult and challenging to make and in particular the need for opposite 90 degree folds, however that said I'm rather pleased with the result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting point.  Discarded photo ready to be cut and folded.
(N.B. If someone knows the original photographer of the portrait then please let me know so I can credit their name.)

  

 



 

 

 

 

One of two cut and folded sections.  Note the abortive attempt in the background which split on repeated folds. An occupational hazard of Origami.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Completed hat with two joined folded pieces.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 First image looking at creating shadows on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final image for submission.

 

Nikon D600 Nikkor 85mm F/1.8 1/100sec F/2.0 ISO 200 Manual Mode.

1x Arri 300 tungsten light, barn doors and diffusion screen.

 

Reflection: This concept needs to be developed further with more panache and different styles and poses. With regard to this image I think I would choose to increase the depth of field and compensate with higher ISO.  To provide more latitude mounting the camera on a tripod rather than hand held would have opened up further possibilities.  The hat you might see again if I develop this brief further.