STUDIO TECHNIQUES Assignment : Task 3 : Developing Ideas

Inspired by these images taken by James Nader, I would like to do some studio photography along the lines of beauty/fashion. I would like to use a model with artistic make-up and possibly a coloured background. I really like the greeny tones on the background of the bottom left picture, this inspired me to create something using peacock colours. Here I have brainstormed the theme of peacocks and collected some images:

From these images I have decided to test out makeup ideas on myself:

For this look I played around with blue, green and purple eyeshadows based on the colours in a Peacock. I really like the colours however I think the makeup needs to be more dramatic e.g. false eyelashes, feathers on the face or hair.

Here I have applied a purple graduated tint over my image. This was inspired by James Nader's portraiture shots where there appears to be a coloured tint around the model. I don't really like this effect as it makes my skin look quite dull and doesn't really look like Nader's work.

This is an original image.

Here I have boosted the saturation of my eye make up. I have also edited the background to look more like Nader's images. It works really well with the colours of my eye shadow.

Here I have tried to apply a 'halo effect' to look more like the backgrounds in James Nader's work. I really like this effect and I think that when I do the shoot I may tone down the colour of the tinted background so it doesn't take attention away from my model or her makeup.

Further make-up ideas:

Set up:

I would like my photographs to be in a high key format.

Further make-up development:

Here I have altered the make-up slightly by adding a pair of false eyelashes, green eyeliner and a nude lip. I think this lip looks better than my original pink one because it doesn't draw attention away from the main feature of the eyes.

Here I have added a pair of dramatic false eyelashes. I think they are fabulous and I love the blue tones going through them however I'm not definately going to use them in my final piece because they may be a little too over the top. I think I will try and find a middle ground between the two pairs of eyelashes that I experimented with. I definately think false eyelashes should be a feature in this shoot.

Here I used a blue flash diffuser to try and create a different effect on my image. I thought this would work well with the blues and purples in my eye make-up however it just makes the images look quite dull and I really wanted the background to be blue toned instead of the foreground (my subject). I won't be using blue flash diffuser's in my final photoshoot.

For this look I made the make-up even more dramatic. I used real peacock feathers to create this interesting head piece. I then used the thin feathers to create the eyebrows. I also used feather eyelashes to add to the look. I like this make-up and thought I would need to go very dramatic for a beauty photography shoot however I think this may be too over the top.

Here I toned down the look by removing the feather eyelashes and adding some plain ones.

STUDIO TECHNIQUES Assignment : Task 2 : Research : Jonathan Knowles

This image is so simple yet effective as the audience can tell that the subject is an egg even though the image appears to be really overexposed. I really like how the shadow shows us what the object is.

I love the composition of this image and the way the pages curve down from the bright red book cover. I also really like the unity of shadows created by the pages of the book. The straight lines are really aesthetically pleasing.

This image is lovely, it has nice lines created by the shadows.

DISCLAIMER: All of these images were taken by Jonathan Knowles.

None of the above images are my own.

Images taken from http://www.jknowles.com/

Jonathan Knowles is a photographer based in London specialising in still life, people and liquids. He also works in advertising and has worked for O2, Wheatabix, Duracell and Nescafe. I think his work is absolutely beautiful and very modern looking. I really like his photographs of white objects on white background, the shadows created work really well within the images. His composition is always brilliant and I love the simplistic colours and shapes. Knowles believes in photographing beautiful graphic objects. 

STUDIO TECHNIQUES Assignment : Task 2 : Research : James Nader

I really love this image, the model is gorgeous and although in a very simple setting (in a run down doorway) it works really well with the model and what she is wearing.

I really like these shots because of the sepia tones they have. He has made them look very old fashioned and it works great. I especially like the interesting angle of capturing someone through a window, with the reflection of the car outside in the image aswell.

I absolutely love the simplistic backgrounds of these images and how they are different tones of a colour - I would really like to try something like this in my own portraiture work, e.g. having a purple toned background to go alongside purple makeup my model may wear.

This image is very interesting I love the contrast between her bright orange/red dress and the dark moody sky and background.

I love this set of images! I really like the greeny/grey colours. I also like how Nader has used mirrors to create effect.

This particular image of his has inspired me to go down the route of beauty photography. I would really love to create something with a simplistic background such as this with a halo effect around the model who will be wearing dramatic make-up like Nader has used here.

DISCLAIMER: All of these images were taken by James Nader.

None of the above images are my own.

Images taken from http://www.jamesnader.com/

I think that Nader's work is very professional and I love how he uses lots of different styles and scenery to produce different outcomes. I think my favourite thing about his work is his backgrounds. Whether it's just plain with different colours or tones, or on the streets, in a lift, infront of a bookcase; he always manages to use his surroundings to the best of his advantage and I think that he has carefully planned out his locations to make his images so aesthetically pleasing. All of his styles of work have inspired me to create something similar in my own work. I love the sepia/black and white vintage shots. I also love how he has used mirrors and I would quite like to produce something with mirrors myself.