P52W01: All Set

P52W01 - All Set

The Goal: 52 Weeks. 52 Photos. Not just snapshots. These have to be images that I would gladly display in my portfolio, or include in a photo book.

Up to the last minute I didn't know what I was going to shoot as the first entry of the project. I mulled over several ideas this past week, and as the batteries finished charging last night I picked one. This was not it.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy. But I didn't think it was going to be this hard.

In the original concept I wanted to include my shadow as a background element, but I just couldn't make it work. The walls, the shadow, the lighting--all wrong. After 30 minutes of test shots, and relocating twice, I admitted defeat. Plan B.

Side lighting then. I read about this from Scott Kelby and Joe McNally. They used it on portraits of male athletes. (I'm not an athlete, but I thought I can make it work a bit.) I had a couple of costume changes, but then decided to keep it simple. White shirt, tripod/lightstand bags, and camera strap. (Strap only because I was shooting with my only DSLR.)

Set timer. Walk to postion. Emote a bit. Click. (Repeat until satisfied and/or close to fainting due to blood loss from a million mosquitoes feasting on me.)

I picked this photo because I look like I'm all set and about to go out on a shoot, because that's what this project really is. It's a 52-week-long shoot. :)



And here's the lighting diagram if you're into that kind of stuff:

P52W01 lighting diagram

- arland -