About eight images are required, demonstrating the following qualities:
- Shape - the outline of the object;
- Form - looking to empahasize the volume;
- Texture - quality of surface detail;
- Colour - show the colours as strongly as possible
As with the last few exercises in Chapter 4, I found this a challenging assignment, being inexperienced in indoor lighting, and rarely having taken still life or objects as photographic subjects. In this respect, it is part of the reason for doing this course: to move out of one's comfort zone.
I looked at other blog sites and other photographer sites to see what others had done for this exercise. As might be expected, a range of subjects have been chosen. I thought about two: a flattened beer can and a home-made model of the Flying Scotsman. On advice of tutor I selected the latter. The model offers some interesting angles although its size is challenging: being about 43cm long, it does not fit easily into a camera frame.
The images are taken using one of or a combination of natural light, low sunlight, a Speedlite 430EX II flash with diffuser attached and placed off camera using a cable (from here on called "flash"), and a Litepanels Micro 48 LED unit ("Micro").
Shape
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| f11, 1/8, ISO 200, focal length 47mm natural light plus Micro |
This is the classic front facing aspect of a train engine - the obvious triangle from the buffers to the top. With a contrasting background, it seemed natural light thrown from the window was adequate for this image. A soft focus was applied as we are looking to emphasise the shape.
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| f4, 1/60, ISO 200, focal length 24mm. Flash |
For a second shape image, I used a flash to back light the model in a darkened room. The flash was set to 1/64 power, the lowest setting achievable on the Speedlite, and the glare of the flash underneath the model reduced in post processing. The image was converted to grayscale.
The image demonstrates the classic train engine shape, and the shadows cast by the flash emphasise in a distorted way the shape of the wheels. Reflected light from the flash casts some light on the top and front thus avoiding the entirely flat two dimensional effect of a silhouette.
Form
I chose two similar aspects to demonstrate the three dimensional effect, but used very different lighting.
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| f22, 4 sec, ISO 200, focal length 12mm. Natural light. |
I used a wide angle lens for this image, in order to emphasise the front of the model and achieve a tapering effect towards the rear. The maximum focal length ensured all the model is in focus, the consequent slow shutter speed being no problem with the camera set on a tripod. The natural light was sufficient in this image.
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| f4, 1/60 sec, ISO 200, focal length 42mm. Flash with additional light from front using Micro |
This is a similar aspect to the first form image but taken in a darkened room. The front is lit by micro, the side by flash unit placed just off frame. The form derives partly from the lit front, and partly from the differential lighting provided by the flash, the rounding of the boiler in particular being emphasised this way.
Texture
The model is home painted and a little worn, so there were good opportunities to explore close up the texture of the surfaces.
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| f4, 1/10, ISO 200, focal length 105mm natural light plus Micro |
Natural light was enhanced by using the micro to provide a close up image. Texture is strong on the paint on the wheels, and on the boiler which is showing signs of ageing.
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| f22, 1/60, ISO200 focal length 105mm. Flash unit |
By way of complete contrast, this image was shot using the flash placed at the rear and side. Required some experimentation with the manual settings on the flash unit to achieve the right intensity. The uneven sandy texture of the surface is brought out well in this image.
Colour
Colour was surprisingly difficult to photograph as a lead characteristic, but chose a couple of different aspects to demonstrate.
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| f11, 1/4, ISO 200, focal length 15mm. Natural light plus Micro |
The micro was held above and slightly to the left - the aim being to highlight the brown patches. A wide angle lens ensured that the colour from the front buffer was not lost and provided balance between the two dominant colours of black and green, making sure the red on the front featured prominently.
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| f13, 1/90 ISO 200, focal length 98mm. Low sunlight. |
Late sunshine was the sole source of light for this shot. Little attempt to get all the colours in this shot, more to demonstrate how the green changes with the light (cf. images above and below).
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| f22, 1/60, ISO 200, focal length 18mm. Natural light outdoors. |
This final image, taken on a winter's day, was the only outdoors shot. I attempted to obtain a composite image that showed elements of shape, form, texture and colour. The sun was required to cast a shadow to provide the shape, the light worked well at around 11am to provide a pleasing three dimensional aspect to the model. The light brings out some shine to demonstrate texture, and the colour is very true.
