UNIT1 Task 6: Portrait with Props

During the same session at the studio, we used our professor as a model but this time we introduce props.  

One of the many uses of props is to tell a story, evoke memories or represent something visually. 

For the first set of photos we used a globe for the composition. On the first image we can apreciate how the prop covers completly the face of the model, making it the center of the atention of the shot. Also we can see how the Globe manage to capture most of the light leaving behind the model in darkness.

1. The Globe

M 1/125 F5.0 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
43MM

On the following photos the prop goes to the background as the model rises his hand.  

2. History

M 1/125 F4.0 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
27MM

3. I swear

M 1/125 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
30MM

For the next set of pictures we use a skeleton as a prop (which we called Steve) and a mask to tell a completly different story from the previous set.

M 1/125 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
37MM

When you take one of the props out of the photo, the shot itself tells a different tale. In this case with this photo we were trying to inspire tenderness.

M 1/400 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
34MM

On the contrary if you change the place or position of the prop plus the expression of the model, you will be telling something completly different. This photo in particular makes you feel sorrow or solitude, the pose remembers "Pietà"

M 1/200 F4.5 ISO 6400
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
32MM

At the very end we decided to change the background for a lighter version and we used the same prop adding a facemask on top to change the backstory.

When we changed the background for a lighter version we can see the difference and the contrast  between the previous set with this one.

M 1/125 F4.0 ISO 3200
EF-S18-55MM
F/3.5-5.6 III 
27MM

In this last photo the model goes at the front telling the story while the props stays behind adding more details to the story.

1.2 Evolution and reflection

Coming from an art background this assignment was fun and really interesting for me. It was the first time that I was using professional lights and even a softbox. 

I shot loads of photos that night trying different settings from the exposure triangle, more ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture.

This assignment helped me to understand how I can create different looks and types of portraits using different lighting, backgrounds, angles and professional equiptment such as a softbox or props. As I enjoy taking photos with natural light (I know the perfect light time at home) for my shots, I would love to explore more the professional lights and the softbox. Portraits is something that I never tried before really and since this task I'm getting in to it.