Setting Up

[bklyn]

My work has never involved as elaborate a setup as this video from the NY Times' T Style Magazine. It's cool to watch all the effort that goes into making those images.

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=f2fab8687ece08e166706094178f79abd82fb3fb

Usually my setups involve some simple lighting and reflectors and some basic props. I rarely go on a kids shoot without a hand puppet to capture their attention toward the camera (oops, letting out my trade secrets), though it is not something you'd ever see in the resulting images. Most of the time I am utilizing the existing scenery and not doing much modification.

Tell me about your setups.

[Baconzoo]

http://harddiskjockey.com/bush/ I love shortcutting the needed set creation process by Photoshopping. No need tom tape seams or use backdrops.
But now I'm back into the Resort industry so forget studio photography for me.
I'm out on the slopes. http://peekn.com/photos/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4

[dbp]

I suppose I understand the logistical advantages of a studio shoot like that instead of a location shoot, but damn that seems like a lot of trouble.

As a photography jong, my "setups" include my camera and... not much else. However, I do find myself enjoying articles on Strobist like the following. I particularly like the use of cheap equipment and on-hand materials.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/05/on-assignment-spring-desserts.html

The Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html) site seems like a great resource for photographers wanting to learn the basics of using their flash off camera and simple lighting techniques.

[cj001f]

Jean-Paul Goude has some very interesting photos that required some serious setups. I'll link to a favorite
Estella Warren in flowers (NSFW) (http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images_424319090_262945_jean-paul-goude.jpg)

[Gunder]

http://harddiskjockey.com/bush/ I love shortcutting the needed set creation process by Photoshopping. [/URL]

That makes me cringe :cussing: :cussing:

There is nothing I cant stand more than people that think they can just photoshop it later. If your not willing to learn the skill then dont even bother.

[Baconzoo]

That makes me cringe :cussing: :cussing:
There is nothing I cant stand more than people that think they can just photoshop it later. If your not willing to learn the skill then dont even bother.
Why waist the time and costs? I've done 7 cover shots this way. I have more versatility in PS after the fact. Take your purist bullshit and shove it up your ass.

[Gunder]

Why waist the time and costs? I've done 7 cover shots this way. I have more versatility in PS after the fact. Take your purist bullshit and shove it up your ass.

Well your not going to get a cover of a reputable mag doing it that way.

Cmon dude, doing it right in camera will make a much better image, and doesnt take that much time.

If your going to Photoshop everything then dont call yourself a photog.

[Baconzoo]

I'm in advertising. So naw naw na na na

I think that I looked at you photos for a ski area brochure but the price was too high so I bought an adobe stock image and Photo-shopped it. $250

And don't tell me that this guy isn't making coin doing the exact same thing.
http://glennferon.com/portfolio1/index.html
but to your point...there is always a needed balance of original photography and post production finesse.

[Gunder]

I'm in advertising. So naw naw na na na

I think that I looked at you photos for a ski area brochure but the price was too high so I bought an adobe stock image and Photo-shopped it. $250
.

Quality costs money, and you get what you pay for.

[yesIsaidyes]

Photo/Video Talk = another forum to fight in...

[midget]

lets see these 7 covers

[midget]

oh, and that looks like a whole lot of work for some really bad photos.
i'm talking about the ones in the video btw....

[cj001f]

Photo/Video Talk = another forum to fight in...

yup.....

[Baconzoo]

Yea I figured you'd ask to see em so I'll post em' soon. I have to dig them up.
Bottom line is that I saved my previous employer hundreds of thousands of dollars by NOT going to the standard photo studios in North Carolina. I adopted a renegade approach which:
Cut down lead times
Increased throughput
Decreased overall spending
and more importantly...increased our over-all image usage by our resellers. (Staples, Office Depot, Office Max) which increased sales.
I think that business is business and I do whatever it takes to get the job done. Telling a carpenter to go home because I can fix it in post....WTF is the big deal?
The studio I used the most had about 8 fly walls and 7 different window sections that we would move around by hand and put them together as needed...on the fly! We would never tape a seam.
I did this in order to produce about a hundred environmentals a year. Most of the time we had to color correct wrong samples or change wall colors and props after the fact to version the shot for different vendors.

[midget]

so where are the covers?

[cj001f]

Photo/Video Talk = another forum to fight in...

oh yeah!!

[midget]

well, where are the covers?

[midget]

still waiting...............

[Baconzoo]

well, where are the covers?
So yes I could be perceived as a one trick pony. High angles and "cost effective techniques" netted me a lot of cover exposure. I'm now out of the furniture industry and into resorts and e-comm.
Staples wanted the avant gaurd PS look.

[Tap]

omg. those are some serious "covers".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

:FIREdevil

[bklyn]

I'd rather get paid than be fussy about if my clients are good enough for my art.... But that's just my opinion.

[Tippster]

omg. those are some serious "covers".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

:FIREdevilBetcha they were seen by more people than say Powmag....

[Baconzoo]

Success is relative.
(from each persons perspective)

Getting paid is essential.
(wife and three kids)

[midget]

Blow me midge...

yah, thanks.