MILK PHOTOGRAPHY
EQUIPMENT
Ring flash
5 Bags of powdered milk
Hot water
METHODOLOGY
I chose the use of milk as a backdrop for my photographs because I like the way that it creates a smooth, blank surface as well as its opaque quality. To add to this, I chose a model with dark hair and gave her dark, dramatic make-up to create a striking contrast to the bright white milk. I used the white of the milk to symbolise the innocence of the model in the way that her body is obscured from the photograph beneath the liquid however I have used the model's make-up above the water to suggest a loss of innocence. Moreover, I think that these images link to my theme of 'out of the ordinary' because of the opaque nature of the liquid as well as the vague facial expressions of the model.
To complete this shoot, I has an IOS level of 200, along with a large aperture and the use of the ring flash allowed me to keep a fast shutter speed for crisp photographs when I zoomed in. I like the effect that these settings achieved as they are not over-exposed or under-exposed and the use of the ring flash allowed me to capture my photos with minimal extra shadows. If I was to do this photo shoot again, I would be more prepared and use a paddling pool outside so that I could try more inventive positions for my model, I would also experiment with a ladder to allow me to take the photos from directly above. However I like the way that because I was close to the model, I could take more intriguing macro photos of sections of my model rather than whole body shots, as I think this makes my portraiture more 'out of the ordinary'.
PHOTOSHOP
1: The raw version of this image was very under-exposed and dull, to rectify this I used the 'curves' tool to brighten the highlights of the face as well as increasing the contrast and the blue levels in the 'black & white' option. As a result, I was able to make the background a lot lighter and the shadows a lot more dramatic in comparison.
2: I picked this image above the others because I like the way that the way that the torso is hidden gives an odd appearance to the shoulder proportions of my model, I chose to keep this image in colour because I wanted to emphasize the red lips of my model. I increased the vibrancy and hue of the image before lightening the image to make it look slightly more natural and fashion-styled.
3: I took this image from close up, directly in front of the model to focus on the mouth of the model, I found that it gave a slightly seductive effect. I also wanted to capture the pool of milk that rested in the dip behind the collar bone of my model, thus, I kept this photograph simple by increasing the contrast for more dramatic dark tones, especially on the cracks of the lips.
4: To make this image more 'out of the ordinary', I experimented with tangling her hair across her face in a messy style, I then asked her to look directly at the camera through the hair. The camera has focused primarily on the model's right eye and her lips again. The overall effect of this image is slightly eerie.
5: In this photograph, I asked my model to float just below the surface so that the milk would sink into the dips in her shoulders and neck, I like this effect because I think that it frames her face. Then, on photo shop, I increased the contrast , I also used dodge and burn to brighten the highlights and darken the shadows. To add to this, I used two layers so that I could keep the eyes of my model in colour whilst the rest remains black & white, to make the image slightly fantasy-like, I intensified the colour of her iris'.
6: Lastly, I used the 'grey scale' effect to capture this photograph however I then used the contrast slider to make the face of my model more bold. My favourite part of this picture is the pattern that the hair floats in, on the surface of the milk.
CONTACT SHEET
Ring flash
5 Bags of powdered milk
Hot water
METHODOLOGY
I chose the use of milk as a backdrop for my photographs because I like the way that it creates a smooth, blank surface as well as its opaque quality. To add to this, I chose a model with dark hair and gave her dark, dramatic make-up to create a striking contrast to the bright white milk. I used the white of the milk to symbolise the innocence of the model in the way that her body is obscured from the photograph beneath the liquid however I have used the model's make-up above the water to suggest a loss of innocence. Moreover, I think that these images link to my theme of 'out of the ordinary' because of the opaque nature of the liquid as well as the vague facial expressions of the model.
To complete this shoot, I has an IOS level of 200, along with a large aperture and the use of the ring flash allowed me to keep a fast shutter speed for crisp photographs when I zoomed in. I like the effect that these settings achieved as they are not over-exposed or under-exposed and the use of the ring flash allowed me to capture my photos with minimal extra shadows. If I was to do this photo shoot again, I would be more prepared and use a paddling pool outside so that I could try more inventive positions for my model, I would also experiment with a ladder to allow me to take the photos from directly above. However I like the way that because I was close to the model, I could take more intriguing macro photos of sections of my model rather than whole body shots, as I think this makes my portraiture more 'out of the ordinary'.
PHOTOSHOP
1: The raw version of this image was very under-exposed and dull, to rectify this I used the 'curves' tool to brighten the highlights of the face as well as increasing the contrast and the blue levels in the 'black & white' option. As a result, I was able to make the background a lot lighter and the shadows a lot more dramatic in comparison.
2: I picked this image above the others because I like the way that the way that the torso is hidden gives an odd appearance to the shoulder proportions of my model, I chose to keep this image in colour because I wanted to emphasize the red lips of my model. I increased the vibrancy and hue of the image before lightening the image to make it look slightly more natural and fashion-styled.
3: I took this image from close up, directly in front of the model to focus on the mouth of the model, I found that it gave a slightly seductive effect. I also wanted to capture the pool of milk that rested in the dip behind the collar bone of my model, thus, I kept this photograph simple by increasing the contrast for more dramatic dark tones, especially on the cracks of the lips.
4: To make this image more 'out of the ordinary', I experimented with tangling her hair across her face in a messy style, I then asked her to look directly at the camera through the hair. The camera has focused primarily on the model's right eye and her lips again. The overall effect of this image is slightly eerie.
5: In this photograph, I asked my model to float just below the surface so that the milk would sink into the dips in her shoulders and neck, I like this effect because I think that it frames her face. Then, on photo shop, I increased the contrast , I also used dodge and burn to brighten the highlights and darken the shadows. To add to this, I used two layers so that I could keep the eyes of my model in colour whilst the rest remains black & white, to make the image slightly fantasy-like, I intensified the colour of her iris'.
6: Lastly, I used the 'grey scale' effect to capture this photograph however I then used the contrast slider to make the face of my model more bold. My favourite part of this picture is the pattern that the hair floats in, on the surface of the milk.
CONTACT SHEET