Product and model - Jigsaw

This assignment requires shooting a product and then deep etching it to be used in and advertisement that includes a model. The subject for this assignment is a Black & Decker jigsaw. Although the initial idea was to have a male model  I decided to change to using a female model to illustrate that these tools are meant for  the general home handy person regardless of gender.

 Initial shots were taken using a single softbox positioned high and to the right. There was some shadowing on the left side of the product. The softbox was moved slightly towards the left to lighten the front of the jigsaw. The important part of the product is the side facing the camera with the product name, the 'Smart Select' and 'Accu-Bevel' features.

Initial shot – too much shadow on left. 

Softbox moved slightly to reduce shadowing. 

In order to try and lighten up th image I used a piece of reflective card to bounce the light into the shadowed areas.

Reduced shadows although not as much contrast in the handle area as the next shot.

Reuced shadows compared to shots without reflector. Detail more visable in this image than previous. 

Engaged four models for this portion of the shoot. One male and three females. After doing the shot with using the stereotypical male with the jigsaw I decided the object would be to sell the tool as something that could be used by any home handy person. Female model 1 image appears, to me, be the best suited for the the project. 

Male Model

Female Model 1

Female Model 2

Female Model 3

Lindt Chocolate – Boxed

This shoot is of Lindt Maître Chocolatier Suisse boxed chocolates.

A medium softbox was set up almost directly over the product and shot from a high angle. Product was on a piece of white card stock.

Partial view of box of chocolates. Looks good enough to eat in this image but when viewed 1:1 the imperfections of the chocolates become evident. The top edge of the two white star chocolates have small cracks, chips and flaking. Other pieces have flecks of chocolate on them. The text written in the caramel tear drops is clear an sharp as is the embossing on the two round dark chocolates. 

Box turned to get a wider variety of product on display.

Full box display with a product card. This is my preferred shot. 

Padding sheet with company and product name. 

Clear protective sheet with company and product name.

Lindt Chocolate Bars - various

Lindt Chocolate bars of various types were photographed using differing background and props. Since the Lindt bars came in various wrappings I decided to try to shoot the range. Unfortunately, I'll have to eat my mistakes and my successes, at least I won't be a starving artist! Some worked and others didn't. An attempt to use gold reflective card for background left alot to be desired. Problems encountered with the gold reflective card were that every little mark on the card showed up in the photos and to be usable would require hours of post production, not going to happen. Lighting reflection on the card was too bright and distracting from the product. Specific comments will be made in the photo captions below.

Softbox was set up on the left to correspond with the lighting/design used on the label of the Swiss Gold chocolate bar. Small softbox to the right rear was to provide some depth to the product.

Lighting worked well to replicate the lighting fall on the mountain on the label. The easel and it's reflection on gold adds an artistic and sophisticated feel to the product and incorporates the gold from the product label. The reflection of the timber too mirrors the colour of the brown band and chocolate pieces on the label. Unfortunately the background scratches show up too well due to the reflected light. Not only are there scratches on the foil background but they are very noticeable on the product especially on the left hand side. Lesson: product shoots need to have perfect products and packaging. When viewed at 1:1 there are hundreds if not thousands of minor imperfections in the gold background card.

Slight movement of the lights from the previous shot added more distracting reflections on the right and left of the image.   

Shot the same as the preceding bar the problem with the background and lighting still exist. On the plus side the new product has a less reflective surface enabling it to be shot with no irritating scratches on the wrapping. Close examination reveals a couple of dust spots, obviously on my sensor that will need to be cleaned up.  

The easel removed and product shot from a high angle. Lighting from the left works very well  but the light to the high right rear cause highlighting on the right hand side of the packaging and again the dents and scrapes on the background board are too plentiful to consider to work on in post production. I keep reminding myself that this exercise is about the use of light and learning things that work and things that don't. 

Gold background removed and replaced with white card.  The chocolate bare is propped at an angle with the fore edge resting on the table and the back elevated slightly giving depth by the drop shadow on the right side. I like the gold reflection at the bottom edge of the product. White background much easier to use than the reflective surface. Still have the problem with the foil wrapper having scratches.

This product like the preceding one is propped up. The lighting works much better on this non-reflective surface as well as not being impaired by having foil wrappings that show rub marks.  I'm quite happy with this shot.

Similar comments to the preceding shot.  Again pleased with the shot. 

Product with bright read looks good. Noticed problem with lower right corner of packaging, box flap sticking out.  This should be fixed easily in post production but again Lesson examine product and packaging closely for flaws and either fix or replace before shooting have flaw hidden in shot. 

Happy with this shot. One criticism I could make is the the DoF is too shallow with the lower  third a bit soft although the product name "Extra Creamy/Cremoso" is very sharp. Shot at 1/100 sec f/11 ISO 100 @ 85mm.

Comments same as above. Same camera settings except focal length @ 97mm.

Comments as previous images, focal length @ 98mm.  Central are of image sharp and clear. 

Lindt Chocolate Product Shoot – Lindor on mirror

This shoot is replicating one I had printed out from another chocolate manufacturer. The product is sitting on a mirror. The camera is in a high position and the snooted light is aimed at the white background and the feathered circle reflection is being picked up in the mirror. The product is then placed in the 'spotlight'. Reflecting card had to be used to lighten some of the spherical areas on the chocolate especially the brand name. The overhead softbox was needed to light the light the top and front of the product yet the reflector was still required.

Undressed chocolate is not very appealing to the the eye

Piece of the relecting card in frame. 

Somebody got hungry

Studio Executive Shoot 13 September.

Lighting set

No post-production has been done to these photos

The shoot is of a friend who works at CIT.  

Fringe not even over forehead.
Blue CIT lanyard distracting
Subject facing to camera right causing too much shadow on right

Fringe not even over forehead.

Blue CIT lanyard distracting

Better positioning facing camera

Fringe fixed but thin fringe did not allow for full cover of forehead.

Blue CIT lanyard removed

Smile good and normal for sitter

Noticed on 1:1 viewing beads of sweat on bridge of nose

Fringe fixed but thin fringe did not allow for full cover of forehead.

Blue CIT lanyard removed

Smile good but a bit overdone - too much joking by the photographer

1:1 viewing beads of sweat on bridge of nose

Glasses removed but they are normally worn most of the time
Wanted to have an option with landscape presentation 

Lindt Chocolate Product Shoot 6 Sep

Following the first failed attempt at shooting the Lindt Assortment of chocolates and Julians comments and suggestions I tried again. There are some successful shots.

Towards the end of the photo session I tried two other shots to be refined for the rest of the product series. One is using the same easel, used in the earlier shot, and a sheet of gold reflective paper that complements the product. The final was trying to replicate/reference a commecial shot with the chocolate on a mirror but having a spotlight effect. This is done with two light one with a snoot reflecting off a white background to be seen in the mirror and a softbox over the product to illuminate the product. Next session I will try to perfect these two product shots.