Archive for December, 2011
Working with Models: Laura Speedy
Laura Speedy, definitly a fast number, you better be sure you can keep up with her otherwise you be left behind before you know it. It was a pleasure working with Laura today and we created some excellent images for her portfolio which will be used by casting agencies to be put forward for work. I shall let the images do the rest of the talking;
Canon EOS-20D with 70-200mm, 200mm @ F/3.5, 1/320s
Canon EOS-20D with 70-200mm, 83mm @ F/2.8, 1/640s
Laura was excellent and definitly spoke the language that a camera can capture, we started at Fitzroy Gardens and ended the day with the last rays of the sun at Station Peir, St Kilda.
We wish Laura all the best in her career and I think we will definitly see more of her about the film/fashion industry for sure.
Thats all for now …Brett Robson
Character Building – Photography for a Casting Agency
All aspects of photography have a different layout, purpose and end result. When photographying people the end result will be different each and every time, whether the subject is a child, teenager or mature adult. That aside each person has potential to create something different from the next person when given time in front of a camera.
For the last twelve months I have been shooting for the Casting Agency Real People along side Frank Hargreaves (Director) and over this time I have created a unique portfolio, some examples are shown below
Canon EOS-20D with 70-200mm 126mm @ F/5.6, 1/1000s
Canon EOS-20D with 18-55mm 34mm @ F/11, 1/125s
- Real People have been operating in Melbourne since October 1992, and represents a wide range of talent from Professional models and actors to extras and promotional people. ”Melbourne’s Real People” was started by Frank Hargreaves (Director) who has been in the industry for over 30yrs both in Australia and International. Mario Verescuk (Director) became a partner in 2000 and now adds to the success and growth of the company known as “Real People Victoria”
Further images can be located in the Real People Portfolio
Until the next photographic adventure. thats all for now.
Brett Robson
Fashion Shoot – Picnic at Hanging Rock
With the long weekend giving time a plenty, it was well overdue to get out into the elements and create something different, when starting this shoot I wanted to throw regard out the window and shoot with emotion rather then composition and lighting, yes they play a role, but I wanted to break into new and unchartered territory
Canon EOS-30D with 70-200mm, 83mm @ F/3.2, 1/500sec
With thanks to Rebecca Jane @ ModelMode we were supplied the model Jacalyn Williams … on the morning of the photo shoot as unfortunately the other model was unable to make it, so straight away we were delving into the unknown. I had no idea what the model looked like, they had little or no idea of my photo shoot, but we got everyone at my house at about 11am after having a chat about the shoot and everyones roles, collecting a wardrobe for the model, makeup and brunch it was off to the location.
Canon EOS-30D with 70-200mm, 126mm @ F/2.8, 1/500sec
The “theme” of the shoot revolved about “Picnic at Hanging Rock” however I didnt shoot the classic style as I did not want to be stepping in someone elses tracks so I shot more of the lost girl, initially exploring and enjoying herself only to be found lost and afraid, with no real resolve.
Canon EOS-30D with 50mm, 50mm @ F2.8, 1/250sec
Everything in the end came together and we created a shoot that resembled “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and encompassed old world character with some more modern photography techniques.
A special thanks goes to the following people who with out them the shoot would not have happened, Rebecca Jane – ModelMode, Jacalyn Williams – Model, Jacinta Brett – Makeup Artist, Andrew Coles / Alysha Holder – Photographers Assistants and also like to thank myself Brett Robson who created the shoot and ideas.
Further images can be seen in our “Picnic at Hanging Rock” gallery
Until the next photographic adventure, thats all for now …
Brett Robson
Animal Photography – A world of Unpredictability
Im always told by alot of photographers that I meet to never work with children and animals, I dont understand the meaning to there plight, I find children and animals to be such creative subjects and a endless joy to work with.
Just recently a close friend of mine asked me to photograph her 11 month old Purebred Ragdoll Kitten of which I delightfully said yes, not only was I happy to photograph the kitten, the owner was no other then Sally Arnott who I have worked alot with in the past. Armed with a single softbox and my trusty Canon EOS-350D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm and a single 500w flash and a softbox it was off on another photographic adventure, this time in the studio
Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm, 48mm @ F/8, 1/100s
Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm, 39mm @ F/8, 1/100s
We used a multitude of toys to grab the attention of the kitten, however as most photographers may have encountered and even with people, they tend to turn away at the final second which kills that particular photo, which to the photographer may have been the perfect shot. However the kitten was definitly camera friendly and we created some incredible works of art.
Until our next photographic adventure, thats all for now: Brett Robson
Discovery – Uncovering the Potential Within
Its not often, but sometimes I get to work with people who just have raw talent when it comes to being infront of a camera, this at times is unknown to themselves or those around them, however all is needed is a trained eye to pick them out of the crowd.
Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm, 55mm @ F/8, 1/125s
A very interesting experience happened to me just recently, about two years ago I came across a father and daughter in the Melbourne CBD, the father was taking photos of his daughter who just knew how to speak the right language to the camera and knew all the right poses. I took notice of this and waited a few moments and when I felt the time was appropriate I gave the father the card for my work advising that they should give them a call and then left, not knowing if anything may come of this chance meeting. A day or so later I received a call from the mother of the child who asked various questions of which I answered.
Note: Need I mention that unfortunately in this day and age there is somewhat of a “stigma” with handing out a business card especially if its in relation to “talent agency” which is why I only do this once in a blue moon and usually at times when I see talent that is undiscovered, and at the very least I leave the final decision to the other person, I dont do the “hard sell” or anything, they will make the call when its right for them.
Two years on, my boss received a phone call from the same mother who queried if I was still with the company, it had taken some time, two years to be exact but she had decided to take the next step as her daughter had been approached by more then one person since my meeting and so it seems I had recognised some true beauty. I felt priveledge to have been the first to do a professional photo shoot with her and I wish “Ella” all the best in her endeavors and also on her acting/photographic career.
Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm, 39mm @ F/8, 1/125s
Until my next photographic adventure, that’s all for now – Brett Robson
A 1000 Words in one click – Issue #1 – Playing with Movement & Light
Introduction:Ive decided to start a series of “insights” behind some of the photos that I have taken over the time that I have been involved in photography. My purpose is to give the viewer an idea of what the photographer was thinking and or intending before the photograph was taken. In doing so I hope to portray an understanding between photographer and viewer so that a greater appreciation can be achieved. I know that some of the technical speak may loose a non photographic person, however there are always two sides to a photo.
Issue #1 “Playing with Movement & Light”
Canon EOS-350D with 18-55mm, 33mm @ F/29, 300sec
One of my favourite subjects when taking time out from model photography has to be playing with light sources at night time. I work at a business that is located on St Kilda Road, many times late at night I would pass by the National Gallery of Victoria and think to myself that it would be interesting to play with the light sources that illuminate the water fountains that grace the front of the building.
In this photo I wanted to convey the spectacular dance and illumination of the water, for this to be created the camera was setup on a tripod and the shutter was left open for around 3 1/4 minutes at a very high aperture, with the use of a ND8 filter F/29 effectively became F/32 (+2 F-stops) there fore allowing a much longer shutter speed. With the assistance of a shutter release cable and some basic judgement the above photo was created. I hope to one day to use the same technique with the water displays at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Further examples can be viewed in the Melbourne at Night Gallery
Until the next issue ….That’s all for now – Brett Robson
Canon EOS-30D – A new addition to the family
Just before the end of the year while working at the Studio, my Canon EOS-10D gave its final shutter click and passed on, though with a bit of repair of which I hope to do in the new year. Currently my camera collection is made up of: A Canon 350D, Canon 10D, Canon 20D and now a new addition of a Canon EOS-30D. I have to admit that my first impressions were quite good and I was first intrigued with the larger LCD screen at the back of the camera which views images at 1024×768 a completely different world to the previous cameras. There is also a larger ISO expansion with the 30D which will come handy for those “low light” situations
Canon EOS-30D
Further to all this, I am now able to use my Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (58mm) lens, so I went out and about to the Darabin Parklands with the use of my Infra-Red Filter and created some interesting photos, a few examples can be seen below …a small amount of post-production was done to get rid of some marks on the images other then that I was happy with the result;
- Canon EOS-30D with 18-55mm, 33mm @ F/29, 300secs
With little to be done over the next few weeks I am looking forward to getting out with the camera and learning more about its features and creating some interesting results. Until the next photographic adventure
Thats all for now: Brett Robson