As fast as possible, Breakfast please. (Shoot BTS)
How it all Began
For the past two weeks, I've been ruminating on some ideas. I stumbled across this video called "Breakfast Interrupted" a few years ago. Recently, I stumbled upon that same video again and had an idea for a portrait image.
How it all Began
For the past two weeks, I've been ruminating on some ideas. I stumbled across this video called "Breakfast Interrupted" a few years ago. Recently, I stumbled upon that same video again and had an idea for a portrait image.
Being tired of watching ideas die on my floor, I wondered how fast I could make the image come to life. This time, I wanted one week from start to finish, but as with many things, From conception to photoshop took three weeks.
Took one week to sort of work out the image itself from sketches and trawling through the internet. Another two weeks before all our schedules lined up. I originally wanted the table to have flowers and more fruit, but I felt that since my goal is a portrait, I wanted to avoid too much clutter.
Fair warning, this is a long post, so I've provided a tl;dr in video form at the bottom of the post.
The Shoot
Most of the items were acquired at my local Savers to keep costs down. All in all, the whole shoot was no more that 30AUD, 20 for the sacrificial dishes, and 10 for the food props (which also conveniently formed my breakfast the next day).
My amazing sketch...
The original setup, a plank of wood resting on two bench legs. Russ' F100 sits with a 50mm on it that he let me use to see which lens provided a better composition. This was taken at 24mm.
Russ kindly leant his backyard for the shoot, so we didn't have to worry too much about Orange juice flying everywhere.
I was especially excited because I really wanted to light this image with a shoot-through umbrella. Forgot mine, but Russ had a spare, the perks of having photography friends.
First image trying to decide whether to balance ambient or not, because the sun was going down fast, I decided to rely completely on strobes so I wouldn't have to worry juggling the two sources constantly.
I felt that the background wasn't right, so we moved the table a little further aft. This is when we began the lighting tests.
Trying out the good old Joe McNally tungsten gelled orange and teal trick. Quickly became evident it didn't really work.
Composition was a bit of an issue for me, to put it short, I wasn't feeling it. I knew that I wanted Russ to be where he was sitting, so I thought I'd try to tackle a little bit of the lighting challenge first to clear my mind. I had three Nikon strobes at my disposal, but consequently a large area to light, which was my biggest technical concern. As the test image above showed, I quickly ruled against a hair light, I felt it didn't really fit, it also freed one more strobe to do background lighting which helped.
The moment it all clicked. After this, I quickly changed to an 85mm.
It's called a portrait for a reason, so I let go of the landscape orientation and low and behold, the composition was fixed. This fixed two technical issues in the process, less background to light, and the umbrella can come in closer and above the subject, where I personally enjoy it the most.
Let the actual shooting begin:
The shoot was two stages, first, the portrait of Russ. Then, the actual elements flying. Russ had a dinner to attend, didn't want to make him messy. Initially, I did want him smiling, but we tried some stoic expressions, and in my heart, I felt it worked better, I like the idea of a contrast between a busy environment and a calm subject.
The first few frames had Russel with his arms resting on the table, I thought in the back of my head that this would result in an editing challenge later, so I asked him to do some more poses with his arms by his side and holding a mug. All of these shots, maybe ~50-100 in total gave me options for expressions and body posture.
Some of my favourite frames from the portrait portion of the shoot:
Now for the messy bits. At first, I thought of stacking all the elements on the board and simply dropping everything onto the table legs. This proved to unpredictable, so it it was simpler to resort to tossing or dropping each element individually.
I bought two of everything, but the only fatality was one of the cereal bowls landing on its side. The orange juice was the most difficult to get right, but in the end, after getting one image I was pleased with, I asked Rondo to drop the glass from twice the height and filled right to the top, that did the trick to get the nice big splash seen in the final image.
Post and Finishing
After the shoot was done, cards were dumped and Photoshop was fired up. Initially, I planned on a fixed position montage, simply brushing in the elements with the portrait of Russel as the plate.
Unfortunately, some of the elements didn't balance anymore, the cereal if placed in its original location would be far too distracting and would have unbalanced the frame. Luckily, Photoshop had just gained a new "Focus Selection" option, which, from what I understand, can make selections based on what is in focus and whats not. The cereal flakes were all within a thin plane of focus, so the new focus selection worked a charm, I simply had to only draw to mask out the flakes saving me hours of manually masking by the pen tool.
I did have to extend the placemat so that all the food could fit on it, luckily, the cereal and toast hid a lot of gaps, meaning I only had to copy the edge of the placemat.
My worry about the image was that it would end up too orange, but after adding in an orange circular flare, I felt it warmed the image but didn't overwhelm it either.
Here's a layer breakdown of the image:
Thats a Wrap
This was an awesome shoot, and it was great to see that one of my ideas came to life so quickly. If I could do the shot again, I would have ironed the table cloth so that I didn't have to brush out the creases in post. Maybe get Russ a nice button up shirt, but honestly, I'm happy, and I felt that I made my idea into tangible reality. Overall, this is one of those images where it was great fun with friends, great fun to put together, and something I'm extremely happy with.
Every piece of work could be better, and I'm always my harshest critic, but once in awhile, you're just pleased, content and at peace. This is what it means to be an artist I guess. (sounds wanky, I know)
More t.k.
Hindsight in Photography - Long Winding Journey
I'm still young, and have only been doing Photography seriously for only a few years, but that doesn't mean my journey in the medium has been short. My belief in photography, at least for my own journey, is that a lot of it is hindsight. The work that I want to produce, the things that I want to achieve, as much as it comes from looking forward and planning, a lot has been unconsciously been hinted at in the work I was producing in the past.
This is a long post, but I want to get this off my chest.
I'm still young, and have only been doing Photography seriously for only a few years, but that doesn't mean my journey in the medium has been short. My belief in photography, at least for my own journey, is that a lot of it is hindsight. The work that I want to produce, the things that I want to achieve, as much as it comes from looking forward and planning, a lot has been unconsciously been hinted at in the work I was producing in the past.
So emotional. My friend James playing the piano during rehearsal for a School play, we were both part of the AV team.
Photography was something I practiced since my grandfather gifted a Fujifilm point and shoot to my family when I was just beginning middle school. It was a pivotal moment, our family film Minolta was always locked away and I was apprehensive to waste frames, it was this weird fear, I just didn't want to annoy my mom with 12 pictures of my feet or the back of a tree, I actually was frightened of the camera itself. With a digital camera, those fears were gone, any the kids in the family were all a certain age that my parents had less of a need to take pictures, meaning I could take the camera for longer periods.
It was mostly family snaps, and that Fujifilm compact finally gave up, and was superseded by a Casio compact. That compact was my favourite, it had snappy focus, was slim enough to carry in my pocket, I brought it everywhere, everywhere. I started to experiment with photo manipulation, I initially used Paint.net, a very versatile free photo editor, I still think its interactive gradients are awesome and something I miss even today in Photoshop. I was late to the Photobucket/Facebook party, so I lost a lot of my images from these formative years. I actually didn't know how much of an impact just doing things like taking pictures of family or things around me would have in a few years.
My Casio finally broke after a heavy fall. This is when I moved to a hand-me-down Nikon Coolpix, which, too put it apt, was horrendous shit. I soon entered High School, and during my freshman year, I was asked to photograph a volleyball tournament in a dark school gym, I had more fun going through salmonella poisoning. Really, the camera was slow to start, would always mis-focus and had a battery life shorter than my pubescent facial hair.
At that point, I took my savings and did the most reasonable thing. After using a terrible Nikon, I got another Nikon. This time, a D90, an SLR, big boy territory. This is when things started to fire up. That camera was amazing, it was a beast. The camera was with me all the time, dropped multiple times, drenched heavily in rain and sea water (the screws are actually rusty as a result) - yet the camera kept going. Still today, I honestly believe it has one of the best autofocus systems Nikon has ever produced, the center point was sensitive to levels that still astonish me today, we seriously do live in the future.
A lot of the images that I shot during School made it into the school yearbook or website. I was never part of the yearbook club, but I was grateful that they used so many of my images over the years.
The personal stuff, screwing around, just trying things out. As you may have noticed, my good friend Keiran comes up often. He was a great sport, he always was willing try out ideas on a whim and would agree to be my subject. I still remember I how I wanted to photograph his portrait, I may have failed to mention the fact that I wanted him to dunk his head in water and spit out milk. Thanks Keiran.
It became clear to me that after years of photographing random things, school events, weddings and parties (can't forget gala ball photo booths) that I actually enjoyed photography a lot, even through the hardships. I knew it was hard work, nothing had come easy at that point. Assisting a local photographer through some events further confirmed this, but I loved every moment, I loved the rush and the new challenges of every job and shoot. I knew in my heart that Photography was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I decided that I would further study photography at a university level in hopes of understanding the craft further.
It needs to be noted, that all through High School I suffered from a mild depression. The sensation of waking up and feeling nothing was becoming common place. It was only the solace that I found behind a camera that gave me some warmth and meaning to the disappointment I faced from waking up every morning. When I left for University, my dream to further study and pursue photography became a living nightmare, I lived in denial of the institution I chose, further exacerbating my depression. The education I was receiving was piecemeal and presented by jaded people from the creative industry, I struggled with myself and struggled to complete school. I was too far in the degree not to complete it. I struggled to complete anything in life, school, personal projects and even relationships. The world around me simply crumbled, and I felt alone, I felt cold and I felt worthless and not valued.
If it weren't for the high quality individuals that I am honored to call my friends, I hardly doubt I could have made it as far as I have. Though these sentences may be seemingly filled with regret, I still am grateful for the experience that I went through. It has made me question whether I have made the right decisions, and I still stand to reaffirm that I would like to pursue this path. Through hardships, I have encountered brief moments of clarity that led to some excitement of the future.
So today, right now, where do I stand? Not too far away. Though my depression still comes in bouts, I now actively try to seek help with it. Though, I have gained a sense of learned helplessness, once willing to try challenging things, I am seemingly withering at them today.
Personally, the fact that I don't shoot as much as I used to, even for personal reasons, infuriates me as my visions lie rotting on the floor. It's a cycle, a cycle of apathy that feeds itself further with inaction that I struggle to break. I still struggle to finish what I started - I give up too easily, simply because I feel that I let everyone down, sometimes even before I try, leading to me not wanting to finish images, that's being actively fixed and progress is being made though slow.
The results of trying, when I actually finish something, is an oddly familiar aesthetic.The hint of a flare or the gentle light that can be achieved by holding a shoot through umbrella from up high, it's honestly starting to look more familiar. The speed and energy, the run and gun fashion, it's basically going full circle to the time I first started. Right now, what brings me forward in my work, as with many things including the support of those around me, is also the welcoming warmth of something familiar, hints of when I started this winding journey. I just need to learn to embrace it, and fear no more.
More tk.
To Sydney and Back (PT.2)
The second part to a long winded adventure. The day was simple and blank, open to whatever I'd like to do.
Sydney
Rondo and I both decided to explore Sydney, originally, Rondo was going to meet some other friends, but they were busy until the evening so we both explored, I was going to go alone, but more the merrier. I just wanted to just see the Opera House and Sydney Bridge, and just wander around.
Sydney Opera House, guess it ain't bad
I've been to Sydney before, and the opera house, but I was too young to remember any of it. Very elegant structure, and the bathrooms were nice, any place with decent bathrooms is awesome in my books.
Everyone's best friend
We hoped on a ferry to Watson Bay, I must mention, the Sydney ferries are awesome, best way to get around. The bar area around Watson Bay reminds me of a place called Stanley in Hong Kong, felt more like Europe than Australia, but for some reason I felt uncomfortable, it just felt a little too nice, almost fake. Luckily, all of that is forgotten once you get to the cliffs, where meandering boardwalks and paths bring you past some amazing vistas.
Watson Bay
Such...power *biting lips* - note the cool square rock errosion
So...inspiring, could be a motivational poster, needs some text
that's better
We went to Bondi Beach, this is when I found out im not a beach person, which is a pitty, it's a nice place. We went to Gelato Messina - very worth it.
That was sort of it, we continued back towards the city and wandered and ate stuff. We got back onto the train which brought us back straight to our airBnB place. I didn't really feel like taking pictures, it was nice to just chill.
Melbourne Express
We slept and we woke, the 9 hour journey back was ahead of us and we got an early start, we left just after 9 am after some breakfast.
The view for most of the way
We were both exhausted, and I felt bad that I couldn't help take over driving duties, I really need to fix that problem, but major props to Rondo for doing something so difficult, he's one of the strongest willed people I know.
Majestic...
the nigh slowly crawls in, we're nearing the Victorian border at this point
Upon our arrival to Melbourne, to our surprise, fireworks started appearing, I guess Melbourne was just happy to see us all again, definitely not related to the Whittlesea Garden annual culture show that was happening at the time.
Rondo dropped me off at where I was staying, and we parted our ways. He always joked that now he's qualified to be a truck driver now that he has done a Melbourne to Sydney leg in one day. It was a fun trip, and most of all, it was a good way to catch a break. Hopefully there will be more journeys to come.
More Tk
To Sydney and Back (PT.1)
A Roadtrip is Born
The story starts one week where my good friend Rondo suggested to take a trip to Sydney before the year got too busy. It was sporadic, but my mind was a little hazy at the time so I felt it was best to just go with it and get a change of scenery. My girlfriend was supposed to come originally, but her work scheduled her on the days we were set to be gone which was a huge a bummer, but unfortunately things like this happen.
A Roadtrip is Born
The story starts one week where my good friend Rondo suggested to take a trip to Sydney before the year got too busy. It was sporadic, but my mind was a little hazy at the time so I felt it was best to just go with it and get a change of scenery. My girlfriend was supposed to come originally, but her work scheduled her on the days we were set to be gone which was a huge a bummer, but unfortunately things like this happen.
Onwards to Canberra (Day 1)
Our trip started in Melbourne, where we drove (by we, I mean Rondo, as I don't have a license in Australia) to Canberra, from there we would go up to and stay a night in Goldburn (just an hour away and cheaper). We'd make a push to Sydney the next day, then stay in Sydney a day, finally push back to Melbourne in one day.
Somewhere around Albury, spirits still high, Perfume (band) playing on the stereo.
Rondo's cousin very generously lent his fuel canister, it saved us from fuel anxiety, we just filled up at rest stops, it saved some time and allowed us to go at our own pace without constantly calculating range and checking for the next service station.
Rondo wanted to go to a place called "Shepherds lookout" in northern Canberra. He wanted to be there for twilight, but we were a hair too late. I was surprised to how beautiful it was, I wasn't expecting much, but I was taken aback by the rolling hills and the deep valley before us. There was a viewing platform that extended just beyond a cliff, a sense of vertigo and awe overcame me. As said, pictures simply do not do it justice, it's actually worth a second visit, which I hope to do one day.
Shepherds lookout in Canberra
Rondo getting some sky plates for his library
Bushfires
It's a ~15 minute walk from the viewing platform to the carpark, while we were making our way back, we heard a loud "POP", both of us didn't think much of it. We noticed there was a small fire brewing, we both thought it was the neighbouring farmer burning off something . When we reached the car and got in, the road ahead was glowing red, this is when it became apparent to the both of us that this was actually a bush fire. We quickly went to go investigate and I prepared to call the fire department, we were met with a field that was on fire. Rondo parked his car up wind, just as I was preparing to dial, a firetruck arrived - phew, someone had called ahead.
We talked to the Captain and told him around the time we heard the pop, he thanked us for calling in the fire even though we didn't, but it was not a time to explain so we both just played it down, he was calm and thanked us, we headed our own way and let them do their jobs.
We arrived exhausted in Goldburn nearly around midnight.
Canberra (Day 2)
Another day came, and we made our way to Canberra again, we made our way to the top of Mount Ainslie. It was a very unspectacular morning, with plenty of fog and low clouds. We rolled on down into the city, this time we scheduled a few hours to look around. What caught me most was just how few people were walking in the city. I get it, Australia is huge, you need a car to get around, but seriously, no one at bus stops, no one walking on the sidewalks, everyone was in a car or a bus. Even the vast bike lanes remained empty, it wasn't until we went to lunch that we actually saw more than two people outside of a vehicle. Maybe the morning was too gloomy for people to be outside.
Obligatory image from the top of Mount Ainslie
Parliament House, I guess it ain't bad
We took a look through Parliament House, bit touristy we know, but we came this far, it'd be a waste not to go see the legendary molehill. It was very enjoyable, and I was surprised how open to the public it was, in Hong Kong you're not allowed into the Government buildings except for open days, we could go right into the chambers of the Senate and House or Representatives without any hassle.
Pretty much exactly like on TV, speaking of TV, notice the cameras coming out the walls.
The rest of the journey was uneventful until Sydney, we arrived just before 6pm. I'll write that in the next post by clicking here.
More TK..