Exercise: Thinking about location

For this exercise I need to find six different locations and having photographed them I need to choose one and then go back with a model.  I am doing this slightly differently in that I am taking my model out and about with me.
I still plan to take the original photograph before adding the model to the scene. I will then make my choice of location with model hen I have seen all six photographs together. I have chosen to do it this way as I have a rare few days off with my husband and we may not go back to the same spot again for quite a while.

Location one

It was a long walk and loads of steps to get down to the sea front but I had the idea of having my husband looking out to sea as if searching the horizon for something. The top photograph was actually taken on the way back to the car.  I took this second shot as when I reached the sea front originally I wasn't quite so happy with the first view it seemed a bit bland, however by turning my husband to face the other way I could frame him within the coastline.


Location two

Although this was in the same place as location one I decided to make use of a row of brand new beach huts that was in the process of being completed.  I took this view rather than the standard one as I though it almost looks like a tunnel, I though that by adding my model to the picture it would give me a slightly edgy feel almost like a 60's  print, but not as bright.

Location three

This time its marshland as the backdrop, I liked the water through the top part of the image and the wind turbines just visible in the back ground. I  increased the vibrancy very slightly on this shot just to even the colour out very slightly.

Location four

This one is in my own garden, I love this area and I would really like to replace the wooden bench with a traditional deckchair and take the photograph, but unfortunately I don't have one, however I do think the bench works well in its own right.

Location five

A working desk, this is actually my desk but I thought it might work as a location however even though I used the natural light from the large window and the tones are even its too flat somehow and not inspiring enough to sit a model at, I won't be using this one.

Location six

I briefly considered using my home studio to take a portrait, I added the stool as I didn't want to show just a black back drop , I could have photographed the area also showing the lights I use but as I don't think this location will work for this exercise either I will leave that for a different exercise.


Having reviewed each of my locations it was time to make a choice, and I finally settled for location Three. 

I chose this one as I felt it had a nice blend of tones and colours, I also varied the view point slightly as when I went to position my model, there was a ditch where he would have needed to stand, I therefore made use of a gate slightly further along. The pose of the model is in keeping with the natural feel of the photograph.  The camera settings for this photograph were F10 shutter speed 1 /320s.  I used elements for the processing adjusting the shadows and vibrancy settings slightly before using the unsharp mask.  I also liked the light on this photograph and the way the shadows from the gate fall across the gate post.