Introduction to the Hasselblad camera

This workshop is designed to give you practice using the Hasselblad MF cameras and the Phocus software, as well as to further develop your studio lighting skills.

Your client is a progressive professional company who has made their fortune based on the product you have selected, and they expect to soon become a major player in their field by implementing innovative practices and exhibiting expertise in their field. A company that thinks outside the square.

They require a number of portraits of their senior staff that project the desired image of a competent leader of an innovative company. Attributes such as flair, creativity and uniqueness, but also competency, ability and trust.

One of the portraits must also feature the product that lead their rise to success.

The images will be used in a Time Magazine article about the rise of the company to their current position in the industry, and their hopes for the future.

Task/Procedure

1. You are required to work in groups of two or three (No more).

2. You need to photograph the CEO and one other senior staff member (eg the inventor of the product, the chief financial officer, vice president etc)

3. You need to take TWO (2) different portraits as specified below :-

o One full length (or near full length) portrait,

o One close up / head & shoulders portrait.

· One must be in portrait format for the cover of the magazine, with space for the title banner at the top, and

· One portrait must be in landscape format for the double page title spread (with space for the title of the article).

· One portrait must also feature the product you have selected.

4. You may not leave anything set-up for another group, all sets are to be fully dismantled and everything returned to the store or prop room.

5. The shoot must be completed, the studio packed up, and the 2 images for your group submitted to the specified dropbox for a group discussion at the end of the classtime.

After completing these instructions these were the final portraits:

CEO of OLAY
Cover Magazine

Vice President of OLAY
Double Page

Vice President Lighting Set-Up

The lighting set-up for the Vice-President was on a black background, with a pinkish-purple colour hanging over the back light. With two reflectors one was for shading the right side of her face and one to lessen the main light and bring out more colour for the background.

CEO Lighting Set-Up

Similar set-up to before but this was on a white background with the colour pink reflecting onto the white backdrop bringing out a bright vibrant colour. Also with two reflectors one for reflecting the light onto the other side of the models face and one to separate the two lights.

Critique:

The cover photograph brings out positivity and energy because of the way the model is positioned and how clear and soft her skin is looking. Targeting the audience to try the product. The model takes up most of the cover with room left for a title which can be above head or around.

The double page photograph has left plenty of room for the seam going down with the model on the left hand side showing the Vice-president and her skin holding the product which is on the right hand side saying this is her product and this is all it takes to have beautiful soft skin. A bottle of Olay.

All student's in the group took turns in using the Hasselblads and Phocus software learning about these amazing camera's and creating these photographs.