Email template

Below is the template that I will be emailing out to all the schools to try and find models for mmy project, I will change the wording slightly for each of the different types of models such as for the ice skaters ect so that it does make sense to each party i email it out to. I have tried to keep it too the point but sound approcable at the same time, fingers crossed I get a few takers! 

"Dear……….

My name is Sian Walton, I am currently a photography student at reading college doing my Final Major project. I have chosen to do my project on the strength and grace of the female body and I would like to use dancers as my models, particularly ballet dancers. I am writing to ask you if any of your students or teachers would be willing to take part in my project.

Models would need to be over 18 and be willing to take part in more than one shoot over the coming week if necessary and I am happy to offer them a selection of prints for their participation and I would also like to include a selection of digital files for the school to use on your website and advisement for helping me with my work.

Please feel free to email me back with any questions that you might have.

Thank you for your help and I hope to hear from you very soon,

Yours sincerely

Sian Walton"

Shoot 1 Plan: Basic capturing movement

For this first shoot I am going to create and freeze movement. To do this I am going to use a flash kit for lighting, a basic black backdrop to help create contrast and a ball for the prop to keep it simple.

Kit needed:

Black backdrop
Flash lighting kit
Softbox
Lightmeter
Tripod
Digital camera
Ball

Shoot 2 plan

Key light - softbox at just above head height - in line with model
White backdrop - to see a different look to the first shoot and help reveal movement 

Needed:

White backdrop
flash kit (single light)
soft box 
light meter
tripod 
d3100 

Shoot 2 plan update

Due to models availability I can't do this second shoot in the college studio so Im changing things up a little bit, I'm going to use a material background on my backdrop stand and an umbrella with tungsten lighting.

Shoot 3 planning

Shot 4 plan

Backlight - dish and poli bored in front)

Key light - softbox (keep low, you want the back/top light to have the priority)

black backdrop

shoot low so if jumping she wont have to jump as high plus it will give the feeling that the model is strong and dominant

Needed:

Black backdrop

flash kit 

soft box  

dish

light meter

tripod x2

d3100 x2 (to film)

wireless remote

pass, merit and distiction criteria

I have sat down and taken the time to really break down the grading criteria so that I can easily look and understand what I need to do to achieve each level, this will really help me make my project more effective and efficient as I won't have to try and figure out what each criteria meen every single time i look at it, i can just get on with my work!

Pass

P1 - Project proposal ✓

P2 - Look for historical ✓ (pre 2000's) cultural (anything not english) contemporary ✓ (the newer photographers) research

P3 - Apply appropriate references ✓ - anything to do with your project, look at something then use it in your work

P4 - Evaluation of the work you do as you go along, how effecting has your fmp been? what worked what didn't how would you redo it ✓

P5 - Identify and follow up issues, responses and dilemmas - within shoots, with the project not the day to day. ✓

P6 - reflect on exploratory and pathway - 500 word essay at the end ✓

P7 - propose alternative resolutions - plan b, what do you do if plan a goes wrong all the way down to making sure you have a spare battery  ✓

P8 - exhibit ✓

P9 - reflect on proposals and realisation - reflective journal ✓

Merit

M1 - to look at someone elses work and take it further ✓ - in depth research and connecting it to your work ✓

M2 - attention to detail, lighting diagrams planning - a good sketchbook ✓

M3 - a tone of work, alot of shoots, between 2-3 shoots per project week ✓

M4 - useful reflection - honestly - reflecting on your work if its worked or not, admitting the problems to yourself and not winging and finding a plan to solve them ✓

M5 - written feedback and reacting to that feedback - crit ✓ and extra crit ✓

Distinction 

D1 - how do you know this project is about me, taking other work and taking it further, talk about mistakes and saying it works, write up about your shoots in your sketchbook (how) then reflect on them in your journal (why), this is my project - im choosing to do this - why am i choosing this - why did it work ✓

D2 - get on with it without being told, do it on your on, get creative and experiment imaginatively (moving lighting ect) ✓

D3 - can you shoot it properly and professionally, perfection on the photos and mounting ✓

D4 - reflecting, not just rambling and actually making sense, that you understand yourself and your work (shooting commercial then changing to fine art, reflect on why)   self critical judgment, identify where you fmp has gone well and what you would do in the future, actually have to say what it is, it this project where to carry on where could you see it going? ✓

D5 - get of your butt gear and do it, asking for people to evaluation your work, opposing opinions, should it be going in this direction or in another direction, understand the other persons opinion and explain why you don't agree (organize your own crit and write it up and what you learnt from it, what it does for your project) you can have one with yourself ✓

Plan
Think
Shoot
Reflext
Prove it 

Shoot 7 plan

Backlight - Honey comb (with coloured gels)
Key light - Snoot to light model (keep above head height to give a spotlight effect and to NOT light the backdrop!) 
keep around 1/8 - 1/4 power for a faster flash to freeze movement
White backdrop with black material on the back
Shoot low (If jumping she won't have to jump as high plus it will give the feeling that the model is strong and dominant)


Needed:

White backdrop
Black material
flash kit (2 lights)
Snoot
Honey comb
light meter
DSLR Camera

Baby powder
towel
dressing gown 
hair brush
makeup brush

Exhibition arrangement

So now that I have been given my space for showing my work and my prints have got back from the printers I have a bit of a problem the end right one in my final arrangement is too dark by the feet and it has thrown the balance of the image completely off (I have edited the image below using the burn tool in photoshop to show how I have received the print) Also looking at my prints I feel that one of the images that my tutor advised me to take out of the series is actually stronger than the end right image now so I am considering swapping this one out for another. 

I have created a template in photoshop using a quick photo I took of my space so that I can more accurately see how the images could be arranged. 

I opened the original photo of the studio spot i had (I had placed paper the size of the prints on the wall before so that it would make it easier for me to size correctly)

I then "placed" one of my finals into the image.

After that I used the perspective tool to adjust the image to a more realistic (This tool is really handy, all you have to do is move the corner markie and it automatically stretches or compresses evenly on both sides)

This is after I used the perspective tool, it is now in a more realistic position and shape.

To finish I used the free transform tool to compress the image sideways so that it really looks realistic

Finally I repeated the process for each of the images to create the set.

Here is the final 3 possible arrangements