Pretask - An Apple a Day

In this task, I was looking at different ways of photographing an apple using various techniques and locations. I was also focusing at using different lighting sources such as natural and artificial. Also considered photographing the apple from various angles and getting various types of shots like close ups. Here are my contacts from my shoot:

I believe this shoot went down well. I got various shots where I've demonstrated using different techniques, locations and lighting. In some shots, I've used white paper to use as a reflector to see if it makes a difference in throwing back light to shadow areas. I've also used the light box to light up my apple and captured some shots in various aspects. I've tried different locations to make my images a little more interesting. Here are my best images:

Original (Cropped)

Cleaned Up Version

Colour splash

These sets of images are my favourites. I placed the apple in the middle of a zebra crossing and captured a standard shot quite far back. Then I decided to crop the image so it looks wide angled, almost like a panoramic image. After that, I done a cleaned up version and a colour splash edition following up from last year. The reason I liked this image was because of the lines. They lead you in the image and the red apple just stands out in the middle making it the main focus. I like how the colours are quite minimalistic so red being the most dominant colour, it does attract the viewer.

Before | After

In this image, I've placed the apple on some soil and thought it fitted with the location. The original picture was quite exposed and I was intending that effect because of the shine on the apple. However, the soil was too bright for my liking so I decided to edit it on Photoshop. After playing with the levels,, brightness and the contrast, I managed to get the shine and the right exposure on the image. I went for the bolder and darker look because it suits how I imagine the shot. I also touched on the saturation and made it slightly muted so that it adds a nice effect to the image overall.

Reflection

I used a technique of capturing this reflection of an apple. In order to capture this image, I had to think of ways to get the reflection to stand out. So then I came up with an idea and placed the apple on the scanner and used my phone flash to light up the top which you can see. Then capture the reflection on the glass. I like how fuzzy the reflection looks which gives it a cool effect. On the bottom bits, you can see the curved shadow which forms the shape, which is ideally telling us it's an apple. The colours are also a mix of green and red which does stand out.

Apple and Leaf

In this image, I was trying to wet the apple and capture some water drops from the apple. However, the water would slip off and would not look wet. So I decided to place some water on this huge leaf and place the apple on top. You can see some water under the apple appearing as it starts to sink to the ground. If you look closely, the bricks are quite below than the apple. If you look at the leaf stem, that is completely under water whereas the apple is just touching the water.

On grass

This is a pretty simple image, I've captured the apple on grass and decided to edit this on Photoshop. This is where I've lowered the contrast and then played with the layers. I've then rotated the image because it gives it more of an abstract feel. I like how all the grass is sticking out this way because of the angle it's been shot at. I think the lighting on the apple looks great because there is a shadow on top and it's brighter towards the stem which gives it a nice perspective. The colours are pale and earthy and the red contrasts from the green and the dark shadows in between the grass.

Light box shot

This image was taken from a light box and was captured at a birds eye view. I think this perspective of the apple is different from my other images. There is no lead to the shape of the apple and it focuses strictly on the top. I like the lighting around the apple, the lighting from the light box gives it this glow effect. The exposure on the image was bang on at 0 and you can see the background colour to be nicely white like it's been taken in the studio.

'Biting the apple'

Here's an image of my model biting into an apple. There is a small use of depth of field used with the background slightly out of focus. This enhances the focus on the apple. It was taken near a tree beside the road. I think the green elements in the background really brings out the contrast with the red apple. The focus on the apple makes it look slightly sharp and you can see the details vividly.

Light box 2

This is another image taken at a light box. It's been shot at a different angle and position than previously. You can see the glow effect on the apple along the bottom which does denote that lighting can make a change to the apple. There is also a shadow among the top where there isn't much light. I think the contrast between the bright and the dark does make this apple really dominant.

Playing with flash

I like how the lighting in this image turned out. I put this apple on the inside of my jacket which was a silk material. Then I used a flash to light up one side without getting it go over to the other side. In order to get this shadow effect for one half. I like how some light hit the tip of the stem which just gives it a little more depth that it's an apple. The white bits on the edge is so bright that it contrasts with the silk under. This gives us form of the shape.

Additional Images:

Here are some contact prints for some additional images. The outcome of these images were to capture some splashes from our apples and to just bring some camera techniques to the task.

This experiment was a mixed review. As you can see, the room had dark lighting so the ISO was set quite high therefore some of the images weren't the best quality. The first sets of images were extremely dark and the shutter speed on the camera wasn't fast enough. So once finding a suitable camera, I did manage to get some nice, decent shots eventually at the end. 

Properties

Here is the property of one of the shots. The ISO was set to 6400 which explains the grainy look on the images. The shutter speed was set to 1/1000 sec for that continuous fast shot. There was no flash used so instead, we used f/5.6 which meant it's a big aperture letting as much light it can get through with that exposure time. Here are some of the images:

Splash

Here's a good example from the shoot. I like the details that really stand out with the water. The only adjustments I made on Photoshop was increasing the brightness and played with the contrast and levels to make it look better. You can see the water on the apple being captured, making the apple look glossy/shiny. It looks like the apple is glowing. Along the bottom of the apple, I like how the water splash looks. It looks very abstract because of the fast shutter speed.

'Half Floating'

This image shows the apple was captured after being thrown in. I like how half of the apple is under water and you can see half floating. You can tell the apple is wet and we get this nice gloss effect again. In this image, the colour of the apple is a lot darker than the previous one. I like how you can see the water bubbles in this image. It has a calmer feel to it compared to the thrown action shot above.

I have made this collection of images that show each step of the apple being dunked in this bowl. This technique was from the diptych we've done last year. I like how each frame shows each stage and you see it sinking through to then floating. The colour of the apple makes it more interesting because it starts of with blood red and then turns over when it starts to float. I like how the water in the last image also is leaning towards one side emphasising on the force from the apple when it was thrown in. You also see how it goes from splash to waves.