Project 52: Self-Destruction!

[allenlennon]

Happy New Year! This year i decided i need to use my camera more, so i have Embarked on a photo challange for the year, and it is called:

Project 52: Self-Destruction!

So, a project 52(for those who might not know) is a weekly challenge where i will post a photo a week dedicated to this challenge. And of course, its selfies! So since it is the First day of 2015, i will have to set up, shoot and edit a photo, and then upload it sometime between Thursday-Wednesday.

If i were to fail at uploading, i am thinking of some kind of punishment, where i will have to do something like 2-3 photos the following week or something along those lines, and i hope i will keep it up!!!

And here is the first installment, nothing fancy. I have set up a mini studio in the shed, but wish i had more room! Especially since i am awaiting my studio lighting kit!



I have learnt a lot from this shoot, and if i were to do this shot again, i would use something smaller then the chair to prop it up.

And here is a small before and after shot, and you can see how small my makeshift studio is!



And a quick and dirty shot of the set up!



See ya next week! (hopefully)

[Shadowman]

Nice start to your challenge. Nicely captured.

[allenlennon]

Thanks champ

[Loose Canon]

Allen, if anyone can pull this idea off it would be you!

You need a shadow under the back of the chair along with under the leg/feet and seat of the chair.

Hopefully you won't fully self-destruct before the 52 weeks are up!

[allenlennon]

Haha thanks terry. Forgot to add the back shadow. Another lesson learnt

[Loose Canon]

Forgot to mention that I think its cool that you added your set-up shots!

A lot of times I find those as fascinating as the final image.

I appreciate that Allen!

[FrankMi]

Great idea Allen.

If we are going to learn from one another and be encouraged to try something different, the 'How To' not only adds interest to the posting but can be quite informative as well! Thank you for posting the set-up shots!

[allenlennon]

Cheers guys.

[Loose Canon]

Does that player piano work?

[allenlennon]

The player piano no. But the others needs a tuning.

[FootLoose]

I hope you find ways to self-destruct safely, Allen.

[IzzieK]

Allen very good shot really sans the shadow ... self destruct theme of 52 weeks will be a little bit too much. You might implode before the half of the year and be traumatized by the experience you wouldn't want to pick up your camera anymore...I too appreciate your creativity and your uploading your set up too...

[allenlennon]

Thank you izzie. Due to the response about the set up shots I will add them to everyone

[bnnrcn]

Hi Allen , thanks for sharing the set up shots. It is a nice image and I didn't notice that you didn't add the shadows , so I learnt the lesson too

[purplehaze]

Delightful image, Allan; I'm greatly looking forward to more. I confess I didn't notice the shadow that was missing, but I did notice the one that was there and that it was soft. I can guess why you might have softened it, given the jaggedness of the original, but am wondering whether in future you wouldn't pull those sheets taut and go for a harder shadow? Just curious.

[allenlennon]

Didn't think of harder shadows. Thank you. Something to think avouy

[mknittle]

Great idea Allen, I too like the setup shots. Looks like fun

[Kaye Leggett]

Wow - its a tough challenge, but off to a good start

[Mark von Kanel]

nice boots

[allenlennon]

Project 52: Self-Destruction - P2

Ok, some reason i feel Thursdays are the deadlines for this project, hmm.

I am not happy with it, i really need to up my skills in this type of editing, the selections were ok, i dont think i planned the angle right for the photo studio on the bench. The lighting, oh my god! First time using the proper studio strobes, man are they different from using flashes! But all in all, considering i started to take the images at 1 am this morning, and didnt finish till about 2.30, didnt do all that bad i guess, only can improve from here, i hope.

And i also learnt that i am one day going to ditch the cloth background, way to much work to try to get it flat on the ground, and if you look at my legs and the legs of the lights, you can see how much harder it was on me, so i will be getting a few big pieces of boards and painting them white for the ground, make it easier!

And i apologies, there isnt a set up shot for this one, i completely forgot. But the lighting set up was as you see in the photo for all photos of myself, i did photograph the separate light stands with their lights attached to put into photoshop.

I think i will try to do a simpler one shot photo for a while, like my last week edition. Oh well. Thanks for looking!