Photo of a Medal: Please help design the scene

[Mike Buckley]

I have been doing volunteer photography for the local office of the American Heart Association and have been asked to photograph the medal that will be given to all participants in their upcoming 30th annual Lawyers Have Heart Race, Run & Walk. Designing a scene is the most difficult part of studio photography for me. So, I would appreciate any ideas, especially design ideas, about how to improve upon the practice image shown below using a medal from the event that took place three years ago.

EDIT: A second photo made using a completely different concept suggested by a couple of people was added much later in the thread.

Setup
The tabletop and background are a single sheet of beige art paper. A small continuous-light lamp positioned above and to the right front of the medal is fitted with yellow and salmon gels intentionally misaligned to produce tonal variety.

Lighting metal subjects can be tricky. In this case I had three primary choices:

• lighting prominent parts such as the hearts and shoes brightly and other parts darkly;
• lighting prominent parts darkly and other parts brightly; or
• lighting prominent parts in mid tones and leaving the brightest and darkest parts to other areas of the medal.

After trying all three options, I went with the last one.

[rpcrowe]

Perhaps it might be best to surround the medal with something that relates to winning the medal. As an example, here is Sara who was the first female Maltese Master Agility Champion.



The dog, the ribbon and the PVC hurdle bar all relate to gaining that championship. The bar is signed by all the participants in that day's meet. It was a bonus that Sara's collar goes well with the ribbon's color. That was not planned, just luck!

Since I shot this as a portrait of Sara, not a portrait of the ribbon, I did not worry about not being able to read the writing on the ribbon...

[Mike Buckley]

Perhaps it might be best to surround the medal with something that relates to winning the medal.

The medals are given to all the runners, so I would need to include runners or runners' paraphernalia, such as shoes. Shoes might work. You've given me something to think about. Thanks!

Since I shot this as a portrait of Sara, not a portrait of the ribbon

Understandable. I need to keep this image a portrait of the medal.

[Barbara Ponder]

What about putting the medal on the scales of justice? It of course represents the lawyers.

[Mike Buckley]

I don't have any scales of justice but you did give me the idea of draping the medal over a briefcase, especially if the 2015 logo includes a briefcase. Thanks, Barbara!

[Barbara Ponder]

I don't have any scales of justice but you did give me the idea of draping the medal over a briefcase, especially if the 2015 logo includes a briefcase. Thanks, Barbara!

Ha, briefcase was my next suggestion! Dad was an attorney before becoming a Judge.

[Rebel]

The medals are given to all the runners, so I would need to include runners or runners' paraphernalia, such as shoes. Shoes might work. You've given me something to think about. Thanks!



Understandable. I need to keep this image a portrait of the medal.

Including some 'worn' running shoes I think might work really well.

[Mike Buckley]

Now that you mention it, Matt, I think the shoes should either be practically brand new or well worn.

[Rebel]

Now that you mention it, Matt, I think the shoes should either be practically brand new or well worn.

Well worn would be my preference.

To me it would be symbolic/metaphoric of an old 'worn out' heart. The contrast of that next to a shiny new medal might work well?

[Mike Buckley]

an old 'worn out' heart.

Considering that the American Heart Association promotes heart healthiness, anything reminding viewers of an old, worn out heart probably wouldn't work.

[Rebel]

I didn't explain myself very well in that one.

Its 5.30am here I'll come back after breakfast

[IzzieK]

A lighter image of runners behind the medal with briefcase of course...or not.

[Kaye Leggett]

Are you allowed a humorous touch ?

[TonyW]

I like the idea of a briefcase. But how about hanging it on the upper part of somebody's chest over a tee shirt that does not reveal the gender.

The original image shows embossing of the medal nicely but I would prefer it straight on and the shadow worries me.

[chauncey]

I might go for a drama shot...use one side light and incrementally move it around the medal
while taking a shot each time you move the light then, take all the images and blend the
different conditions, kinda like light painting.

[Wavelength]

Beauty

[Mike Buckley]

Are you allowed a humorous touch ?

Probably not for this situation. What did you have in mind?

[Mike Buckley]

But how about hanging it on the upper part of somebody's chest over a tee shirt that does not reveal the gender.

If I were to do that, I would probably use the tee-shirt given to all of the runners. I haven't seen the shirt yet and don't know if the medal and shirt will work well together. If the shirt is donated by a company that competes with the company that donates the medal (Deloitte), that might not work for the intended purpose.

The original image shows embossing of the medal nicely but I would prefer it straight on and the shadow worries me.

Naturally, I could have shot the medal straight on but preferred to show it more in a three-dimensional fashion. I included the shadow to add an element of drama to the scene. Can you articulate why you don't like those two elements?

[Mike Buckley]

I might go for a drama shot...use one side light and incrementally move it around the medal
while taking a shot each time you move the light then, take all the images and blend the
different conditions, kinda like light painting.

Never thought of that but I don't know what I would be aiming for. If you have an example, I'd like to see it.

[Mike Buckley]

A lighter image of runners behind the medal with briefcase of course...or not.

I wouldn't be able to make that happen with the briefcase but I do have an image of nothing but the legs of runners from a previous event that might work. I hadn't thought of that concept and will give it some thought. Thanks!

EDIT: Nope, the image I have won't work. I might be able to get one at the upcoming event that will work.