No, I hadn’t heard of it either…
A highly commended local photographer, Angela Adams, runs workshops for camera clubs. We had used her before to run workshops to help us improve our photography. For this month’s workshop Angela suggested we use Steam Punk models. The original models she booked backed out, so she managed to get these two excellent models: Rebecca Sharpe (on the left) and Carly (aka Raevan Wednesday Rose, on the right) at short notice.
I found that with ‘standard’ processing, the images looked a bit flat, lacking punch, as can be seen below:
I found that whacking up the contrast to extreme levels gave a punchier photo – I much prefer the first version to the second.
For this setup, we had two (budget level) studio flash heads providing the main lighting with the background illuminated by coloured gels on 2 old hammer-head flashguns with home-made barn doors. This picture with the two models was taken towards the end of the session when we had the smoke machine provide some misty effects in the background, although we had to waft away the smoke in front of the models.
At the start of the session, I was with one group of members photographing Carly on her own:
Again, I have pushed the contrast to extremes but it does suit the subject.
Rebecca was at a second set with a whitish background. This was a quick shot before the set was dismantled. As the photo was taken from the floor pointing up the background ran out showing the wall and ceiling above it; so I had to do a bit of work patching this up. Again, quite contrasty but not as extreme as the one above.
And a second one of Rebecca:
I like the contrast, colour and the way Rebecca is smiling in this photo.
Finally I tried some different processing:
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Angela for an excellent workshop: Workshops are run by Angela Adams Photography Ltd www.clickdp.co.uk
And thanks to our two models:
Raevan Wednesday Rose (Carly)
https://www.facebook.com/RaevanRosePhotoshootArchives and https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Raevan-Rose-Emporium/169629769855948
and Rebecca Sharpe