1.1 Trying Reportage

These images are from a few years ago when I was playing around with a reportage theme and B&W. I've included them to demonstrate the various approaches;

'The Decisive Moment'

Man in Chair (Utoxetter Races) - I'd seen him move towards the track and wanted that rear image.


Burton Bike Man - I waited about an hour for a cyclist to come past (on the right type of bike) and to capture Drakelow towers that seemed to dominate the town.


Paddy - I waited to create the idea that Paddy wasn't seeing the world and the world wasn't seeing him (except for the child). Knowing a child would do this I waited with Paddy for some time to capture the moment - pity I got the shutter speed all wrong.



'Contrast'

'The Man on The Bench' (Bath) - and I wanted to contrast with seemingly oblivious people.



'Opportunistic'

The Cyclists at Leek (they woke up a few moments later and where from Canada, touring the UK by bike!).


Stapenhill Boy


Priests


'Bubbles in Bath' (taken in Bath) - I like that combination.


'Posed'

Beauty - A posed image this time, Ben was selling the Big Issue and posed for this one. I love the juxtaposition of his own vanity (piercings , tattoos, chains and that of the Body Shop.

Product Shoot - The Final 10

Here's the final 10 images. Firstly they are presented as a slide show - with a rather nostalgic TV 'skin'. This would be backed up with the theme tune to Match of The Day c1977. This enhances the nostalgic feel (remember the purpose of the images is to support marketing / promotion of the Toy Museum at Barton Marina).

This slide show will be embedded in to a dedicated web page to enable the audio visual presentation to have full impact.

The most likely use for these images is on the client's web site (Link) and within a promotional leaflet/flyer, so the size here will give a reasonable feel for how they would look (similar size/scale). Printing them to glossy paper - consistent with leaflets would also help the client to evaluate which images he prefers (he is a he - he is Steve). 

Other options include a book, posters and a prmotional 'pull up' stand. The client is considering the latter, however, it's cost prohibitive in terms meeting the C&G criteria, as is the book. The posters are a possibility but would require some additional information from the Museum and agreement on fonts etc. - not achievable in the remaining time scales.


Finally they could be presented as mounted or printed images. As they will not be used by the client in this format I believe that presenting them in a close a format to their final use is the best option.

They now follow as a straightforward set of images - no particular order simply provided for ease of assessment.

Potrait Shoot - The Final 10 Images

The images are presented in sequential order order so that they support the story of moving from completely traditional dress and culture, with all of its implied limitations of liberty to business dress and its associated implied messages of liberation of womanhood. The composite images at the end support the messages for the marketing campaign - that Women in Business supports every aspect of 'you'. Later campaigns may focus on other aspects of duality such as the woman as parent and business woman. Proposed Marketing messages appear under some of the images.

The images will actually be presented to the client in 'Slide show' format both on a laptop and via a dedicated web page. This allows the story to unfold in a controlled, rather than random selection, way. M People's 'Search For The Hero' Inside Yourself' will be used as a soundtrack. Whilst the theme used for many a corporate event its message aligns perfectly with this approach. A slide show follows at the end of this storyboard.


I had considered a brochure / pamphlet approach as a single presentation method, however, I believe that it would lack the emotion that can be created by the combination of an audio / visual Presentation. Recognising that this is now a selling process and that some people are kinesthetic (touchy feely) then the combination of the slide show and pamphlet I believe would optimise the presentation.


For the reasons mentioned previously this option was discounted. Whilst possibly meeting kinesthetic needs, having only one set limits who can touch them and when. Equally people tend to be careful with printed/mounted images and do not fully engage in a kinesthetic process. Multiple pamphlets overcome all of these issues. Pamphlets also have the benefit of presenting the images in a format that they are likely to be used - in business journals.


A mock up of a 'hypothetical' business journal with the images placed as adverts would support the presentation. The eye naturally falls to the right hand page (which is why adverts cost more for those pages) and this is where the images would be placed. This approach runs the risk of not having sufficient knowledge of marketing and overstepping the boundary. For this reason I will withhold taking it but suggest it as next step for the client.

In this shot I love the subtle reflections on the models skin they pull you in. The lower dress is deliberately in shadow so that is supports the 'full traditional dress' image but does not take our eyes away from the model.

In all of the images the light on the skin brings out the facial expressions along with texture/shape (look at the elbow) whilst also maintaining a smoothness consistent with images of females. As the images support 'Women In Business' it is important (as the shots progress) that the element of 'Woman' is retained, especially as the dress code changes to business suit which is more associated with the 'business man'.

 












Here the light has been used to focus as much on the traditional dress as the model. The pose allows the deepness of colour to move through the almost transparent section before revealing the layers and giving us a signpost to how that rich deep red of the dress is achieved.  This focus on the dress helps to tell the early story of 'traditional woman' before migration to 'business woman'. I love the skin tones and highlights in the hair, giving it texture and shape.

 










This final shot in the traditional sequence hints at hidden feminine charms. An alluring pose meanwhile the jewelery has been used to both reinforce the traditional but also suggests an existing element of richness. This subtly helps the transition to be more believable (had the initial images been of a model in rags then the storyboard would become more aspirational than reality).

The lighting really has worked for me here. Beautiful highlights on the face draw us to the models eyes. A nice reflection on the edge of the Blackberry brings the business technology subtly in to the image. The red pocket kerchief links us back to the traditional dress. The blouse is white but not washed out and there are blacks in the hair with highlights that give texture. The formal expression helps the transition through to some of the more expressive shots that follow.







The contrast here really helps to bring the image to life and give it depth. The maximum depth of the subject is c14 inches (too big a number in cm for a lady) with an 'infinite' background (is it near is it far?). There's nice texture and shadows in the sleeve and blouse that all support the effect of depth to the images. The thoughtful expression says the model is actually engaged in conversation (and mentally she was, we created a scenario for her to rerun in her head) the assertive hand gesture adds power to the model's 'business woman' position.

 
Here I moved the model to the right of the light (light now at 235 degrees) because I wanted to bring in the lines of the prop and create that contrast on the two sides to give depth. The shadows really help for depth. Again the light falls nicely across the face and help to give a softness that supports the expressions - we know that this is a business woman, that's she's serious (dress code, phone, body language) however the facial expression stops this from being too formal. There are blacks where I want blacks (jacket beneath the arm) it doesn't distract - no texture or lines to lead our eye away. The prop was used to suggest the idea of standing against a statue, or at the foot of a pillar, outside of a grandiose building such a crown court or big city bank. Yet there are no distractions from them.


I'd tried different poses with this prop. The original idea was to use the prop to suggest 'lectern' which in turn suggest 'platform/stage' giving the model importance and power in the absence of the reality of such things. Symbolism. When reviewing the shots it was this image that really struck me. There's great depth, great contrast, great highlights, great texture. 

The hunkered down, arms folded, pose could suggest defensiveness and insecurity. The models direct eye contact gives the assertiveness, the absence of a smile say thoughtfulness. 
The eyes have it. There are contrasting concentric circles at play here that pull us to where we need to be. The outside circle combines the background and lectern. Then there's the completely contrasting clothes and dark hair. then the skin and finally the eyes. That's how we end up there and that's probably why it works.

The Composite Shots
In each of the following shots the traditional model supports the business model, by being placed in the background (using photoshop). The message is that both these people are you. We all have different aspects to our person. Thus we can all be something else, we can be what we want to be (yet not in a delusional way). We can combine various aspects of our self. Thus it is not be one or the other, but combine them both, be who you are when you are.


I'm trusting that the working strap lines for these composites tell there own story and explain their inclusion in this final selection. The comments made previously on composition and lighting apply here to.


Bring Yourself To Work

 









You're Always On Our Mind

    












We're Always Here For You

Client Slide Show