I threw out this set the other day. It wasn’t ever built to last or be shown outside of the completed photograph. The clay had continued to crack away from the board, and I want to be able to use the figure again in the future, so I chipped her free and threw out the rest.
To commemorate the set and just as a comparison between a simplistic build and finished photograph, I created the below diptych of the two. I really enjoy photographing miniature sets, in part because of the way I can transform the scene and make it come to life through my camera lens. I wanted to make that idea evident here.
As you’ll notice, the water is actually much longer than what was shown in the final image. With each of my images, I shoot a ton of different angles/ lighting scenarios until I’m happy with the final image, so occasionally I’ll build in a bit extra – here for experimenting with higher angles, etc. You’ll also notice that the set lacks a lot of details. I can paint, when I put my mind to it, I’ve taken classes and so on, but here I just used white thick lines for a lot of waves – this is intentional. I pretty much always use a short depth of field, so I know that sometimes, while color variation can be important, time spent on detail certainly is not.
It is fascinating to see how you build up your sets.
Thank you.
I love this. I love the beautiful simplicity of your set piece. And I love also that, having spent so much effort creating a depth you initially envisioned as necessary — and beautiful — you were unafraid to abandon it while seeking a frame.
So many of my own photographs “find a frame” this way. Often, long after I’ve clicked the shutter and am working the collected image over in Photoshop. I’ll often find, as you do here, an image rise out of a tidbit from my original vision.
Thank you for sharing this. :)
Thank you so so much.
Nice to see you photos, always and even nicer to know the concept and the works behind them. Thanks for sharing your creative process
ronert
Thank you very much.
Nice work, I am still studying it:)
wow. thank you :)
Always love to see your process!
Thank you :D