The objective of the First Genre Photoshoot is to take shots from a magazine genre of one's choosing—from Home and Garden to Sports and Recreation. After researching four magazine genres, I was most interested in the Cooking, Food, and Beverage magazine, hence my decision to designate my photoshoot to this genre. In particular, I photographed the homemade baked goods my family indulged in during Rosh Hashanah (a Jewish holiday marking the Jewish New Year). Some goals I strived to achieve were good lighting and capturing shots with various angles and backgrounds.
Burst Feature
A big success during this photoshoot was utilizing the burst feature on my iPhone—whether that may be pouring batter into a pan or sprinkling seasoning on challah. It allowed me to take photos in a row, meaning I photographed more than necessary and later selected the best ones. This feature ensured I captured the exact moments. However, I don't love the results of the photo to the right. The results would've been superior had I taken it at ground level with the subject and poured the seasoning from the bowl. Using this method would allow more of the seasoning to show in the shot and people to understand what the image displays; when I sprinkled it with my hand, it came out as a blur, and the image looked unclear.
Photography Light Box
Another success of mine was using a photography light box. Especially since I took my photos in the evening, I needed to work around not having access to natural light. Consequently, I used a device with built-in LED lights, customizable settings, and adjustable backdrops. The photography light box maximized the quality and professionalism of my photoshoot while also simulating daylight. It also enhanced the details of the subjects, such as displaying the shininess of the apple upside-down cake (dessert to the far left). Not only that, but the photography light box has a hole at the top of the box to allow for shots from various perspectives. I utilized this feature to take photos with the camera in front of the dessert (the image to the far left and the middle) and as an overhead shot (the image to the far right).
Struggles/Failures
Some struggles/failures I encountered during this photoshoot were taking shots without my phone shadow appearing in the background and taking advantage of natural light. As previously stated, I took most of my photos later in the day, meaning natural light wasn’t in my favor. For this reason, my class critique and feedback was that I should focus more on incorporating natural light and limiting shadows. Moving forward, I can photograph at earlier hours (to make the most of natural light) and use a foam board (to reflect the camera shadows) to target these goals. I can also photograph at better angles, considering most didn't line up with the subject. For example, the second image below could've been taken at ground level with the dessert, opposite the side with the flames. This method would create a shot focused on the dessert without the table showing. On a more positive note, I learned from my teacher and classmates that my pictures were diverse, executed nicely, and told a story when I photographed the process of decorating the S'mores Cookie Cups (middle image).
From this photoshoot, I realized the strengths and weaknesses of my photoshoot and learned how to address these issues through class critique. I can then use this information to improve future photoshoots, such as shooting at earlier hours. I can also possibly purchase a foam board to help with shadow issues. Since the photography light box effectively imitated natural light, I would undoubtedly use it in future photoshoots when possible; I can't use it for big desserts as it wouldn't fit in the box.
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