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I am keen for some feedback regarding these images, particularly the style and the PP.

The main focus for the images is the interior seat covering, sidewall panels, floor..shite... well the whole interior at the end of teh day I guess. I am looking for tha style of imagery that one would find in a Learjet brochure or on the cover of excecutive jet promo rag.

Note: the flash reflections and the finger prints on the wood panelling is something that I am gonna try and PP out.






and one I just could not resist....

Limitless possibilities. Also add pilot reaching over to the co-pilot. Perhaps one occupant on one seat with fruitbasket/wine/cheese (actual fruit not a 'stupid person') on the table. The client can still see the other side uncluttered but still see themselves on one side.

Also, the interior (yellow lights should be on); I couldn't figure out how to switch them on in post... The instrument panel should be lit.

Why don't you invite me for the next shoot and I can smooth these fine details for you....

Lol, Suren, that is awesome, I have a few primo sunrise scenes which I could use, I know I made sure it was nice and dark outside for a reason!

Lights on would be handy, I am working on that, logistically it can be hard, I am not keen to leave the lights operating when there is no GPU (Ground power unit) hooked up, I dont think I would be invited back if the owner turned up the next day to find his battery dead

Lights on the intrument panel makes it heaps better! In terms of model...lol, I am working up to that one too, I will be in the need of a dainty business woman shortly...

ta for the rework, that actually looks pretty darn good in my opinion.

Here is my 2c.

#1, I would have preferred to see a little more of the RHS (back of the chair and wood panelling) and a little more in the foreground / bottom of image - ultimately a bit more width on the RHS of the image. I can understand the space constraints, but - maybe a 1/2 step back (or to the left) or a wider angle? Having said this though, This is a good shot.

#2 seems out of place with the other shots presented. To me, the cover of the mags you describe (and I have not ever looked in one) would be more about the interior (for the passengers - and not so much for the pilot)

#3 I like it. (this and the 1st are my favourites). If you can pp the flash, all the better. I was once told to help reduce the flash on the glass (when taking photos of fish in a fish tank), to take the photo / have the flash at an angle (say 45 degree ) to the glass. Would this technique work for taking photos of very glossy objects maybe?

#4 has the workings of a good shot, but I do not like the angle. I would prefer it to be straight.

#5 is cute, but the green box / clutter bottom LHS draws my eye. Maybe a lower shot, maybe a tighter shot - still trying to get the chair and the bear, some wood panel and some window. Could you get down to about eye level with the bear, wide angle in portrait mode? Once again the angle detracts for me personally.

Well done and great effort.


As for Surenj's suggestions, I reckon they would work well.

I do like your PP surenj, it really adds to the photo. I know it was just a quick job, but a slight nitpick for me though ... One of the 1st things I noticed was the 3rd window (closest to the pilot), and the black line which is actually part of the window / sill. The edge of the plane should be there (between the blackline and the edge of the window) - not the colours of the sunset

I haven't commented on this before as it is well outside my expertise but

rflower wrote: I was once told to help reduce the flash on the glass (when taking photos of fish in a fish tank), to take the photo / have the flash at an angle (say 45 degree ) to the glass.

I can't see how you would do this without cutting a hole in the fuselage & if the owner would get upset with a flat battery...

One idea I have seen for shooting with strobes in tight spaces, but never tried myself (yet) is to put polarising film on the flash head Then use a polariser on the lens so that the lights are cross polarised to the lens. This way you will eliminate direct reflections (i.e. glare) but not diffuse reflections (i.e. the subject.)
My source is Light Science and Magic. Brilliant book. No pun intended. I highly recommend it.

Cross-polarising the flashes can sometimes help, but requires lots of tweaking. More-easily done in a studio setting than in the field.

The note about 45-degree angles is all about getting the flash reflection not coming into the lens. But it can be hard to achieve with a wide-angle lens. Grids on your flash heads (such as the convenient Honl models) can help direct the light, and you can also experiment with remote flashes in positions such as behind seats lighting up the background. You'll need to experiment with flash ratios to make it look natural of course. With white walls/ceiling you can also bounce the light around a lot.

The reflection of the pilot's seat in the dark window is a distraction. I would consider doing the shoot when it's lighter outside. But as noted, photos of the cockpit are probably not as relevant for your target as photos from a passenger's point of view.

surenj, your rework was a little alarming: the plane is banking heavily, and without a flight crew seems about to crash!

DaveB wrote:surenj, your rework was a little alarming: the plane is banking heavily, and without a flight crew seems about to crash!

And that is sort of stuff that gets on magazines....
I tried a straight cloud horizen but the tilt makes it somewhat dynamic. I don't know much about aircraft but maybe that's a bad idea for an advert...

Contrary to some of the other comments, I think a lot of people looking at corporate jets would like to imagine themselves in the drivers seat... lit instruments and the Pilots seat (not co-pilot) would possibly appeal a little more...

Another cliche shot is straight out the front, with the panel in frame, on short final... (great excuse to go for a flight as well!)

Nice! What model Volvo is that?

Great stuff there Gerry, Surenj your post processing really adds a real magazine feel!

Thanks Cameron.

Also lastly, Gerry, please take that hideous sheep skin off the pilot seat. What were you thinking?

Hi Gerry,
A good effort in an unforgiving space.I would echo the comments about the pilot cockpit, the sheepskin looks cheap and the reflection as mentioned before is distracting, I also would prefer a wider view facing forward. Actually this is the general feeling I get from these pictures, they would need to give a wider view.
Cheers,
Gerard

rflower wrote:#1, I would have preferred to see a little more of the RHS (back of the chair and wood panelling) and a little more in the foreground / bottom of image - ultimately a bit more width on the RHS of the image. I can understand the space constraints, but - maybe a 1/2 step back (or to the left) or a wider angle? Having said this though, This is a good shot.

agreeded, on the second look I should have definitely got more space on the bottom.

heres another similiar one which probably meets these reqs, however the angle does not quite do it for me...

#2 seems out of place with the other shots presented. To me, the cover of the mags you describe (and I have not ever looked in one) would be more about the interior (for the passengers - and not so much for the pilot)

yeah it is a bit strange in the series, the main reason for including it is because ofthe lambswool cover, part of the interior re-furb. I do have another shot which is a bit better angled for this, I will track that one down later..



yeah I will PP that flash, it really ruins the images imo, my eye gets drawn straight to that bright spot. I found that every shot, no matter what angle i worked at there was flash reflections, mainly on the wood panelling, which is very very shiny!

#5 is cute, but the green box / clutter bottom LHS draws my eye. Maybe a lower shot, maybe a tighter shot - still trying to get the chair and the bear, some wood panel and some window. Could you get down to about eye level with the bear, wide angle in portrait mode? Once again the angle detracts for me personally.

good idea with getting down to the eye level o fthe bear, did not think of that.. I did take one without the angle tho..

One idea I have seen for shooting with strobes in tight spaces, but never tried myself (yet) is to put polarising film on the flash head Then use a polariser on the lens so that the lights are cross polarised to the lens. This way you will eliminate direct reflections (i.e. glare) but not diffuse reflections (i.e. the subject.)
My source is Light Science and Magic. Brilliant book. No pun intended. I highly recommend it.

interesting read, thanks for the link Greg

The note about 45-degree angles is all about getting the flash reflection not coming into the lens. But it can be hard to achieve with a wide-angle lens. Grids on your flash heads (such as the convenient Honl models) can help direct the light, and you can also experiment with remote flashes in positions such as behind seats lighting up the background. You'll need to experiment with flash ratios to make it look natural of course. With white walls/ceiling you can also bounce the light around a lot.

Those honeycomb flash modifiers look promising, they seem to have a pretty small foot print, which is very important for this kinda stuff. The best way to flood the scene with even light, in this case , was to get the flash as close to the ceiling panels and bounce it, most aircraft have white, cream or light coloured interiors so you can get a nice bouce with the light. I have experimented wit h flashes behind seats, however in these tight enviroments it did result in some harsh shadows, even with the soft box on it.

Anyone know where u can get these honeycomb modifiers cheap? 60 bucks for me would be better put towards a decent second flash unit!

surenj, your rework was a little alarming: the plane is banking heavily, and without a flight crew seems about to crash!

I would be more concerned with the fact that there are no wings outside?!

And that is sort of stuff that gets on magazines....

yeah it does, if you look at Cessna Citation brochures or LearJet they are all this kind of style, static planes with sunsets superimposed - normal plane pictures look boring...

Another cliche shot is straight out the front, with the panel in frame, on short final... (great excuse to go for a flight as well!)

good idea

lit instruments and the Pilots seat (not co-pilot) would possibly appeal a little more.

definitely!

Nice! What model Volvo is that?

the one with wings...on a side note, thank god volvo do not make planes...

Also lastly, Gerry, please take that hideous sheep skin off the pilot seat. What were you thinking

hmmm, have you ever sat on a sweaty leather seat for 3 hours?

i hear what ya saying though!

Actually this is the general feeling I get from these pictures, they would need to give a wider view.

I'll have to borrow a fisheye! or do some creative stitching

I think most of the feedback I acna think of has already been offered... I would suggest going through each shot and PP out all and any extraneous bit and pieces as a number of the shots show odd bits and pieces that make the shot as a product shot less clear. i.e the green thing next to the bear and the blue things under the seats. I certainly agree that the lambs wool covers on the seats are less than photogenic but that's what the shot is about maybe a little PP might mkae then look a little whiter and fluffier? Also one of the seats has some major wrinkle showing which I would assume is not a great marketing look?

I think the hardest part of this work would certainly be controlling the light... probably the best option is to dig into ps to see just how far it can help to sort out the reflections and give a more attractive 'window' view.

biggerry wrote:Anyone know where u can get these honeycomb modifiers cheap? 60 bucks for me would be better put towards a decent second flash unit!

Some carboard + black straws..... diy might be an option for something you may not use much.