Making of Swan Lake

[radar]

Hi,

I had a few different compositions in terms of my entry in the White on White challenge, all to do with the tutu and points. In the end, I went with the more conventional look, I decided the KISS rule here would win out

So here is the original entry:


I also played with having an ipod in the photo:


or having a music sheet in the background. I would have like the actual Swan Lake music sheet but I couldn't easily find one:


Chris and Matt mentioned that the photo could do with some levels adjustment or that it had a colour cast. I tried to fix that a bit, did I succeed?



On the original photos, there are no clipped highlights and the detail in the points and tutu are all there. Any screw ups are due to my PP skills or lack of

I used the 50mm 1.4 lens for all of these photos.

The photos were all made in my homemade light tent. I used Keith's (aka firsty) idea that he presented a while ago on these forums. His article can be viewed here:
http://mcgoffs.net/home-made-light-tent

I had bought the materials when Keith had originally made the post but I had not built it till the week before the end of the challenge. I made the light tent as per the second photo in Keith's instructions. He describes it as too big but since I had to fit a tutu in there, the larger size what actually just right. My only problem is that I couldn't find white plastic bags large enough to fit so I ended up using a large white sheet.

I had trouble getting the tutu so I ended up having to leave it till the last day to submit my entry

C&C appreciated.

Cheers,

André

[Glen]

Hi Andre, I prefer the first over all, including the rework. Mentally I don't like the ipod in there and logically ballerinas are unlikely to practise with ipods, so it doesn't work for me (or maybe my prejudices are showing through?). Like the concept of the music sheet but still prefer your original above all.

As a side note, I think many of the modern tools available do not convey as strong a message as older tools, especially when used as props photographically. An ipod doesn't spell music the same way two 1 metre high speakers would and a nerd sitting at a notebook playing with PS doesn't scream photographer as much as someone standing in a darkroom.

[sirhc55]

The rework is much better Andre

[Alpha_7]

I really liked your entry, and prefer the rework further still, I personally picked you as the winner, as your idea and image both appealed to me above the rest. I'm not overly keen on the ipod or the sheet music versions, so I think you picked the right composition.

[gstark]

Andre,

Thank you for sharing this with us. I think that this is an area where we can all learn, in that having the various shots and techniques explained will help others to emulate, and maybe improve upon, what you've done.

I'm glad too that you kept the shot to the one you submitted. I think that adding the extra elements, like the iPod and the sheet music, detracted from the elegant simplicity of your shot, and it was precisely that elegant simplicity that helped (at least with me) your shot stand out.

[the foto fanatic]

Hi Andre

What impresses me a lot about an image is the story that it tells.

Even inanimate objects like a tutu and a pair of points can do that, as your entry so capably shows. And, as Gary says, simplicity is a virtue in any story or photograph.

I thought your image was fresh and interesting, and I don't think that the addition of sheet music or an iPod would have improved it a jot.

Congratulations on your excellent effort.