Shoot in inspiration from Hiroshi Sugimoto

Shoot plan-

The idea behind this shoot was to work in inspiration from Hiroshi Sugimoto, who explores the main idea that photos are a way of preserving a moment and picture in time almost like a time machine. Therefor I will be focusing on using a slow shutter similar to Hiroshi's work. Although Hiroshi uses a large format camera and film explored for seven hours I decided I could try and incorporate similar ideas using a digital camera and incinerate my theme of surfing into the images. I will look at surf scenes from a different angles and aim to capture specific transient moments to create unique photos. His use of black and white contrasted images inspires me so I will be incorporating that into the editing process. I am intending to experiment with slow shutter speed and a 75-300mm lens so I can try to capture super close up perspectives. I have previously tried to capture slow shutter images but always wanted to get a super close up of longboard cross stepping- the focus being on the surfers feet while the movement is blurred around them. This will be my aim for this shoot swell as using slow shutter on landscapes to obscure the figures walking out. I will be working fro different angles on the beach trying to get as close as I can to the surfer. I will use the rule of thirds to experiment with different compositions- I want to try to explore having the main focus of the image not in the centre third and see if it works effectively. I will position my camera on the beach right infant of the sea I will use a tripod to stabilise the image. I will be using the natural light- ideal weather conditions would be sunny as it enhances the colour of the sea. This shoot will take around 2 hours to get the perfect shot- setting up and packing away will be quick will only take 10 mins. I will use my subjects as whoever is surfing at the time. Equipment list- camera (Eos 7d), battery, tripod and memory card. I will only conduct this shoot when the weather is correct.

Thumbnail sketches-

Contact sheet-

Editing- 

To edit these photos i started with brightening them slightly as they were taken in direct sunlight so they didn't need to be brighter. I altered the contrast to make the highlights lighter and shadowed areas darker. For my favourite image (shown at the bottom) I cropped it to focus on the surf board and where the speed blur is most effective. I altered the shadows and highlights to make then image even more constrained. I also added grain to the image to give it a vintage effect as I aim to create a similar style to Hiroshi's work shot on film. For my favourite final image I explored contrast through changing it to black and white and altering the brightness and levels. The final image came out very effectively- possibly one of my favourite photos from all the shoots. 

Settings used: ISO 100, 300mm zoom, f/25, 1/30 second

Final images-

Evaluation-

Overall I am really pleased with the outcome of this shoot the images turned out very effectively. The starting point of the shoot was to explore how I can combine Hiroshi Sugimoto's style of photography into my own work. This helped me think in a unique way and capture surfing from different angles I wouldn't usually and slowing it all down in capturing specific moments frozen in time. He inspired me as his images are always unique and always captures things in a creative interesting way. I have learnt that I find it easier to not use a tripod as I find it restricting and I cannot move my camera as easily. However, I would like to carry on learning to shoot with it it as it would help to stabilise my images and have better results more often as at the moment in a shoot of 400 only 2/3 images turn out effectively. I really enjoyed this shoot and I found out I find shooting up close really effective as it gives more detail to the image. I never crop my images as I find it looks odd however I cropped the top half of this image off and it turned out very effectively and focuses on the board and feet which is what I was aiming for. The low shutter technique has even very successful and is a style I would like to incorporate throughout my work and develop my skills in using it. The technique of using a tripod was less successful however I would like to stick with it and learn. I am very pleased with this shoot and the outcome of it. the next steps I will be taking is experimenting with making a mini magazine/ article to display my recent images. In the future I would like to develop my skills using slow shutter as then I will get less throw away images and more which work effectively. Its all about moving the camera at the same speed the surfer is moving- I have found using 40th of a second works most effectively with this to get the perfect blur to focus ratio. If I did this shoot again I would have explored using manual focus rather than auto as it kept on un focusing and I would miss shots. This would be interesting to trey on my next shoot and see if it improves the focus on my future images. 

Favourite final-

This is my favourite image fro the shoot because of the contrast created from editing which looks really effective in black and white. I am very pleased with the composition of the image using the thirds to create the main focus of the photo- I like that its in the centre. This image has also effectively captured a similar atmosphere as to in Hiroshi's long exposure work. I am happy with how the speed blur captured the motion of the wave really effectively however it still focused on the sharpness of the edge off the board. I like how the long exposure captures movement so effectively. The reflections on the water are also very successful as it makes the image more interesting. To enhance the image further I would like experiment with graphic design and layering over images which would create an interesting outcome.