A good catalog/product shot is boring. It shows what the product looks like.
Not necessarily. Maybe you just look into the wrong catalogs.
I've been designing a LOT of catalogs in my lifetime. Rarely the photos inside showed the products only. Most of them were "ambient" shots or still-lifes. Some even were action shots.
So not Ikea, Argos, Tesco, Avon, Littlewoods etc I'm guessing? I've never seen an "ambient action shot" in Argos catalogue... lol
What are they like in America? :p
Ever seen a Sky Mall catalog on an airplane? Definitely a catalog and definitely studio, action, and much more.
If you think a catalog is only the product with the background dropped out, then I think your definition of catalog is way too narrow.
I think these shots are perfect opportunities for learning for everybody. You can use all your strobes (if you have them) or you can learn what quality ambient light looks like and how to use different angles for the shot. It involves considering the characteristics of an object and mixing it seamlessly with a scene that embodies that object. This is applicable for EVERY type of photography. If you like action shots, get some shots for sports/athletic gear. It doesn't have to be studio stuff. Look at running shoe ads; they're always dynamic. Same thing with gear for the outdoors, it's designed to showcase the scene as well as the item. In portraiture, what else is an environmental portrait but a product shot, where the product is your subject? The shots do not have to be strictly showing the product in full, either. Bike manufacturers, for instance, often portray small portions of the bikes, much more like macro shots with limited DoF and at odd angles (and these are definitely "catalog" not ad shots). Determine a product that should appeal more to the "fine art" crowd and do that. I really think this challenge has more potential leniency than anything but a Free Study.
My entry looks like something that would be in a catalogue. It looks like a product shot. Whether it's interesting enough to score well is another story.
I guess mine looks more or less like an ad shot.. well unless there could be some exclusive catalogue with a stand-alone front page (like magazines) LOL. I'm ready to get slaughtered cos I love this photo.
A couple of people have responded with private messages of offers to review. Thanks for the response.
I'm looking for an opinion on whether a couple of edits are within the rules for the Product Shot challenge. Anyone (who isn't submitting or voting) willing to give me an opinion?
Ya know I can't stand it when my creative muse decides to whack me upside the head with an idea **AFTER*** the opportunity is hours gone.
ARRRRRGGGG!!!!! - well perhaps tomorrow I will post some of the good shots from the weekend event we went too. Darn, damn, shoot and blast canon fire....argh! just thought of ANOTHER idea that would have been perfect with this event scenery!!!!. I am just going to stop now and tend to my sunburn ::grumble::
Anyway, good luck to all whose muses had better timing with inspiration.
Expectations: i think we will see photos of alcoholic drinks, some splashing stuff etc
okay, i don't want to create another thread for score predictions. i will start, i think i'll get a 5.6xxx for my photo or maybe 4.7xxx depending on how good the other entries are
Expectations: i think we will see photos of alcoholic drinks, some splashing stuff etc
okay, i don't want to create another thread for score predictions. i will start, i think i'll get a 5.6xxx for my photo or maybe 4.7xxx depending on how good the other entries are
I'm in. It's dull and uninspired. But my other shot didn't work well.
Same here Wendy - I took a bunch of shots of an item which turned out terrible so I had to go with something else that I'm didn't like as well. I'm hoping for at least a 5.5xxx on it though as I don't think I can stand another score like my F.Arts entry! :-)
I had several ideas coming in. My final idea was what I thought would do best, but I didn't leave enough time to accomplish my shot to its fullest, and now I'm wishing I had pursued one of my other ideas because it wasn't time dependent nor did it need a specific location. That's okay.
