Model: Justin Bennett
Team: Bas Strait Brawlers
Sport: Men's Roller Derby
A Portrait of Jen
Model: Jen Hepburn
Mathew - A 1920's Mugshot
A few years ago I saw images from the Sydney Police Photographs exhibition online and thought they where so very interesting that I would love to try replicate the look.
So I finally got around to trying it out with my friend Mathew Dobson. While not someone that would be a typical groomed look of that era, he did have suits on hand and was all to happy to jump in front of the camera.
The tricky thing about trying to emulate a photo from 1920's is technology has changed somewhat in regards to cameras, film and development. Back then they used large wet plate cameras. Basically the size of the rendered image was about 5 times bigger than the sensor on today's 35mm DSLR. This does a few things, but mainly the focal depth is very different than can be achieve today without actually using a large format camera.
Solution is to use a technique called The Brenizer Method. Simply you take the photos using a long lens but up close and then stitch them together like a panorama image, except it's a portrait. It gives you very similar depth of field as a large format camera and huge file sizes.
So I successfully created the images with around 9 photos each. The processed them in Photoshop to have the same colour and texture of a vintage wet plate photo. For added effect I also wrote on the images like they did back in the 1920's. Excuse the handwriting, I am much more adapt at a keyboard (most of the time).
Overall I am very happy with the first attempt at this style and hopefully can challenge a few more friends to get their 1920's mug and rap sheet out.
“Loiters in the vicinity of theatre vestibules, tram and bus stop pings places, or any other place that affords opportunities for one of his calling.”
2013 Goal Achieved!
One of the goals I set myself at the beginning of 2013 was to get the cover of Australia's national roller derby magazine: Hit & Miss
So we have come to December and while I have had quite a lot of photos printed within the covers of the magazine this year, I hadn't been invited to supply the cover. This changed last week when I got the email I had been working towards all year.
I got the cover for the last issue of 2013!
I believe I was grinning like a cat the got the milk when I read it.
So achievement unlocked and goal completed for 2013.
Issue 14 Front Cover - Hit & Miss Magazine
The photo is from Victoria Roller Derby League's grand final I shot in November. It features Mon U Mental, Dayna Might and Mel Fyfe.
So now to workout goal(s) for 2014. Where to next?
Holiday Roller Derby Promo
TEN - 12x8'' prints for $80 save 50%!
Since Christmas is just around the corner, I have opened all 38 bout galleries on my website. This means you can grab those prints that you might have missed out on.
Gift Certificates!
Additionally to that, I will have Gift Certificates available for purchase, if you are not sure what your loved one or friend might like. Email me for details.
Now that is not all, I have made up a new special for the holidays. $80 for 10 x 12x8'' prints. That is a crazy 50% off if you ordered them individually.
New Print Sizes!
I have added a heap of new sizes to the order system including square prints (I have been cropping the images like that lately).
Win Stuff!
All orders go into a draw to win one of 3 posters (33 x 22'') of an derby photo of your choosing valued at $50. Drawn on Friday 20th December 2013 (note, delivery will be in early 2014 due to holidays).
Stay turned over the next couple of days for even more derby goodness.
Remember to be nice and pass this on to your derby friends and share the love.
Jump over to start finding the prints http://photos.joffrestreetproductions.com/rollerderby