Coffee and art.

[someone]

Alright, I love taking pictures of my little wooden mannequins, so I decided to do a set of them to hang up and sell at a local coffee shop. I need 7, and I've got 6 so far. Here they are:

1
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/1-4.jpg

2
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/1-5.jpg

3
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/1-6.jpg

4
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/2-2.jpg

5
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/12blue.jpg

6
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/mannequinhdr1-1.jpg

So you've already seen at least a couple of these... I don't know, 4 doesn't really do much for me, so I'll probably replace it with a different one, and then add another new one. Then I'll have enough! So what do you guys think?

[T.Luu]

Are you making a portfolio or did they already give you an assigment? What do they ask from the photos or do you have free hands for the project? If you need 7 photos, do 17. Always give the client something to choose from.

As for the photos:

Just out of curiosity: what was the idea behind the mannequin hanging from the door knob? What is the photo telling you, besides a mannequin doing a bungee jump?
What I'm trying to say is that don't force yourself, it will show in the photos.



#5 is almost interesting, it has potential but falls apart somehow. I like the "resurrection" feeling it emits... but it's too repetitive. One could combine photos 3 and 5 to illustrate the afterlife and get, type of, melancholistic humour out of it (dead wooden mannequin going towards the light (lamp)... get it ;P)

[someone]

Thanks for the feedback!

#1: I actually was trying to think of something to do for the "upside down" photochallenge, and got the idea to hang a mannequin upside down... I guess it's just supposed to be sorta like "How the crap did I get myself in this mess, and how am I going to get out" :P

#5: I guess I was sort of going for more of a "curiosity" pose. My sister said it reminds her of a man standing in front of an aquarium contemplating the fish lol

As for the assignment, I just had to show some of my previous work for them to know whether or not they want my work hanging up there, and now I'm free to do whatever I want. I just need 7 because they have 7 hooks on which to hang the pictures, and they don't want any of them to be "dead" at any time. I'm pretty sure that I could do more, and when one sells they could take it right away and I could hang up another... I won't be doing this for another couple months at least anyway.

I'm trying to think of more ideas, but I'm not coming up with too much... I mean, mannequins can be very emotional if they are set up right, but if not, they can be sorta boring. I'm thinking about replacing at least a couple of these before it's all over. Anybody have any ideas?

[KendraJ.K.]

are you looking for some ideas on other things to do with the maniquein??
maybe buy some coffee or something from there and use the cup/mug/wahtever in a photo....and do something a little different with the guy...him just standing there isnt always the best compositionally..

not sure if it helps at all but here are a few things that i did with the one i have
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32922812/?qo=179&q=by%3Adarkalaria69&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32232921/?qo=183&q=by%3Adarkalaria69&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32232856/?qo=184&q=by%3Adarkalaria69&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps

maybe try some more dramatic lighting or something

good luck! :)

oh and ir eally like the ideas for 5 and 6 :)

[someone]

Thanks again for feedback.

Hehe, your mannequins are shiny :D

Yes, I will mess around with some different lighting'n'such. I'm just trying to think of ideas that are more... abstract I guess :P

[someone]

Here's an idea I got tonight, what do you think?

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/someone345squared/2-4.jpg

[someone]

Nothing to say about my new onnnne?

[klips]

I'll be honest, I think one mannikin is enough for any cafe/gallery unless they are superarty. The only one I like is #5. The problem for me is it's an okay concept but it's difficult to do in a way that is interesting and will sell, and I assume this is the point of hanging them. If you need more of an explanation then let me know.

[Pink Kipper]

To be honest, of the first lot, the only one that really appeals to me is the first. I think the brown colours and tones in it combined with the depth of field really work well together. Also, I like the angle.

On some of the others, they're a nice concept, but I feel they could be better executed. For example, having the lamp actually showing in the picture really doesn't appeal to me.

I think number 4 could work really well if it was a better location and if the arms were spread or reaching up towards the camera.

I really like your new one, though.

[someone]

Klips: I also like #5 :) I don't really get what you mean by 'superarty' though? I guess selling them is just sort of an afterthought to me...

As a side note, I was at the coffee shop last week, -15 or -20 wind chill, and on the chalk board the specials were all smoothies and italian sodas. On the top it said "beat the heat". Some people have a sick sense of humour...

[Justin Caise]

I didn't get significance of #2 until I saw #3.
I think #3 is great. Pondering the light, and it's source.
Do you have any Barbie dolls?
I'd like to see the MANikin pondering Barbie. I don't mean in a letchurous way, I mean as if to ask "What's with all the detail?" Of course fancy lighting and tones as well.

Chiseling a tree trunk? ("Adam branches out")

Wow, if I were any good with a camara I could have a good time at this. :bashful:

[someone]

Hehehe. The Barbie idea was a good one! Except I don't have any :P

What did you mean by "chiseling a tree trunk"? Like the mannequin chiseling a tree trunk?

I've been having fun with it... Especially the last one, and also the smoke/steam one... That took a while to get right

[Justin Caise]

Chiseling a tree trunk - all i meant was to have MANikin sculpting himself a woman out of wood, as an impatient Adam trying to create his Eve.
Maybe it's been done.
Maybe I'll do it m'self, someday. Yeah, I'll put it on my list.

Anyway, nice shots.

[someone]

Heh, I like the idea! It's funny, and deep all at the same time :P