Debunkify "Sexy Your Veggie"

[jdepould]

Since I'm the only photographer anybody knows, I get calls for all kinds of crazy stuff. This is probably the craziest though. Debunkify (anti-smoking campaign) is hitting colleges pretty hard, and they're going after tobacco modeling. This is a "Next Top Model" thing basically.

The first shoot's theme was "Sexy Your Veggie." The models got their choice of veggies and had to do their best to sex them up the way you see in tobacco ads.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdepould/2224299390/" title="24Jan2008087 by jdepould, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2224299390_8640ff08ff.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="24Jan2008087" /></a>
D300/18-70@38mm, 1/80s, f/5.6 @ ISO 125. Click for full size.

As far as lighting, I was using two monolights with reflector umbrellas, tripped with my SB600 (pointed at the ceiling).

This was my favorite from the shoot. Compositionally, I'm not completely satisfied though. It was a great look from the model, just the slightest hint of a smile, but I'm not sure I like where her eyes and face are in the frame. I've tried different crops, but nothing really jumps out at me. I think it might have something to do with the length of the rhubarb? Thoughts/suggestions?

[peeperita]

I've tried different crops, but nothing really jumps out at me. I think it might have something to do with the length of the rhubarb? Thoughts/suggestions?

i almost thought you were making a joke....:)

your lighting set up looks good....your model and her paramour are well exposed and have great color saturation....

if the original has the room.....try cropping with most of the rhubarb in the frame.....lowering your model's face more and towards the left....

thanks for sharing

peeper

[windrider86]

my deal is that she has so much red on and the veggie has red that it has made her skin look red. You may also want to look a bit at the background, what ever that white thing is behind her needs to go away.
I think you are right about how she is holding the rhubarb, she has such beautiful eyes that perhaps holding it more at an angle would give it a different perspective and also show off her eyes

[Dr. WooD]

I think the over all shot is great, but I agree with Windrider about the models choice of colors to wear.

[jiminyClickit]

jdepould,

Is the vegetable held between the model's fingers to suggest the connection to smoking? Was it part of the intention of the campaign?

If not, I could imagine a slight turn as you have here (facing left, though), off-white top (can be very appealing), against a slightly darker background. Rhubarb (excellent pie material) is "growing" out of cleavage, model is clutching (hugging) it to her, hands wrapped around her upper arms, and it sits on her right side of face, over ear. Same expression, eyelids lowered a bit.

[jdepould]

Can't get around the bright orange, that's the color for the campaign.

The way she's holding the rhubarb is supposed to suggest smoking.

The white part behind her is the chair, it's actually black, but I think it was catching some of the light.

[RussHeath]

Jdepould -- Love the expression. After looking through your others on flickr, I agree she nailed it. The lights seem a touch hard to me, but she's young so it works. Maybe try just a little softening in post like a softfocus filter or orton effect? I also really like the perfect heart shadow cast by her pendant and the glossy nature of the rhubarb.

Is this an original crop or is there more hiding at the borders? If there is more than I would try to include the top edge of the veggie. If not, consider cropping in even closer until all you see is the middle of her face, top of her hand, and base of the rhubarb. I think the message here is conveyed by that close crop, and it doesn't really need the rest of the image to make the same point. I would also try to increase the size of the catchlights, as they seem a little small (although well placed). If you get a second take think about moving the light source closer to your models, as that will soften your light and increase the size of the catchlights.

[jdepould]

I think there's a little bit more around the edges, but not much.

I think I'm going to light it differently this week. I have a white umbrella in addition to the reflectors. I think I'm going to place the reflector more to my left and use the shoot-through umbrella closer to the camera and more head-on.

[ELAY]

If you are redoing with this kind of setup, I would be tempted to rebalance the light -- say, a bit stronger on camera left and weaker on camera right.

I think I would prefer to see more even exposure on her face, with the shadows on the rhubarb side, as it were.

[jdepould]

If you are redoing with this kind of setup, I would be tempted to rebalance the light -- say, a bit stronger on camera left and weaker on camera right.

I think I would prefer to see more even exposure on her face, with the shadows on the rhubarb side, as it were.

It's a five week thing, with a week or two off in the middle. That's exactly what I was thinking as far as the lighting.

[jdepould]

Week 2, sort of careers/theme outfits.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdepould/2237764672/" title="31Jan2008020-1 by jdepould, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2237764672_bf90245251.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt="31Jan2008020-1" /></a>

This was by far my favorite shot in the set, her "career" was politician. I thought the model just nailed the look. It's just slightly disinterested and arrogant.

I made the lighting changes mentioned above, and I feel it's a lot more dramatic. Compositionally, I was going for the lightly upward angle, the only thing that stands out to me is the cuff being slightly cut off, but it doesn't really bother me.

I'm really still interested in lighting criticism, but anything else that jumps out at you would be great as well. Please ignore the fact that the "cigarette" looks like a really big joint.

D200/50mm: 1/250s, f/5.6 @ ISO100, shot in RAW.