26/10/2016
How long does it take to make water dance around a divers watch?
Well - technically only 125th of a second. Make this 3 x 1/125 - in this case the final image consists of 3 parts that are merged during post processing. Still quite a quick thing to do, right?
My professional photographer friends will know this all too well - many clients are not aware of the time that goes into one of these shots. Hours of brainstorming, thinking and planning to incorporate the client's visions, colours and sometimes their identity. Sourcing props, setting the light. Testing. Testing again. Working with water is challenging - in particular if you are working in a studio environment with expensive and sensitive electronic equipment. Eventually, after some hours of work, you are happy with what you see on the control monitor. Done.
Well - not really. The work starts now. Post processing.
There is no such thing as a quick fix in Photoshop. Every step requires painstaking accuracy - in particular if it comes to removing imperfections or dust particles. And no matter how meticulously you clean and prepare your products, there is always dust when you are shooting with a full frame 50 MP camera. Always.
Last but not least - tidying up the studio. Drying and cleaning. Trying not to get in trouble with your partner once she realises that her favourite baking tray is still in the studio, serving as the black background tray containing the water for your latest product shoot.
At the end, nothing else but the result matters. I want my clients to be happy with my work and I want to be proud of what I deliver. And most of all - I love what I do.