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Andrea

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Product photography question
« on: September 22, 2006, 06:37:27 pm »

I have the possibility of picking up a new gig for photographing Brazilian bikinis.  The client wants the majority of the photos to be catalog style, and the pieces to float and be "in 3D form" - as opposed to laying flat.  I've just started to do some research to figure this out but haven't gotten very far.  Does anybody have any ideas how to do this?
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alainbriot

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Product photography question
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2006, 06:40:28 pm »

Quote
I have the possibility of picking up a new gig for photographing Brazilian bikinis.  The client wants the majority of the photos to be catalog style, and the pieces to float and be "in 3D form" - as opposed to laying flat.  I've just started to do some research to figure this out but haven't gotten very far.  Does anybody have any ideas how to do this?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77312\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


What size do the finished pieces have to be?  I know it is possible to laser-cut any shape drawn as an eps file on a mounted print (I do it with my laser cutter) but the maximum size is a concern.
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mikeseb

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Product photography question
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2006, 06:42:51 pm »

Quote
I have the possibility of picking up a new gig for photographing Brazilian bikinis.  The client wants the majority of the photos to be catalog style, and the pieces to float and be "in 3D form" - as opposed to laying flat.  I've just started to do some research to figure this out but haven't gotten very far.  Does anybody have any ideas how to do this?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77312\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Do these bikinis have enough fabric to photograph?
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michael sebast

Andrea

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Product photography question
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2006, 04:14:52 pm »

Quote
What size do the finished pieces have to be?  I know it is possible to laser-cut any shape drawn as an eps file on a mounted print (I do it with my laser cutter) but the maximum size is a concern.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77313\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Now I know I'm in trouble!  I don't know what a lazer cutter is!  They want the photos for the web.
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32BT

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« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2006, 05:13:21 pm »

Quote
I have the possibility of picking up a new gig for photographing Brazilian bikinis.  The client wants the majority of the photos to be catalog style, and the pieces to float and be "in 3D form" - as opposed to laying flat.  I've just started to do some research to figure this out but haven't gotten very far.  Does anybody have any ideas how to do this?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77312\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Blue screen...

Simply have a model covered with a uniform color, tights or make-up, doesn't matter. Have them wear the floats on top of it. Make two shots, one with the model, one without for the background. In PP select the color and paint background back in...
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dlashier

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« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2006, 05:29:38 pm »

Or use white (or blue!) mannequins.

- DL
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alainbriot

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Product photography question
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2006, 07:16:03 pm »

Quote
Now I know I'm in trouble!  I don't know what a lazer cutter is!  They want the photos for the web.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=77666\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I did not know the photographs were for the web.  I was thinking of life-size store displays or something like that :-)  A laser cutter is simply a machine that can cut any shape using a laser beam to burn the material and cut it that way.

For the web I would simply photograph the models on an even-colored and lit background, then select the background in photoshop, inverse the selection, and cut and paste the models to whatever background they want you to use.  Or, photograph them the models directly on the color background your client wants, for example white (or other color of their choice) to save yourself the Photoshop selection step.

Alain
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Pete JF

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Product photography question
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2006, 07:28:53 pm »

The idea here is for the bikinis to be seen in 3d..that would mean that they would appear to be worn by an invisible person. Meaning, you could see the front, crotch section, and would be looking past that to the interior of the butt section..Am i thinking correctly here? the bikini would be shot as a complete object.?

With a blue screen or a simple outline job in PS, whatever, you would still only read the crotch part with the strings, or hip straps, receding into the turn of the waist and sort of terminating clumsily. IMO, that is really 2d.

I would think that you might need some very high quality, transparent mannequins. Shoot the things on a light table with a harder key light in the front...put the results in photoshop and get rid of any highlights on the clear form and go to work on matching any loss of saturation, sharpness, detail etc..on the part of the bikini that is on the backside of the clear mannequin??? Or, as stated below in DL 's post, wire the crap out of the thing and sculpt it.

 Or figure out some way to style these things on a mannequin form and them apply some sort of clear, hardening resin in order to "freeze" that form. Then (somehow) break away the mannequin form and be left with a frozen bikini...yes, a frozen bikini. you could use wax paper, or, a release compound so nothing would stick to the mannequin. Then you would have actual object to shoot and you would be free to do something really cool.

All of this, of course, depends on whether or not my assumption about the definition of 3d is correct.

Seems like just showing the front of the bikini with straps going back into space would not be to exciting, visually. The hip straps would just stop in space. If that's what they want then it's basically a simple outline deal. Could just be shot against white on a body (white body suit) and dealt with in PS.

Sorry, I like to tinker and would probably end up doing something that would let me make a chemistry experiment and perhaps, a large fire...
« Last Edit: September 25, 2006, 07:36:55 pm by Pete JF »
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dlashier

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« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2006, 07:28:54 pm »

It's obvious from the replies that their original question was not clear. Are just the bikinis to float, or the models with them? If just the bikinis, are the backside to be visible also?

ok - you answered my question while I was posting. Sounds like you need transparent mannequins, or else some fancy wiring.

- DL
« Last Edit: September 25, 2006, 07:31:03 pm by dlashier »
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macgyver

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Product photography question
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2006, 08:57:44 pm »

First, get some really really strong starch...
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32BT

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« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2006, 01:30:39 am »

Quote
Seems like just showing the front of the bikini with straps going back into space would not be to exciting, visually. The hip straps would just stop in space.

Yeah, true, so transparant mannequins it shall be..., plus a whole lot of macgyver starch of course!
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bobtowery

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Product photography question
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2006, 05:13:27 pm »

Seems like what he meant was that they are floating in air.

How about wire? Bend wire in the shape of a body to match the straps of the bikini.  Attach the wire to the bikini with silicone seal (clear).  Maybe use insulated wire where the insulation is as close in color to the bikini. Any place where it's obvious, clone it out.

Another possibility would be to attach the bikini to some fishing line, and then suspend it.  Some kind of rig where you can move the fishing lines to get the shape you want.  Shoot the pic, clone out the fishing lines.  Might need like six lines arranged around the waistband in order to shape it into a natural looking form.

Sounds like a fun project.  (more fun shooting on models though!).

Bob.
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dobson

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Product photography question
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2006, 03:13:50 pm »

I don't know how it's done professionally, but it seems like it would be easier to model the bikini on a computer and apply a photographed texture to the model. This method would require much less cloning/painting out of the support system.
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