Photography Club - DPChallenge Forums

10/16/2006 04:42:03 AM · #1

Ok, so after getting started with my University, I've finally made contact with the photography club. They are holding weekly classes and what appears to be bi-weekly outings.

The teachers know what they are doing, but most of the general members of the club are 'beginners'. Really.

The third lesson (first one I made it to) was all about the relationship between aperture and shutter speed.... A long two hours... Fortunately, I got to learn a bucketload of photography related Chinese :).

Anyhow, I'm considering doing a bit of extra activity to help improve the quality of their meetings and sessions. (2.5 hours to discuss the above was really overkill IMHO) There is one 'master' with a lot of experience and who really knows his stuff and a bunch of 'club members' who operate as helpers who are approximately at my level or a bit lower or a bit higher in the photography aspect. However, they seem to be pretty clueless where it comes to running a club.

I was considering setting up a few things.

#1 Equipment list (with the intent of equipment sharing on photo outings - just to get organized between the Nikon/Pentax/Canon groups)

#2 Model list (with subcategories: Studio (at school), Location shooting Short Distance, Location shooting Long Distance(willing to travel with a group on an outing), Fashion, Action, Photostory, Glamour, Fine-art Nude, Suggestive non-nude (I may skip this one as I am not trying to encourage shooting for pornographic purposes, but boudoir photography IS a valid non-pornographic category in my eyes). Along with this, I would add a note that neither photographer nor model should ever go alone for any manner of shoot - ESPECIALLY when related to anything, for a minimum of 4 people for any shoot.

#3 A model release form (Time for CD) which would be double sided. One side in English and one side in Chinese. Would include a release for the Cosmetician if they wished to use the images for their own portfolio.

#4 Costmetician/Hair list - with subcategories for specializations and willingness to travel as well as a checkbox for if they are also listed on the model list.

These would be 4 separate little projects both in arranging their terminology and in translation (as well as making them appropriate for the local laws of Taiwan).

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for items 2-4. As in where to get internationally accepted forms and what things I should particularly pay attention to.

I've already met a few students who have expressed interest in becoming models.

I'm considering building some makeshift studio lights too...

10/16/2006 11:01:16 AM · #2

Bumpity bipity boo.

Any comments?

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

10/16/2006 11:12:10 AM · #3

Originally posted by eschelar:

Bumpity bipity boo.

Any comments?

I don't have any suggestions for your agenda.

Just want to say you have an ambitious and potentially rewarding project ahead of you.

Keep us posted on your progress and good luck on your Chinese lessons.
:-)

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

10/17/2006 01:06:06 AM · #4

The toughest part is going to be getting organized with the different departments and getting the lighting set up... I don't even know who to talk to with the cosmetics department.

Whee!

I thought of an additional field for the Models and Cosmetics list: Willing to work PATIENTLY with beginners... :)

Still would really like to know what the 'standard model portfolio' contains when considering headshots versus torso shots vs full body shots... studio vs outdoors....

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

10/17/2006 01:47:43 AM · #5

What kind of fashion will you be getting into?
Will you borrow from designer stores, will you have to invest?
Will you need to invest in anything else?
Are there willing particiapants?
I say go for it..
Not sure about how to help but I can say this for the models..
Models like to be paid..
New models are more willing to work for the portfolio that they can take home...
Designer stores will loan out fashionable clothes to get their name out there as well as advertising..
You may already know this just thought I share...

Have fun with it, and keep us posted..
Peace :)

tolovemoon

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

10/17/2006 01:56:38 AM · #6

Model release forms.
Gives more information about model release forms.

Check out Kevin Riggs' work really a great start by example.

edit for additional link.

Message edited by author 2006-10-17 01:59:26.

10/17/2006 07:45:17 AM · #7

Originally posted by tolovemoon:

Just a quick note that I probably should have been more clear about. I have recently returned to University and am taking advantage of a really cool opportunity to study in a University in the countryside of Taiwan. Girls here LOVE shopping and fashion. There is a Cosmetics department as well. There are TONS of girls walking around that would stop you in your tracks (well they stop me in my tracks sometimes) just with what they look like heading to class. Few girls around here need any fashion assistance, but many already have quite a few outfits ready to go.

A few of my classmates have mentioned an interest in modelling, but it's usually more of a pipe dream than anything. These are 18 year old kids.

I talked to a couple girls and they almost jumped out of their skins with the idea that there is a possibility of actually doing something like this.

I believe that there is a wealth of students who would love to have a portfolio built up either as a model or a cosmetician.

The photography club has a bunch of really amateur amateurs and a handful of folks who do some extremely fine work. It would be a great thing to be able to arrange a few model shoots and teach them some things about basic photoshop post processing (in addition to learning how to operate Photoshop bi-lingually).

When I list categories of what the models might be interested in modeling, I am not really talking about serious professional shoots, but rather specific themes so we don't end up with a girl who wants to show up for an hour to smile for the camera a few times when we want to actually do a photostory or something.

My understanding so far is that the club DOES do nude shoots occasionally as well.

Thanks for the links. I will get on it when I have time and energy. Had a lot of classes today and have an early class tomorrow morning.

I have to wait until Thursday before I get anything really moving on this project. It may yet take a couple of weeks to get anything rolling at all. Remember, everything would need to be translated and checked by someone versed in local Taiwanese laws.

My biggest concern so far is light.

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/17/2006 10:37:04 AM · #8

Don't make me so jealous about your living in lovely Taiwan. Heck, I love that place and miss it a lot. Hopefully you're behaving yourself! Lots of nice girls, I have to say. Learning the Chinese vocabulary for photography must be exceedingly interesting and long-term useful.

10/18/2006 01:07:31 AM · #9

Heh. Thanks Pineapple. I'll try not to make you tooooo jealous... The pics I got of A Li Shan and Yu Shan as well as Sun Moon lake were rather disappointing to be honest. The people I was with weren't terribly patient either...

We saw a red faced monkey that looked like a Japanese Macaque, but it was so early in the morning and it was so cold out at night that every one of my lenses was fogged up on both sides. Even my P&S was a mess of fog.

Other than that, the wildlife was a tad disappointing.

The girls are nice, but I do behave myself. I try to keep myself occupied with becoming a better person and learning useful skills. One day I'll find a muse, but I'll have to keep the reins in check until then.

It will be fun talking to all the ultra-hotties and inviting them to model for our club shoots. ;)

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/18/2006 10:44:05 AM · #10

Yes, there is snow up that mountain in the winter, as I recall. Once I even saw snow on Yangmingshan. I imagine keeping your camera and lens moisture-free was a pain. I have a book, published in the early 90s, of a Taiwan nature photographer's work which includes Alishan. It's got some nice shots therein. I think he hung around the wilderness for days at a time to get what he wanted. I imagine the heat is abating now even in Taipei and Taizhong. Not that Taiwan gets more than 2 days of autumn ;-)