Help with Creativity - catalogue cover photo

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/22/2009 09:17:46 AM · #1

I'm doing the cover shot for an orthotics company catalogue. The owner gave me a shoe and an orthotic to use. She wants to show through the middle part of the shoe to give the viewer the feeling of how the orthotic is supporting the arch of the foot.

I've done a preliminary shot, here, but there are some major problems I see right away:

1. The separation of foot from shoe is not obvious in the 'windowed' area.
2. The orthotic doesn't stand out as it's own entity... maybe.
3. My wife has a chicken-leg.
4. The shot is static as heck.

Problems 1, 2, and 3 might be solved by putting a sock on the foot and leg. What colour do you think would work?

Problem 4 might be solved by putting the shoe and foot/leg in a runners starting postion, which could give a more 'golden-spiral', or 'triangles' composition to the shot. But it also makes it a much more difficult shot to set up, physically.

Any ideas are much appreciated!

Bebe

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/22/2009 10:04:19 AM · #2

I think it's great! I would love to see the runners starting position, as you suggest - I can imagine it would be much harder, but I think it would be much more dynamic.

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

02/22/2009 10:11:04 AM · #3

A sawhorse might work for her to balance on to get the runner position.

Red commands attention and is unisex but also could make one think of blood.

Yellow also grabs the eye and is unisex but could make one think of foot fungus.

Your wife's leg is just fine! :P

Maybe drop down the light on the leg (in post with a selection) and really make the shoe pop out.

02/22/2009 10:13:37 AM · #4

I wouldn't use a sock. It would take away from the shoe. But you can airbrush the leg.

eta: Or you could use a tan stocking.

Message edited by author 2009-02-22 10:14:28.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/22/2009 12:43:00 PM · #5

Here's a couple variations with a sock. I'm also going to do sockless for a look-see...

Message edited by author 2009-02-22 12:43:29.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

02/22/2009 12:59:36 PM · #6

Personally I think it looks better with less of the leg showing.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

02/22/2009 01:11:39 PM · #7

I believe the original shot works better for the orthotic itself... It's *certainly* a more aesthetic shot of the shoe. Now, you can angle the leg forward while still keeping the shoe flat if there's something for the wife to lean on, for whatever that's worth. Also, you've shown two variations of "portholing", the total porthole and the ghost porthole. I think the ghost porthole if muchy better, myself. I also think the sock's a bad, bad idea. Orthotics is about feet, not socks, so you got to show a foot.

R.

02/22/2009 01:14:27 PM · #8

Thanks Bear. Thanks everyone.

02/22/2009 02:44:02 PM · #9

Here's one without the sock.

I have to admit that I prefer the socked shots because I have such a hard time with skin. It gave me fits trying to smooth out the leg, and in the process I've probably made it look a little fake, after a lot more labour. I just don't have the skill to deal with skin, and feel much more comfortable with the artificial sock. :-(

02/22/2009 02:48:47 PM · #10

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

It doesn't look fake at all. I think they'd like this one. Like I said earlier though, if you're not comfortable with airbrushing the leg go with a sheer stocking (tan shade). It will cover and even out the skin tones, yet you won't notice a sock.

02/22/2009 02:59:54 PM · #11

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Here's one without the sock.

I have to admit that I prefer the socked shots because I have such a hard time with skin. It gave me fits trying to smooth out the leg, and in the process I've probably made it look a little fake, after a lot more labour. I just don't have the skill to deal with skin, and feel much more comfortable with the artificial sock. :-(

It doesn't look fake at all. I think they'd like this one. Like I said earlier though, if you're not comfortable with airbrushing the leg go with a sheer stocking (tan shade). It will cover and even out the skin tones, yet you won't notice a sock.

Ooh, good idea!

02/22/2009 03:01:56 PM · #12

I've emailed in these shots labelled as "Mock-ups, For Discussion", along with the suggestion of an additional pose to look at, as Bear suggested. Then I can get a better idea of what they want before I create a hundred variations.

02/22/2009 05:14:47 PM · #13

Well, Bear was right.

She definitely wants a naked foot, even after I tried to sell her on a socked foot.

Her comment was to make the orthotic more distinct... Any ideas? Beer's on me at the next GTG we go to...

Message edited by author 2009-02-22 17:15:19.

02/22/2009 05:30:55 PM · #14

How's this?

02/22/2009 05:35:39 PM · #15

Or we could kick it up a bit...

02/22/2009 06:12:52 PM · #16

Whoa,

Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

02/22/2009 06:16:04 PM · #17

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Whoa, Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

In fact, is it OK with you if I send your examples? If they hit a chord and you helped me on the processing I could PayPal you a hundred bucks. Whaddayasay?

02/22/2009 06:19:16 PM · #18

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Whoa, Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

In fact, is it OK with you if I send your examples? If they hit a chord and you helped me on the processing I could PayPal you a hundred bucks. Whaddayasay?

I say Hooray!!

02/22/2009 06:22:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Whoa, Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

In fact, is it OK with you if I send your examples? If they hit a chord and you helped me on the processing I could PayPal you a hundred bucks. Whaddayasay?

I say Hooray!!

Booyah, you're edits are on the way, w00t!

02/22/2009 06:27:48 PM · #20

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Whoa, Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

In fact, is it OK with you if I send your examples? If they hit a chord and you helped me on the processing I could PayPal you a hundred bucks. Whaddayasay?

I say Hooray!!

Booyah, you're edits are on the way, w00t!

Happy to help! Crossing my fingers for ya!

02/22/2009 06:30:30 PM · #21

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Whoa, Kelli, those look really sweet!

My mind is so closed I didn't even think of pumping up the processing to rock it out. I love your edits. I think I'm going to try a rocked out version to propose. THANKS!

In fact, is it OK with you if I send your examples? If they hit a chord and you helped me on the processing I could PayPal you a hundred bucks. Whaddayasay?

I say Hooray!!

Booyah, you're edits are on the way, w00t!

Happy to help! Crossing my fingers for ya!

I think your second edit is a proud work. I hope she likes it, I think it's fanfrikkentastic! :-)