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Proposed photography sessions with Ian McKenzie
16 January, 2009
Introduction
If you are reading this document, it is probably because you have responded to a casting call made regarding Art Canvas prints and Silver Halide prints that was on the Star Now web site. I would like to explain what I have planned.
I think the gallery web sites which I listed on the Star Now casting call were:
People, Pets, Places, Baby, Art, Event and Santa; since placing that call I have added a new site called Children.
Each of these sites is new. They have all been built and published in December 2008 and January 2009. None of these sites is currently complete. In fact, they probably never will be “finished”. Each of them is planned as a dynamic site which hopefully will be constantly changing.
Purpose of the web sites
The primary purpose of each of the sites is to help me in my business of producing, framing and selling large format, quality Art Canvas prints. Further information on my Art Canvas prints is available at www.artcanvasprints.ws . I own a 760 mm precision flat bed printer which can print at 1,440 dpi resolution on various media including fine quality Art Canvas. The fine texture of Art Canvas gives portrait and other prints a much “softer” quality than can be achieved on paper.
I also have other supplementary equipment such as V-nailers etc for making my own quality stretcher frames for the Art Canvas prints so that they are ready for hanging.
In the casting call and on most of the gallery web sites (on all of them when I get around to doing it), I have also mentioned silver halide prints. For any of you who are not aware of what these are, let me explain.
With digital technology becoming common in recent years, most photographs today are taken with digital cameras and printed using ink jet printers. This process is quick, easy, and economical and if quality printers and paper are used good results can be achieved.
Before we had digital cameras, cameras using film were used. Although the processing is much more expensive, some professional photographers still prefer to use film cameras. To produce prints with a film camera, the light sensitive film first had to be developed and then prints were made on silver halide coated light sensitive photographic paper.
These prints that were produced using chemical processes instead of ink being deposited on sheets of paper, have a far superior quality to ink jet prints.
Well, modern technology has come to the rescue, and firms such as Fuji and Kodak have now produced machines which can transfer images produced digitally with digital cameras onto light sensitive silver halide coated paper. Because of their high cost, (over $200,000.00), these machines are not in common use, but as I said their results are superb. The colours are more vibrant, and the prints are not as prone to fading as ink jet prints are.
A colleague of mine in the photographic processing business has one of these machines to which I have access. So supplying silver halide prints is a secondary purpose of each of the gallery web sites.
Who are these prints for?
The answer to that question is simple…, anyone.
The web sites are intended to draw people to them to encourage those people to make purchases. Prints can be made from digital media that has been obtained from anyone’s camera, provided of course the camera is of reasonable quality to produce enlargements. People who have prints and film that were taken with film cameras can also have Art Canvas print enlargements. I have a high resolution scanner that will scan both 35 mm and 120 format film at an optical resolution of 4,800 X 9,600 dpi. It will also scan 35 mm colour transparencies (colour slides). Prints can also be scanned, but some quality will be lost compared with scanning the original film.
Why have models for the Photo Gallery web sites?
On each of the web sites, I would like a series of gallery photos that are at least semi-permanent. Most of these galleries I would like to “tell a story”, or at least show some of the personality and/or interests of the models involved. I don’t have any firm ideas that are set in concrete. Instead I would prefer to work with each of the models who have expressed an interest in working with me to mutually develop ideas, subjects and subsequently photographs that may have appeal for the viewers of the web sites. Some of you have already suggested themes that you would like to explore.
Models may have their pictures on one web site or on several. Acknowledgement of the models will of course be given on each of the web sites where their photos appear. Also links can be given to each of your web sites or your Star Now profile if you prefer.
There will down the track a bit be other gallery sets of pictures which will be less permanent. A quick and relatively easy way for me to let clients and future clients see a set of pictures I have taken is to publish these on the appropriate web site. As an example, I had involvement with running a New Year Eve’s dance. The 130 odd photos that I took I have posted on the link below for all of these New Year Eve dance goers to take a look.
http://www.peoplepics.biz/html/new_years_eve_2009.html
This link I plan on leaving at least for the short term until I get some other galleries to replace it. But, it will not remain published indefinitely.
Coffee shops – Restaurants – Pet Shops – Doctors’ Surgeries – Other Public Places
In the past (over ten years ago actually), I have displayed some of my framed prints on the walls of some coffee shops in Brisbane’s suburbs. These were paper prints behind glass with a matt board border etc. When I get a suitable collection together, I plan in the future to do the same with Art Canvas prints on stretcher frames. As I did in the past, the displays in the various venues would be changed about every month.
If you know of venues that may be suitable, I would appreciate you letting me know about them. For example a busy doctor’s reception area may be suitable for some cute baby photos, and pets on a pet shop wall etc.
What is in this for the models?
Well, let me start with what is not in it for you so I shall not waste any more of your time if this is your sole aim. No payments as in money will be paid to any of the models participating in any of these photography sessions. If you do modelling work for payment only, I do understand if you don’t want to pursue this any further.
If I still have your attention, here is what you will receive.
Firstly, digital files of all photos in which you are a subject. The easiest way of doing this initially is to download them all onto a CD for you. However in the past I have digitally enhanced/manipulated photos of models that I have taken. Sometimes this has even been done a year or so after the original shots were taken. I plan on getting file copies of any of these to you also. This could be done via e-mail or whatever other means is appropriate.
Secondly, I hope that for your sake and for mine there will be some quality photos of you that you will cherish. These you will be able to use as a part of your portfolio.
Thirdly, any one who models for me can have Art Canvas prints of your favourite photos at the same price I charge professional photographers. That is, normal selling price less 25%. My standard large size Art Canvas prints are already competitively priced at $180 for a 820 mm X 620 mm print supplied on a stretcher frame ready for hanging, and $120 for a 620 mm X 400 mm print also supplied on a stretcher frame ready for hanging. The same size prints on rolled canvas for you to mount on stretch frames yourself are $110 and $75 respectively.
I know that you can do the sums yourself, but your prices for each of the above respectively are: $135, $90, $82.50, $56.25
If you require any silver halide 8 X 12 size prints, then they are also available at the same discounted rate of selling price less 25%.
Fourthly, any model can have their first Art Canvas print at half the normal selling price. That is $90 only for a 820 mm X 620 mm print supplied ready to hang on a stretcher frame.
Time frame for the Photography Sessions
These photography sessions I would of course like to conduct in mutually suitable times. There is no desperate urgency for any of them. I certainly don’t want photography to become my full time job even in the short term. I plan on spending about one day a week on the project. Which day or days of the week are involved will depend on discussions with you.
Some of you no doubt will be more involved than others. Some may be involved in one session only, others may be involved in several over a period of time.
At the time of writing this, I have over thirty people who have expressed an interest in being involved, so these sessions are not going to all happen over the next few weeks.
Where the photography sessions will take place
Where possible and practicable I prefer to shoot outdoors using the natural environment and natural lighting. Where this may not be an option, I do have portable studio lights and backdrops for the photography sessions.
As well as thinking about themes etc suitable for yourself. Be aware of any potentially suitable outdoor locations in your part of the world for the sessions.
The Web Sites
People Pictures
As the name of the site implies, this web site is for people generally. Many of you who have expressed an interest in being involved will probably have a gallery on this site. There has been much interest from ladies in the 18 to 30 age group. It would be good to get a few more men, and some older people interested.
Pets Pictures
I have had some interest in this category also. Any of you with photogenic pets let me know. If we are having a photographic session with you, perhaps we could include your pet(s) at the same time.
Baby Pictures
At the present time I have had no responses for the Baby Pictures web site. I would really like some longitudinal shots for this site. That is, photos of the mother to be, perhaps some with father to be also, photos of newly born baby, and some photos when a bit older, some with mother and/or father and/or any siblings.
Photos of young babies on their own also wanted.
Children Pictures
This is a new web site. It was first published today. Wanted are pictures of children of all ages involved in a variety of activities. If you know of any child having a birthday party with friends or something similar, and the event is not too far geographically removed from me, then please let me know.
I do plan on placing a casting call on Star Now for this web site in the next day or so.
Art Pictures
By “Art Pictures”, I am particularly referring to Photographic Art. That is photographs that have been manipulated using one of the photo software programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint.
It was this category for which I had framed prints in coffee shops for sale in the past. Generally the photos were erotic in nature depicting semi-nude or nude models. I always liked to keep some mystery surrounding these photos and most showed body parts leaving the imagination to complete the picture. Also to add to the mystery I generally kept the model anonymous. Also, I have never produced a framed print that I would not feel comfortable hanging in a public place.
Most of the work that I have done in the past I no longer have, but I have posted a few examples of my photo-art on my Star Now profile page.
I am interested in exploring this area some more, even perhaps designing some Anne Geddes style photos with babies and flowers etc.
If you are interested in this area for your portfolio, let me know. Obviously time is required to get the various artistic effects. Doing the work with the software for me is very much “mood driven”. However, if I have photos of you that I do manipulate, you will certainly receive copies of the completed work.
Event Pictures
I already have an invitation to an Australia Day event…, thank you! If there are any other important events coming up on your social calendar for which a photographic record may be desirable, then please let me know.
Santa Pictures
Most of the pictures for this site will have to wait for next year. I am however having a special photographic session with the firm that supplies the majority of Santas throughout Australia about May this year.
Have you any idea of the number of photos of Santa that are taken each year?
No I don’t either. But I do know there must be an incredible number. I have had a “Santa” role for the last two years. I do know that there were hundreds of photos taken daily of me with children from two days old up to 95 year old men. There are thousands of Santas is department stores, shopping centres, resorts, at concerts everywhere throughout the world. I reckon there could well be more photos of Santa existing than any other subject.
Places Pictures
This site will mostly be filled with photos I have taken and will take at different places throughout the world. However, if there is a special place close to where you live, and you and that place could be in that category, then please let me know.
My Contact information
I think most of you have my contact details already, but here they are again:
Telephone: 07 5547 7187 or mobile 0400 106 654 (try landline first, because if I am at home mobile reception is lousy)
E-mail: Click on my photo or name below to send me an e-mail
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