The Setup and the Shot

[Cameron Cornell]

The Setup and the Shot

I try to make reference snapshots of the general scene when I’m shooting large format. If someone makes snapshots of me actually shooting, I like to see those, too.

Why? For two reasons. They serve as a valuable reserve of information that I can reference later, like the films that sports teams watch to analyze errors and strategy. Secondly, when paired with the final large format image, I find it fascinating to see how a prosaic scene can be filtered and transformed by this medium into something new.

If you have diptychs you can share of a setup (with or without you making the photograph) and the final image, please share them here. I, for one, would love to see.

If there is already a thread like this, maybe someone could point me to it.

Cameron Cornell
Washington State
www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell

[Cameron Cornell]

Here are some examples from my own work of what I mean. Most of the final images, I’ve posted on one thread or another, so sorry for the repeats. The pairing with the setup is what I want to demonstrate.





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Cameron Cornell
Washington State
www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell

[Charles S]

[Cameron Cornell]

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Cameron Cornell
Washington State
www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell

[Don Dudenbostel]

Cameron Cornell
Washington State


www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell

Back in the early 70’s I apprenticed under a master commercial photographer. We had an assignment from a major fiberglass insulation manufacturer to do a photo illustration for an ad of rolls if insulation in a construction environment. We built a construction set in the studio and placed the product in the shot. The 8 x10 transparencies were beautiful and we had no reservations that the client would love it. Sadly when the client came to view it he rejected it due to the way one roll of fiberglass was laying in the shot. The client pointed out a little detail that no professional would place the product as we did. A detail we overlooked killed the shot. We had to reshoot and got it right second go around.

This shot reminds me of a shot, think it was a pro color lab, that used a great older black man posing with a sax. Beautiful shot but the photographer blew the shot because of missing a little detail. I played sax for many years and it appears the mouthpiece is upside down. This is exactly the mistake that killed the credibility of the old black Jazz musician.

The resolution is too low for a clear view but it appears the mouthpiece is upside down and doesn’t appear to have a reed on it. Oops! Otherwise it’s a nice portrait.

[Cameron Cornell]

That’s really interesting, Don! This girl’s a player; actually, she’s a really talented player, so my guess would be that it’s correct, but I only play the piano, so I wouldn’t know. Look at the version on my site www.analogportraiture.com and see. It’s higher resolution there, so you should be able to zoom in pretty close.

She’d named her sax Wendell, as in, the author, Wendell Berry, since it’s a bari sax.

Cameron

[Don Dudenbostel]

That’s really interesting, Don! This girl’s a player; actually, she’s a really talented player, so my guess would be that it’s correct, but I only play the piano, so I wouldn’t know. Look at the version on my site www.analogportraiture.com and see. It’s higher resolution there, so you should be able to zoom in pretty close.

She’d named her sax Wendell, as in, the author, Wendell Berry, since it’s a bari sax.

Cameron

oops and my apology!!! Looking at the higher res image what I thought was the top of the mouthpiece is actually the lower part of her arm. The ligature is one designed with the thumb screws on the top. Yes it’s correct. Thanks for posting the link.

You have some lovely images.

[Cameron Cornell]

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Now let’s see yours!

Cameron Cornell
Washington State
www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell

[Cameron Cornell]

Obviously, this isn’t limited to portraiture. That just happens to be what I shoot.

[Cameron Cornell]

Here are a couple more.





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Cameron Cornell
Washington State
www.analogportraiture.com
www.instagram.com/papacornell