Pre-visualization vs Site visits?

Pre-visualization vs Site visits

Good morning everyone.

This week I have been doing quite a bit of pre-visualization and site walks. 

Well, they are both the same? Actually, no they are not. 

In my classes this week we have had to pre-visualize a scene before we actually shot the final images.  To me it is actually seeing the entire completed photograph before I even clicked on the shutter release button. What I want to say here is that you should just not think of pre-visualization as where you want to setup up your lights and models.

It should really be about every single facet of your photograph. You should consider, aperture, wind, light direction, poses, flag placement, hair and wardrobe and actually see what that photograph would look like; as if it were the front cover of the magazine that you would like to be featured in. Make sure that you even think about text placement, colors and take it even further by thinking about how you could use the photograph in a composite. Basically, what would the client want?

What is it that the client is wanting to do with your photograph. It is not just about taking the perfect photograph, but how everything will come together when you finally deliver the photograph to the client. Where will they use it. Is it for a wedding album? Cover of a product? As they turn the page is the model facing the viewer as they turn the page or looking towards the middle of the page.

You might say that is a lot of visualization, but to me it says a lot about how you want to change the pose of the model. If you change the pose then the lighting is going change, which in turn changes the feel and look of the photograph.

Pre-visualization is a powerful tool and when used correctly can open a can full of creativeness.

Now, onto site visits. I always think of this as where my light is coming from. We are always going to be painting with light so I always look for areas of where the light will be coming from when I am on the scene for the final shoot setup. What time of day will I be there and what do I have to work with?Here is a great app to use, which I know will help you with just that, light direction. The Photographer's Ephemeris It is a great tool if you would like to plan where light will be coming from on location. Not just for outdoors,but also if you are in-doors and you would like to use some large windows. 

The site walk is used often to get to know your terrain. You are going to use your pre-visualization in this location so here is where you look for places to place everything.

You are looking for power sources, slope of the land, size of the space, height of interior rooms. It is also a trip to see if your visualization will actually work within the environment of the location. The site visit is also a way to figure out all the other logistical requirements you might need. Who is going to carry all the equipment, is their budget for transport, is it going to be windy (if you are outside) and last but not least, is it private property and do you require permission to get inside.

The two, pre-visualization and site visits work very closely together and I cannot emphasize how important both are to the success of your shoot.

Therefore, in closing I would just like to say that you should remember to always take notes, make sketches of what you see, hear and smell. But most important of all, take photographs. You might visit more than one location and knowing which one worked and which did not, especially if you are sending someone else can be very important in the long run. Another great app that you could use is GPS MotionX Instead of buying an expensive GPS system for your camera the IPhone version (I am not sure if they make it for other phones) you can track your locations and then email the file to you so you can upload it into Lightroom under the map feature. It will sync up with your photographs you have taken giving you a great idea of all the locations that you have visited. Just make sure that your clocks are synced correctly so that you can get the correct times for each photograph. For only$0.99 it is a much cheaper option.

So here is to better visualization and creative inspiration from all of you.

Have a great week.

Denzil

Ps: Please let me know if you would like to see something here we could discuss.