Page 5 - Cape-Camera-March-2023

Cape Camera March 2023

Techniques

The making of Sundowners

By David Barnes

David's image, 'Sundowners' really stood out among the high- had to eventually shrink it in Photoshop to make it fit the scene.
scoring entries in the March 2022 competition and made a good The shoot was done in studio with the same model assuming
impression on the judge that evening, as well as on the visitors all the different poses etc. Once set up, we did not change the
to our exhibition at Groot Constantia in November last year. The lighting so that it was constant for all the shots. Initially the wine
judge commented "This image not only had a unique and compel- glass was held in a stand while the waiter poured the drink. Then
ling concept, but it was also executed with exceptional technical skill". the first pose held the glass in the frame so that it was in the right
I asked David if he would be willing to share some insights into place for both shots. The middle pose with the umbrella was easy.
the making of the image for members in pursuit of their own Taking the cupcake off the tray had to be higher than the tray
artistic goals. in the last shot. Quite a lot of details to take into consideration.
David explains "First comes the idea. My ideas come from a lot The lighting set up in the studio was one light from the right
of different places, but for today we are going to talk about “Sun- and bouncing it off a white wall to bring in the left side. This
downers”. I had seen a painting of 4 portly (read Fat Bottomed La- makes it look like sunshine coming from one side. The shadows
dies) ladies sitting by a pool drinking wine served by a waiter in a on the bench are real but the ones in the sand were added af-
tuxedo. I had a model in mind who I could use and he was keen. terwards.The next challenge was to find a suitable beach and
The next step is to start collecting the props.I have a large selec- sky. Many beaches later I found the Strand beach to be perfect
tion of hats that I have collected over the years, so that was sorted. in the early morning. Not many footprints yet and nice and
The bottle of wine had to be red and the right shape. The props flat. The sky was also from the Strand but on another day. So
included a black butlers apron from a braai shop, white serviette what I am trying to say is that I had an idea in my head what it
over the butlers arm, a blue beach towel from China Town and should like with the colours and everything, and it takes a lot
cupcakes from Charlies Bakery in town on the day of the shoot. of searching and blending to get the image in my head onto
The bench is from my son’s garden and the umbrella from China paper. I tried it with a blue sky and some dramatic clouds, but it
Town. I really liked the umbrella as it is totally different. When totally detracted from the models and took over the image. The
selecting props I always look for something different or unique. sky eventually chosen, compliments the models and does not
I bought a new wine glass so that the glass is not scratched from compete with them. Another consideration was that the beach
washing. The blue bikini I got from a shop in China Town as well. sand was very yellow so I added a very soft purple layer near
It was quite embarrassing to go and buy a bikini from any shop the sea to blend it with the sky. Quite a few distracting elements
to be honest. I spotted a bikini in the one shop that looked fes- were also removed from the beach. Foot note: Red wine stains
tive and right for the beach. Ran into the shop, grabbed it, threw the studio floor; no we did not get drunk on the wine, but some
some money on the counter in a hurry and ran out again. Back did get spilled. The cupcakes were nice though afterwards.
at home I realized that I had bought this enormous bikini which I

The idea

Cape Town Photographic Society 5