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Posted on 28/07/04 4:53:00 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply  |
I've never done this before...
...but I wanted to post one of my own montages. This is a piece I did yesterday for tomorrow's Independent (or perhaps today's, I forgot to buy it) for a humorous article about the interrogation of Saddam Hussein. I've put this piece here because it demonstrates so many of the things I talk about in the book: lighting, shadows, body language, composition. This was a particularly tricky image to do because of an unusual constraint: it was to be printed across a spread, so I had to make sure nothing important fell in the gutter. I've arranged it so the break runs down the middle of the chessboard, with both halves of the board tying the image together. Also, I was really pleased with it as an image. I think I'll be looking at this one in more detail in the 3rd edition, whenever that may be.  |
Posted on 28/07/04 5:32:44 PM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Fantastic! I love the candid references to the muffins and donuts! Is the 'centre' off-centre because there will be an editorial down the left side? How many poses are actually you in this one?  _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 28/07/04 6:39:30 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
The fold is off-centre because the illustration took up maybe 3 columns on the left hand page, and 5 on the right. I'm not sure. This time, none of the bodies are me! I didn't have time to set up cameras, this was another of those rush jobs. |
Posted on 28/07/04 6:39:44 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Re: I
This is superb - the body language of Hussein really makes this scene, and the doughnut and muffins just adds to his relaxed posture. Using the chess board as the mid-point to a centre-spread will really make it stand out and bring a psuedo 3D aspect to it. This is why you are the master and we are the students, it's just a pity you don't actually know which edition it's gone in, as I would certainly buy a copy.
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Posted on 28/07/04 6:57:05 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Well, I've just checked the Independent website and there's no mention of Saddam in there today, so it must be in tomorrow. Or something. The text is really funny, so it's probably worth getting for that! |
Posted on 28/07/04 7:19:21 PM |
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russ davey
Guest Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Excellent, and the best thing is I now have a video on the CD showing me how to do a light like that one!! For me its the expression on Saddams face, combined with the pose of the body that makes it so cool, it makes it all come to life. The composition works very well. The chess board is very clever, and I like the way the lighting is just right and gives just the right atmosphere. One burning question though - did they give you a long enough deadline? It must be hard to put something as complex as this together under time contraints.  |
Posted on 28/07/04 7:34:20 PM |
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trinityofone
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Re: I've never done this before...
Don'tcha just hate it when something that would take me the best part of a day or more to do, is referred to as a 'rush job'!  _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 28/07/04 7:38:34 PM |
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trinityofone
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Re: I've never done this before...
Steve, Do you still get a buzz when you see your work published or has it now reached the stage of 'another day, another dollar'? I know when I had my "reader's wife" image published in DPT, I was rather chuffed, to date, I think the only other thing I've ever done that's appeared in print, was in the Angling Times, I sent in an idea for not getting a lecerated thumb from the knots running through a multiplier reel....now that, was a long time ago!! _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 28/07/04 10:55:49 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
To be honest, I've got to the stage where I usually don't even bother buying a copy of the paper, except it it's the Guardian and it comes through the front door of its own accord. This job was a 3 hour deadline, which is about average for newspaper work. It's the adrenaline buzz that really helps get this sort of work done on time - made more difficult this time because I wasn't sent the Saddam head until right at the end, so I was just praying it would fit the body and be looking in the right direction. So no, I don't really get a buzz from seeing the work in print any more. But I do get a buzz from being relied upon: the knowledge that if I screw up, they'll be left with a blank hole in the newspaper. It's nice to be trusted! |
Posted on 28/07/04 11:58:23 PM |
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russ davey
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Re: I've never done this before...
See thats probably why Id never be able to do this kind of work, I mean 3 hours is such a short space of time, Im forever changing things on my images days after Ive done parts of them. It must be scary at times. Cant believe you had to wait for Saddams head!! Do they send you certain things often like that then? I thought you had all the images neatly organised on your hard drive!? |
Posted on 29/07/04 01:16:41 AM |
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trinityofone
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Re: I've never done this before...
3 hours, I'd probably just have finished deciding on stock images by then, well, maybe 
I expect it's a great feeling to be relied on, they know you can produce the goods. The question, it seems, is can they? _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 29/07/04 06:53:58 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: I
3 hours does seem incredible but I suppose when your used to Photoshop tools, have a few Actions stashed around ( for this and that ), and you know your workflow then there's probably a bit of time for tea and a biscuit, no doubt 
In my case I always felt that selections were a total pain, until a took up and got to grips with the power of the PenTool - now it's a matter of minutes and I feel more confident that the path is infinitely adjustable without damage to a single pixel of my original image. So I suppose Steve is like that with montages of extraordinary complexity - once you're confident and know how to acheive a certain look then 3 hours seems a reasonable time, permitting you can always put your hands on the most appropriate Stock image when the time calls, like Trinity said. Becky |
Posted on 29/07/04 08:43:13 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Three hours is standard for newspaper work. There are several techniques that help meet this kind of deadline: knowing all your keyboard shortcuts is one (and I use QuicKeys to create a load more), writing Actions for repetitive tasks, and, of course, being able to lay your hands on images in a hurry. The thing you have to remember, however, is that I do Photoshop all day, every day. Ultimately, practice and experience are the tools that really get you through. Hmm... I can feel another Interlude coming on... |
Posted on 29/07/04 08:54:53 AM |
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trinityofone
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Re: I've never done this before...
I hope you'll credit us all as insipration in ed. 3 _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 29/07/04 09:07:50 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
But what I do is illustration, rather than art. Which means it's done for a purpose - and the purpose, in this case, is meeting the deadline and filling a hole in tomorrow's paper. Besides which, I love tight deadlines!
I have loads of stock images, of course - around 8000 photos of people directly on my hard drive, plus 600 CDs from the now-defunct Corel collection, plus 150,000 Photo Objects images. Celebs are different. Sure, I do have pics of Saddam, but they're all either pre-capture (too slick) or immediately afterwards (with a beard). The reason I had to hang about is because the Independent's email system went down! Seriously! You wouldn't think it possible in this day and age, but it happens all the time... |
Posted on 29/07/04 10:10:08 AM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Just to let everyone know, the pic is in today's paper. I haven't bought it yet, as I didn't have any money on me _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 29/07/04 11:44:35 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
I bought The Independent and love the write-up - which to be honest I thought was a real account, until logic dawned on me that even US interogators aren't that stupid - once I'd realised it was a spoof I found it incredibly funny and Steve's pic really makes the scene. |
Posted on 29/07/04 11:53:39 AM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
I'm going to buy it at lunchtime, so I'll have a read of it then _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 29/07/04 12:09:29 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7000 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
If only I was on commission for Independent sales... |
Posted on 29/07/04 12:14:45 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: I've never done this before...
Although I don't mean to pry as to what they pay you for your work, but how does one go about determining the £/$ value of their montages and how do you go about standardising the rate to ensure that you can make a living from selling your work. Because for me I have always found it a struggle to negotiate a fair price that doesn't put me out of the picture (pardon the pun) or undersell myself? |
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