Craft: First, I decided a cool idea for photographing shoes would be to use shoe laces to spell something out, and what better word than, SHOES. I cut a piece of plywood into a rectangle. Then, I printed out letters, all the same size, from the computer. Next, I put screws in every corner of ever letter. Finally, I picked out some shoes and their shoelaces and wrapped the laces around every screw, and then I photographed it.
Composition: I wanted the entire board and every shoe to be in the picture so I got out a later and set it up against the wall. Then I pulled down a rack on the ladder where the paint can normally goes and used this as an easel. After that it was quite easy to fill the frame because the entire piece of art was made for the purpose of filling the whole frame. I held the camera in a landscape layout in order to be able to as close as possible, while still being able to read the entire text. I basically used the plywood board as my paper and the shoes with their shoelaces as my pen.
Concept: I was attempting to think out side the box with this photograph. Using the shoelaces to hang shoes in a certain way was my first thought but then I thought I could use the shoelaces as if they where lines to form letters. Then, because the assignment was shoes I simply decided to spell out SHOES. Overall, I wanted to use the shoes as a means of visual communication, as if the shoe was able to write with there own laces.
Craft: First, I used a black blanket against some cabinets for a black background. Then, I used a black garbage bag on the floor for two reasons, make the entire background black and, more importantly, make for easy cleanup. Next, I had help from my girlfriend wearing a bright red pair of high heels, so that the shoes would really stand out against the black background. I also got a dozen eggs ready. Then, I placed an egg under her high heel and she would stand very carefully. Finally, on the count of three, she would step down and I would take the shot.
Composition: For this shot I wanted to be close up, so the egg would be visible when it broke. Also, I wanted to have both the egg and the shoe in the frame. I chose to hold the camera in a portrait layout in order to accomplish all of this. I would then laid on the floor right next to the shoe and egg. I then prepare the framing and zooming of the photograph, and then I would hold very still. Next, I would start the quick countdown in attempts to take the shot at the precise moment.
Concept: This photograph does not have a real deep meaning behind it; it is more of perfect timing correlation. I though the idea of an egg breaking would be a really cool shot for a shoe in motion and what better way to break an egg then have a pointy high heel step on it? It took many attempts to get a decent photograph and the timing of both, myself with the camera and my girlfriend stepping on the egg, turned into a unique battle of timing.
