Featuring My Kitchen
The last time my kitchen featured in my images, was when I photographed the tiles on the floor and used them as part of the texture for the background for my Fellowship panel. Well, now it’s featured again 
This time though, rather than just using the texture of the tiles, I used the whole floor as a backdrop for a set I shot with UK model Jen Somerfield. This set was actually shot as a Polaroid/instax set, but whilst I was going to the effort of taking them, I decided to take a few shots on my D3, which are the ones featured here.
It was the complimentary tones between Jen’s skin, hair and tiles that attracted me to the idea of shooting this and I think it’s these ingredients that help make the shots work. Plus the “unique” perspective gained from shooting above and looking down (I was standing on a step ladder).
From a models perspective, lying on a floor allows them pose very differently and indeed with a lot more freedom, than they would normally be able to do if standing. So this coupled with the toning made for very different images to what I normally shoot. To be fair, Jen was a real hero for this set, because tiled floors in Ireland certainly aren’t the warmest of surfaces. I have a few out takes where Jen’s face resembles that of a person being dipped in to an ice bath (I’ll save her blushes and refrain from posting them here).
Light wise, everything is simple… large clear glass French doors (out of shot at the top of the image) and a large window to image left. Photoshopping was minimal enough, with some basic healing and some creative burning/vignetting. I’m still very drawn to these images, but I can’t help but love the polaroids even more (strangely enough). I still haven’t had the opportunity to scan them in, but now doubt they will feature here over the coming weeks.
What I really like about your images, is how effortless they look. I’m not saying she looks 100% natural (that would require the shocked face you mentioned), but it does look “right”.
The listing and tech bits are all good, but then that’s a given with your images. What’s really nice now is that they look so effortless.
Merv.
Cheers Merv, I appreciate that.
To be honest though, it’s Jen that has to take the credit for it looking effortless. My roll ends with picking the right model for the right mood and then just enabling them to do their thing. All I did here was stand up on a ladder and click away. Jen did the rest.
Ah, but who picked the floor tiles
Nice series of images.
Lol… Lorraine chose them, but I paid