I am looking for structured assignments which will help me improve my photography. I’m an experienced enthusiast - over 20 years of shooting - but I feel a bit stale recently like I’ve not learned anything new or looked at anything differently. Is there any assignment you have done which you felt moved the dial for you?
Product photography of mirror finishes:
Mission: photograph polished chrome and brass biometric locks. They’re mirrors, so everything surrounding them shows. The reflections ruined the first test shots.
1st revision: I built an igloo of white foam core (and softbox) around them, which fixed the reflections but there was no contrast and the form of the locks was indistinct.
2nd revision: I moved the camera aside and shined a laser pointer on the lock where I wanted to see shape and looked to see where the dot reflected to. I taped black felt in a pair of stripes inside the igloo where the laser directed me to. The metal looked liquid and the lock looked great. Success!