Here are most of the photos I took over 2 different photoshoots. I used multiple different camera setups, some with a top down view using multiple lighting set ups, others using an infinity curve with soft box lighting and some with the camera placed straight on with a powerful flashlight to capture striking shadows (requires a high shutter speeds to keep exposure levels at a normal amount). I took a few photos with a single subject with no background noise to make the subject more important, other photos have multiple images to create a chaotic and unorganised look, as if it wasn’t placed there on purpose.

Here are 5 unique images that where taken in different ways, using different angles, lighting and object setups. Keeping with the theme of nostalgia, I used objects that are from the past like the old violin, flower holder, books, old packaging, tower of pisa, ext. These objects all have a nostalgic effect on me due to there old, worn appearance. I kept the subjects in the centre of the frame to make them more important. For the camera settings, I used manual focus and exposure, so I can adjust the image to how I like it.

Editing and best images

For this Image I only really changed the colour grading to be more yellow for the shadows and added a vignette, I also slightly increased the contrast. Old camera photos where often very yellow because Photo paper and chemicals deteriorate over time and change their properties. The strong shadows makes it seem like it was taken in a dark room (it was). The violin is almost fully in frame, in the centre of the frame, making it the main subject and the most important one.

For this one I used the same camera setup and editing settings, but just adjusted the placement of objects. A flash light was used for these images (requires a fast shutter and small aperture) to increase the contrast.

For this one I did a similar thing to the one above (increasing the yellow in the shadows) and bumped the exposure up (+30). I also added some grain in adobe light room too replicate pictures taken a while ago with worse camera quality.

I used a top down camera setup and placed the pencils to point at the chapter, leading the eyes to the text. I edited it similarly again, but with a more dramatic vignette. Continuous lighting with 3 different angles to reduce the shadow intensity. There is a slight over exposure so to combat that I reduced the exposure and contrast In editing.

Here I added the B/W editing pre-set to these to images and bumped up the exposure for more dramatic lighting. For the top image, I changed the camera settings to have a low f-stop (aperture) So the hammer will be out of focus. This gives for a more dramatic image, as it appears less flat. I tried to make the bottom image almost have a comedic effect as the box is like a mouth eating a violin 💀.