Ideas of any kind please

[lZr]

I have set a photo session tomorrow in Barber saloon. I want a series of shots with old man, shaving with old razor and old fashion dresses. I have them all ready for the action. Equipment: Bessar R and Color Skopar 35 mm, DSLR and SLR same lenses. No flash, no tripods. 400 asa film and digital is ok.
How should I shot my heroes? Give me some ideas about distance, angle of view
and crazy ideas
Thanks.
Yes, I'll post samples

[Michael I.]

take the horizont along.

[rover]

Low angle of view in reference to your subject in the chair. Just like you are part of the conversation sitting along with the others.

Hair on the floor at the base of the barber chair.

Shots of the discussion in the mirrors.

Tight shot, hair/hands/comb/scissors, barber in the bokeh.....

Men's magazines (male orientated not really anything dirty) sitting on the table or empty chair waiting to be read.

[lZr]

Thanks Michael and rover. Beauty ideas about the waiting men and magazines.
Now I think also, to incorporate some lights back from the razor

[clintock]

Is smoking still something done in Israel? Getting my hair cut at the barber when I was a child always involved endless smoking, overfilled ashtrays. It may kill you, but smoking sure looks cool. Nothing cooler than the one-eyed squint to keep the smoke out when no hands are free and the cigaratte is half burned away.. all the while talking and clipping..

[lZr]

Thanks clintock. Yes, smoke can lurk free arround. My old man is smoking. Me too, but I am out of the frame. Good idea

[eli griggs]

Get some shots of the barber from the chair, as if you are the customer, get shots of the customer with the camera held as if from the barbers viewpoint. The barbers arm and razor reaching into the foreground will help .

Eli

[lZr]

Eli, nice idea. Like video cast

[back alley]

who is wearing the old fashioned dresses?

if it's a woman then shoot her shaving the old man.

[lZr]

The baber is wearing them. Thanks
Remark - The barber was pushed by me to shave. He didn't do that for long time. 'Who is shaving today?' he asked me.

[clintock]

Oh you gotta get the classic with the chair fully reclined, the steaming hot towel on the client's face, while the razor gets honed on the strop by the barber. The tension of the client is there a little, no matter how many times he's had a shave. Trusting a guy not to kill you, who so easily could..

[lZr]

Clintock, you have top ideas. Ya, the barber will use his strop. The tension is really top quality here. Only the gun will be invisible in this scene. Bad, really bad.

[Sparrow]

Speaking as an expert, look out for the dumb photographer in the mirrors

:)

[lZr]

Share the expertize, man. I'll be in anyhow

[kmack]

I would also take a longer lens for some tight shots without being right in someones face.

[lZr]

Good. Sorry I don't have the 75 mm Skopar, but my (D)SLR can do that easy.
Most of the digital will go 17 mm to be close to the 35 mm Skopar, but I have many zooms to use

[Sparrow]

Outside looking in through a window or an open door, reflections of the “action” in mirrors or picture frames, rows of style photos contrasted with the actual customers, details of the equipment on counters and any shiny surfaces you can use to expand the room spring to mind, 35mm is a bit tight indoors something under 20 would be better if you could get use of one.

[lZr]

Thank Sparrow at All. Cool ideas

[nico]

Details, like the tools (scissors, razors, towels, etc) hands (of the barber while shaving the customer's throat ...)...

[Carzee]

Well, this shoot seems to be sentimental and nostalgic. Any old-fashioned mirror frames? Any old kibbutz recruitment posters or newspaper gatefolds on the wall? A faded flag somewhere?

And a macro of the skin/soap/stubble...

[Matthew55000]

If it's a significant shave maybe a 'before and after' of the man being shaved.

Don't be afraid of catching yourself in the mirror and including yourself in some shots.
If done well that sort of photo can be quite interesting.

[lZr]

Stunning ideas++ Carzee and Matthew. Thanks nico

[lZr]

Time to show samples.
I was a little bit disapointed, because the short time frame, no good foam seen and no hair on the floor
My HP5+ is drying and tomorrow will post b/w samples. Hope they are better. For now, I think to redo my job soon as possible.
Let me proceed

[lZr]

3 more comming

[Doug]

I particularly like the first two... Looks like a fun excercise.

[alexz]

Nice try Lazar. Unfortunately have little expertize in that specific field (aside of shooting my little girls being haircut), but if you're after an old, nostalgic atmosphare - I would certainly consider B&W, not color. IMHO, color just distracts from the mood...
Probably also having the barber wearing some kind of old-fashioned robe/coat, make any contemporary thingy like TV out of the frame will also contribute. Also, IMHO the bored guy in the background doesn't really contribute to the mood and probably even draws the attation away from the subject...

[lZr]

Thanks Alex. First try. Next time. At this moment I scan my b/w HP5+.

[Sparrow]

IZr

Hope you don’t mind, I did a crop and a bit of PS

http://bp2.blogger.com/_U-t2tGr6I1A/RpU8pTWSZwI/AAAAAAAAAK8/xXA-ncoLvCE/s400/last-razor-650.jpg

[Michael I.]

much better.I would highten contrast.

[Sparrow]

much better.I would highten contrast.

better?

http://bp1.blogger.com/_U-t2tGr6I1A/RpVEsDWSZxI/AAAAAAAAALE/IBXie5HzFWQ/s400/last-razor-650.jpg

[Doug]

Third one with a crop and losing the guy in the background, excellent! :)

[lZr]

Ok. Nice, and very clasic frame. Also good to me

[lZr]

Now the b&w version and Sparrow frame without crop
HP5+ in HC-110 dil B for 5:30 min at 20C

[lZr]

Last two samples