Xerox Engineering Systems - CONCEPT CALENDAR
Action: Produce an A2, 8 page corporate calendar helping to reinforce a merger between
Xerox and Versatec, thus creating Xerox Engineering Systems (XES).
We conceived the calendar around the idea of classic partnerships. The
message being that these partnerships
have helped shape our lives today. The main crietria was that we had to
incorporate within the images.
the disciplines or markets that XES operate in. These being; automotive,
cartography, electronic, imaging,
computers etc. We recreated partnerships such as 'Rolls Royce', 'Galvanni
& Volta' 'Catherwood & Stephens' etc.
Adams & 'Capability' Brown (above) architects and landscape
gardeners to the aristocracy. Catherwood & Stephens', Palenque, Mexico. Discoverers of the Mayan Civilization (below).
This was undertaken in the days before we had digital programs
like Photoshop. Here I used a combination of a live action plate,
coupled with a shot I had previously done in Mexico's Yucatan.
We matched the lighting, stripped the images together and hey
presto!. The oil lamp was shot twice and the map had a wire
brace behind it. The live action plate was shot at a ruined
nunnery in Oxford, UK.
The interior plate (above) prior to stripping in the library image.
As we only had one gas lamp, we had to shoot it as two plates .
Therefore the final image (below) had three visual elements.
We flipped the final image so the people were on the right
hand side.
An example of a good visual bonus (below).This was an
aspect of the Adams/Brown shoot and was a prop within the
main image. I liked the mood it created, although we never
used this image on it's own. It is one of my location 'pick-ups'.
Galvanni & Volta, Italy. Inventors of the battery, hearalding the age of electricity.
How I would have liked the finished shot to
be likewith the digital sparks etc. Time was
against us in end, so we opted not to go
for this. In the days before photoshop,
it was very costly to have add-ons like this.
On the set. Note the Hassleblad (left).
Rolls & Royce, Producers of many of the worlds
finest cars.
Rolls & Royce are wondering what the front grill of
their new car should look like. I wonder where they
got the inspiration from...?
Niepce & Daguerre. inventors of the first
practical photographic process.
Eckert & Mauchley, inventors of the worlds first
programmable computer
Location notes
Every location shoot has its own set of challenges
and problems to overcome. Beacause of this I
always used to keep location notes and take
(left) polaroids.
Now of course I use my laptop and a digital
camera so we can get instant feedback
for lighting setups etc.
.
As this type of work involves intuitive thinking,
A lot of experimentation has to be carried out.
No matter how carefull you plan your shoot,
bonuses and problems always happen. Often
the agency produces a visual of what they want,
it is then up to us to do a location recce to see
what prolems may occur. This is essential!