A lesson on “levitation photography” and subsequent assignment resulted in exceptional images captured and edited by Huntington High School students.
Art teacher Pamela Piffard-Williams explained that levitation photography encompasses any image featuring a person or object floating or flying. Defying the laws of gravity, these photographs seem to show subjects suspended [in] mid-air.”
Students learned that creating a surreal portrait exemplifies the creative process. The entire experience, from planning to set-up to shooting to processing is a methodical, creative endeavor.
“Levitation photos are a fun and not overly complicated style of photography,” Mrs. Piffard-Williams said. “But if you really want to create believable levitation shots, there are some tips and tricks that will really help.”
Here’s what students were told they needed to complete the assignment:
- Creativity and imagination
- Camera or camera phone
- A way to stabilize their camera/camera phone
- A model
- A support (step stool, chair, person to lift, etc.)
- One photo of the background
- One photo of the model in the exact same background in a levitating position (Don’t move the camera between shots)
- Photoshop software
Mrs. Piffard-Williams showed students numerous sample images taken during the various steps. The teenagers were provided with technical details they needed for the shoot. For example, they were told to use a fast shutter speed; fast enough to freeze motion, such as 1/125th of a second or faster.
“Make sure your model makes contact with the environment in unique ways,” Mrs. Piffard-Williams told the students. “The idea is that if they’re floating up in the sky without any connection to the scene, it looks fake. But by making sure to get a shadow, reflection hand on the ground or even some hair failing it lets the viewer’s brain know ‘oh yeah, she’s there.’”
Students learned about learned about body language, the need to “get low,” weight distribution and clothing. “Don’t allow the model to look like they are just lying on the ground,” Mrs. Piffard-Williams said. “They need to be up high enough or you need to shoot from a low enough angle to make them look like they are really floating. Don’t let the shape of the support show. Drape something in front of it if needed. Don’t let the feet lie flat.”
For the assignment, students had to choose a model, find a location and choose a date and time for the shoot.
Students were asked to do the following:
- Create five levitation sequences.
- For each sequence, take a least two images. One of the background and one of the exact same scene with the model in position.
- Use five different locations. Variety is best.
- Make sure no part of the body is cut out from the photo.
- Submit 10 images.
