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Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
Hi guys,
Thought I could seek some advice on a catalouge issue, The Bar/Restaurant I work in is going to make a "summer program special" catalouge, and they hired a photogapher next week to shoot pictures for this. There will be several pictures, of the bar, the restaurant, staff, several bands who will perform and stand-up/comic nite. There are going to be three pictures of me, one where I am doing flaring, and two doing magic (bar/walkaround). Any suggestions on what will make a real "magical picture"? stuff like: spectator reactions, floating effects or cups and balls have come to mind..... -e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Keep it simple. Make sure your face shows well. Don't worry about the photos being accurate magic-wise. Try to pose two or three women really in close reacting, or over-reacting. Only have women in the pictures with you (unless it is a kid joint then kids).
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
Here is a good thing, after you have done a really good magic effect, tell them that you need to take a picture for the manager or whatever, and tell them to act like they just did but make it look like they are having a great time (not fake though).
Not only will they play along to "stick it to the man" (they like to put one over on the manager, even though they really aren't) but also they just were really amazed, so they know how they should be looking. This approach should get rid of fake applause, but at the same time make sure that everyone's eyes are open and they are all good looking for the photo. Also, while I agree about the attractive women aspect, many times people will EXPECT the magician to have those "fake shots with the pretty girls". I usually try to get at least one with a smart older man, a CEO type guy who looks like he's completly fooled or amazed..... gives you some credibility imho. |
AlexWong Veteran user 371 Posts |
When you try to take a "fake candid shot". Isn't it difficult to get the ladies or kids to look natural? Even though, they are amazed, does the subsequent "acting" take away from what you had just done?
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Jon Allen V.I.P. England 1771 Posts |
The only thing that matters is the reaction of the people. Nobody looking at the photo will understand why the bill is folded up so small and they won't care that you can do double fans. They *will* understand people looking amazed, happy, thrilled and blown away. They will also be able to spot fakes!
Creator of iconic magic that you will want to perform.
The Silent Treatment, The Pain Game, Paragon 3D, Double Back, Destination Box and more. Available at www.onlinemagicshop.co.uk |
flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
I think I would get the shot of them as they open their hands with a big load of sponge balls.
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
Scott Wells Inner circle Houston, TX 1025 Posts |
All good ideas, but when it comes to pictures, I've gotta go with Pete Biro. He's the professional and knows what it takes to make a good picture. You don't know how golden his ideas are until you get to know him or have read more of his stuff. His advice here is pure Pete, sweet, simple and direct...and right.
yours, Scott
"A magician who isn't working is only fooling himself." - Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star
The Magic Word podcast: http://themagicwordpodcast.com Listen to convention coverage, interviews with magicians, pictures, videos and more. Magic Inspirations website for all things Banachek: www.magicinspirations.net |
Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
Thanks for the great advice, I thought I'd get one picture from behind the bar, doing a "in the spectators hand" card trick (with pref. just girls then) and get the photographer to shoot the picture just at the "climax" of the trick.
For the other picture, it's going to be at a table, but should the picture be up close or far away, to get as many reactions as possible in one and same picture? sponges or bills may be? Should I try to consentrate on "wow's" or laughter? I think I'd like to keep it as genuine as possible. -e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Magic is a performance art and photographs are still pictures. Therefore, it's difficult to get an "action" shot of the magic happening.
On the cover of my lecture notes, Real-Life Table Hopping, I have a picture of me doing the Professor's Nightmare at a table. There are a couple of people in the picture and it is a candid shot. Depending on what kind of magic you do, concentrate on the audience reaction, since you are going to be featured in the rest of the brochure. BTW, best to try for candid shots, rather than asking customers to "pose" in suitably astonished ways; that never really comes off as "real". |
MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
I am not advocating a "fake reaction", but also I don't like candid shots because you get a lot of bad ones.
That's why I say perform a great effect, and right as they get done applauding or whatever, ask them to take a photo with you and act like they just saw the trick. They are still reacting from the actual trick, but also know that they are going to be photographed, also the line about the manager or whoever usually will make them want it to look believable and not fake. |
kinesis Inner circle Scotland, surrounded by 2708 Posts |
I have to agree with Peter here. When I worked at a Holiday Park for 3 years, a photographer would turn up at the height of the season each year to take photographs for next year's brochure. All the best shots were totally candid. The faked candid shots look fake. If the photographer simply does his job and does it well, he should be able to capture the moment and convey all that it should. Do your thing and ignore the camera unless specifically asked to pose.
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Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
Maybe I should explain the effect to the photographer beforehand, so he knows when the routine ends and gets the shot just right?
-e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Eirik,
Yes, and even better, show it to him. That way, he will have a better idea of when the climax is and be able to get better shots. |
Rafa Regular user Costa Rica 102 Posts |
Go to a magic shop web site, see the pictures, and chose your favorite one. Then duplicate the scenery. If the picture you saw worked for you, chances are you decided all of what you tell us here and saved yourself 1000 words
Hope this helps. I read what I just wrote and because of my english it seems kind of rude. So I'll try to explain myself: If you see a picture you like and print it for the photographer, you'll express him more than what you could by just telling him what you want. Most of the time what one expects out of a photo on the other side of the lens is different that the actual result. This is why you could use a printed picture to explain him what you want. Sorry again for my english |
Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
He He, no problem Rafa, English is my second lanuage too, it's easy to get misunderstood with a limited vocabulary. But the point is good, I'v done a couple of searches and found different nice "reactions" pictures that I think will work out great.
I went through the process with the manager yesterday and we don't totaly agree with the shots, but the photographer is going to be with us and shot pictures the whole evening, I guess we'll come to an agreement on which pictures we are going to use. There are also going to be small texts under each picture, and I'll have all control on what to write, so if any of you have any "magical" phrases in mind they will be greatly appreciated. -e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I had a photographer do a composite photo of me a long time ago. After he shot the pictures I wanted, he asked me if I could spring the cards from hand to hand. I did so, and asked, "Like this?"
He said, "Yes!" I said, "Heck, anybody can do that!" He said, "I can't, and neither can most of them!" So he took the picture. He shot it several times to make sure he got a good spread of cards. It ended up being the center photo in the composite. And it caught peoples' eyes!!!!! Because he was a good photograher, he had an understanding of what attracts people to a photograph. In case you don't know this, Pete Biro is a photographer -- not a weekend warrior, or a Sunday snapshooter -- a genuine, real-life, professional photographer. If Pete told me that the best picture would be one with cards coming out of my nostrils, I would definitely have the photographer shoot it!
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Chris Keppel Special user Kansas City MO 544 Posts |
I agree with pete. Keep it simple. Make sure the pic has something the people will remember. If its a kids place, then have some balloons in one pick. If its all adults, maybe dressed really profesional (like you always should anyway) and let the pic show your true side. Black and white pics work good for fancy places. If its a kids place or a family enviorment, then you want alot of color to catch there eye. How are they going to know your there if they don't see something showing. I think its a great idea to post the times and days you are there. I work 4 restuarants in the KC area and have for a while. People want to know when they can see you so they can bring friends and family. Im actually getting ready to have some very nice pics done of me for my restuarants to post. They have them now but I want to keep it fresh. Its always nice to have some change.
www.chriskeppel.com
Kepp's Custom Carbon Fiber |
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Been away performing in Portland, back to reading and replying...
If the photographer is any good, he will suggest shots. Let him see you work. Don't explain anything. Don't be afraid of doing something over and over and over until he gets what he thinks is good. If shooting DIGITAL... you can view the shots right away. Let us know how it goes.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
Well, thanks for the input guys, he did not shoot digital, so I hade to wait a couple of days to wiew them, but I'v now seen through the pictures the photographer suggested, and they look really good,
but we do not agree on which one we are going to use for the "barmagic shot" he wanted the shot where the magic happens(false cuts), but I wanted the one he shoot 5 seconds later -of the spectator reactions (one girl holding up her "changed" card to all her friends - great laughts, you also see me from the side smiling). The table hopping picture will also be in the spectators hands - with spongeballs, right when I show the 6 sponges "jumped" from one hand to the other (older couple and her husband is crying his eyes out). He wanted to have our logo somewhere in the backround in both shots, so we had to make some small arrangements before each shot, but the spec. reactions were genuine, and I hope the manager will be happy with them both. -e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
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