Early Morning Reccie

We got commissioned and got our brief:

"Create an interesting, engaging and atmospheric early morning scenario between a 13 year old boy and his unattainable person of desire."

For me the most challenging part of the brief will be to capture the atmosphere both of the scenario and of the morning itself. I want to get across that magical dark and cold but free and crisp morning feeling.

In an effort to capture the early morning feel we are looking for I traveled around the area in sheffiel I live in at 5.30-8.45 taking photographs an films of the parks and streets.

The first pictures are of a street with the emphasis on the perspective pulling off into the distance. I always wanted a shot like this in the film to show an empty establishing street. Whilst taking these photos the street lights turned off giving me the idea to get that on camera in the film also establishing time and setting up the reminiscent magical feeling.
WB5200

ISO3200

ISO1250

ISO800

The next two shots are almost cityscapes, I think they really capture the morning feeling as does this film.

On the way back a few hours later I took some similar pictures at different ISO's and WB's as the light had changed.

The biggest difference I didn't expect is that even though I lowered the ISO it still looks too bright. My initial though was that the morning light would be bluer but the absence of pink in the sky is clear. A more balence WB may be more appropriate.

Finally at the park I took some photographs of the vacant slide and swings, they really capture the piece and quiet and the dew on grass is one of the essential images for creating the atmosphere we want.

The shoot was really helpful. The images look like I want them to look like in the film. The struggle will be recreating the images in broad daylight.