Carface: Macro Photography Art by Jeff Kauffman

3/21/2018 ISO 1200 Magazine 0 Comments

It can be hard to come up with a unique idea for a photo project, but sometimes a great idea comes along almost by accident. And if you're really inspired, you might even decide to do something about it. Jeff Kaufman's carface project is an example of how a moment of inspiration can turn into a full-blown photography project.

The Carface project is a series of photographs of the "faces" of toy Matchbox cars from the mid-1960s to early 1970s. The artist chose a head-on view of the toys to portray the strongest, most unique part of any subject, the face. The use of square composition, shallow focus and a rich black background together emphasize the power of this portrayal. As old as the artist himself, the toys bear the scratches, chips, and accumulated imperfections from life's wear and tear.

Carface: Macro Photography Art by Jeff Kauffman

The first edition of the project features 16 signed and numbered pieces, each limited to 15 prints. The 16 x 16-inch image is printed on archival fine art lustre paper.

For a classic presentation , I suggest a black 24 x 24 inch metal frame with a white matte. - said Jeff Kauffman -

Select Fine Art prints from this edition can be purchased at Saatchi Art or licensed for publication through Arcangel Images. The project is also open to exhibition opportunities with art fairs and galleries.

More selections from the “Carface” series. #jeffkauffmanphotography #matchboxcars #tabletopphotography #toycarspics #toycars #photobook

A post shared by Jeff Kauffman Photography (@jeffkphoto) on Dec 4, 2017 at 7:49pm PST

“BRM Matchbox nbr 52” from the series Carface . #jeffkauffmanphotography #matchboxcars #tabletopphotography #toycars

A post shared by Jeff Kauffman Photography (@jeffkphoto) on Nov 10, 2017 at 8:54am PST

"Old Mercedes" toy matchbox car. From the series "Carface". #jeffkauffmanphotography #matchboxcars #oldtoys #mercedesbenz #70s

A post shared by Jeff Kauffman Photography (@jeffkphoto) on Oct 1, 2017 at 6:41pm PDT

The finished and framed “Carface 2017” portfolio is looking for exhibition opportunities. For more info see www.jeffkauffmanphotography.com/carface-project/ #jeffkauffmanphotography

A post shared by Jeff Kauffman Photography (@jeffkphoto) on Jan 5, 2018 at 10:24am PST

BEHIND THE SCENES

Camera and lens:

• Nikon D800 DSLR

• Nikkor 105mm micro prime

Lighting and exposure:

• Base exposure was 1/250th at f/22 metered at the face of the toy, ISO100.

• Dynalight studio flash, bounced into a 32-inch white-lined parabolic umbrella,

overhead and pointed directly downwards so that the toy is lit by the feathered

rear edge of the light pool.

• Small white reflector cards added highlight. Black cards used a flags helped

control excessive glare on windows.

You may also like: Overpowering The Sun with Flash

About Jeff Kauffman:

Jeff Kauffman was born in 1961 and grew up in rural Pennsylvania during a time when people communicated using rotary telephones. After earning a Computer Science degree from Penn State University, Jeff moved to Washington DC -- and later to Austin TX – to build a career in software engineering. His photography interests began at Washington School of Photography and continued with Santa Fe Workshops. Jeff has been developing his photography while also working full time in technology consulting. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler’s truth.traveler, Smithsonian.com, INSite Austin, and The Art of Seeing (pub. Alcove Books), along with various See.Me exhibitions worldwide. Let's Get Connected: www.jeffkauffmanphotography.com | Instagram

Text, image and awesome video via our friend Ed Verosky