Black Beauty

[mjs1973]

I just printed these tonight, what do you think? This is part of a studion assignment for class. Please let me know what you think.

Michael

[Seb]

I just printed these tonight, what do you think? This is part of a studion assignment for class. Please let me know what you think.

Michael

Michael, I am a bit surprised here. Looking at your profile, it appears that you own two digital cameras but your guitars pictures looks like scans from a so-so scanner. (no offense intended).

I like your compositions (especially the first one) and the use of dof is good but blacks aren't black, they are slightly washed out which diminish the visual impact of your pictures. A slight post-processing (perhaps level, maybe only a simple contrast enhancement) would make quite a difference I think.

One last thing: I think that I would do a very slight crop at the right of your second picture to get rid of the incomplete knobs but that's just a personal preference.

regards

Seb

[opus]

I think I might like to see the neck of the second guitar at a slightly higher level, so that the frets are a bit more visible and identifiable. The picture is *mostly* working for me, but I find myself annoyed that the strings look like a fuzzy blob. I like the DOF you've used here, but I'd like to see the shape of the guitar just slightly more. Maybe just a difference in angle of about 10%. That would also help prevent the composition from cutting the photo in half right along the middle. Right now you're pretty much leading the eye straight to the dropcloth in the background.

I agree that the blacks aren't true black, but I like that they're warm. I'm guessing that these were hand-developed in a darkroom? They really look like it.

I like the DOF of the first one, but again, I'd like to see more guitar at that angle. I think more shape would make it more interesting, more sensuous. Or maybe put the focal point on something other than the middle of the frets ... like on the switch, for instance.

Otherwise, I think it's good lighting, good exposure, good DOF, overall good technique. I would just like to see slightly more powerful compositions.

[gahspidy]

Good creative compositions. I like the top shot much the better with its focus on the neck and the pick-up selector switch. I too would have preferred a slightly richer contrast with deeper blacks, but just personal taste . tThe shot on the bottom I too feel as Kelly stated that it is too flat and the neck just leads ones eye towards the dull backdrop. The headstock been raised up more would have been a stronger comp, But I think I understand what you were going for. Overall, these are works to be proud of as they are creative and have appeal.

[almo]

Thanks, now I'm drooling.

almo

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the comments and the advice everyone, it's greatly appriciated!!!

Seb, you hit the nail on the head. I do have a couple digital cameras, but these were shot with my AE-1 on Tri-X 400, and scanned with a cheap scanner.

Kelly, you are correct also, I hand developed these myself. Still in the learning process there. If I get some time, maybe I will reshoot these, or just reprint them with a little mor contrast to bring out the black more. I knew I was going to have trouble getting the blacks to be black because of that whole light meter wanting to make everything gray thing, but that's all part of the learning process.

Thanks again!
Michael

[Chunk]

I just printed these tonight, what do you think? This is part of a studion assignment for class. Please let me know what you think.

Michael

Looks like you're getting the hang of this pretty well Mike. Nice work.
I might go a little more contrasty in the top one to get the edges of the neck and lettering by the switch to be whiter as well as the blacks blacker. This is a nice way to go with minimal lighting. Another way to go that can add some pop and allow you to show a bit more depth and form to reflective objects like the body and pickup is to have some reflectors like sheets or strips of paper positioned to show up as reflections in the shiny surfaces of the subject.

[shadz]

I REALLY like the composition in the first one. A little PS (Or darkroom love) would take care of the black's just fine.

#2 doesn't do anything for me, tho the machine (guitar) is beautiful.

[bobbythebandit]

Good work for a beginner, ask in class about "Burning" at developing stage and you will be amazed at results you can produce.
Bobby

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the advice and the encouragement everyone! It's really appriciated. I will be sure to give your ideas a try the next time I set up some lighting.

Thanks to all again!
Mike