What Images Should I show To Possible Client?

[OldClicker]

I'm not sure exactly what you are going for, but I would vote for the bottom two.

#2 - Great eye catcher for the top of the page, etc. I would work on lining up the text on the cups and positioning them so that you can read King and NoThreadset on the red one and the other two in the exact same position.

#3 - I think this is a good product shot. Somewhat artistic but still showing the functionality of the tool. You could work more with the bits making them all visible and evenly (or pleasingly) spaced.

#1 - I don't think that the black BG with the carbon part works here. It just blends too much. Maybe with a backlight to outline it??? It's also too flat and too close to the bottom and top borders. You might be able to come up with something better by cropping so that you just have the body of the derailleur.

Terry

[ianjenn]

I have done catalog work for this company before. They are looking for 6-8 high res files to use as their 2011 go to ad images. These would be print, poster, vehicle wraps, and web use. So I went and shot some in the studio today to present sample images for them. I have another at the office I still need to edit. But of these 3 which 2 would you send and why?
1.

2.

3.


THANKS!!!

[BenWA]

I definitely like the headsets and multi tool best of the three. Nothing against the photo of the rear derailleur, but somehow the subject isn't as photogenic and "sexy" as the other things IMO. It also looks like it could use some touching up in a few places, such as where the grease is around the hanger bolt, and some scuffs here and there that should be smoothed over digitally.

If you are trying to make the best possible impression on the client I would say the headset and multi tool. Very clean and commercial looking shots!

[Grandpaw]

I like the top one the best. It has more derail and seems sharper to me.

I don't know what the second one is but it seem like it is missing something.

The third one I like but looks soft on my monitor, Jeff

[Greg McCary]

I think you need a soft box and a lighter background. Your subjects are getting lost in the dark.

[ianjenn]

Yeah guys I used a softbox. Shot the items on black they are cut out now. WIll do some graphics work to them myself. I think I will use the tool and headset. I also have a stem that I didn't get a chance to edit yet. I will post when I get it cut out.

THANKS

[jetrim]

Of these three, I think you made the right choice, but I'd also consider reshooting for maximum impact.

The headsets aren't precisely spaced (red is farther from black than blue is) and this shot is screaming for a white bounce card to be placed camera right to define the right side of the units or a kicker to be placed camera right and behind to create a specular on the back edges while keeping it real moody.

The tool has the same issue with precise placement between each "spoke" and I really think this should be oriented so that we see the tools unhindered by the side plate (while still keeping it upright and readable).

These are niggling nitpicks, but that's what product photography is. It's why it sometimes takes 14 hours and a team of 3 people to shoot a single household faucet for a Kohler catalog...

I do like the derailleur (Campy is awesome stuff!) as the lighting choice really shows off the carbon fiber, but it needs a TON of post processing due to it being so beat up.

[ianjenn]

The headsets aren't precisely spaced (red is farther from black than blue is) and this shot is screaming for a white bounce card to be placed camera right to define the right side of the units or a kicker to be placed camera right and behind to create a specular on the back edges while keeping it real moody.

Hahah yeah, the headsets were made from the RED so I can rearrange em anyway I want. I will edit the version with a bounce card on it and load that one up next week. I had about 2 hours shooting and editing. Basically was looking for clean files their graphics team could manipulate. Keep in mind their graphics team didn't know what a PATH was!:mad2: So I may do my own graphics on them to show as well. I didnt have access to a solvent tank but not sure how the $500 carbon would hold up to that? They want Taylor James Rolex images from a CAMERA.:idea:

[gahspidy]

Yep, Jet covered pretty much all that came to mind with this. I also agree about the repositioning of the tool so that the side plate does not interfere with the tool spokes.
The middle image is the most striking for me simply because of the color and the modeling of the light as it wraps around the form with highlight and shadow. The rim light on right would certainly help define from the black bg.
Did they supply you with these parts? surprised you would have such a beat up derailleur for an ad/catalogue set.
Pretty good job overall.

[ianjenn]

Yep, Jet covered pretty much all that came to mind with this. I also agree about the repositioning of the tool so that the side plate does not interfere with the tool spokes.
The middle image is the most striking for me simply because of the color and the modeling of the light as it wraps around the form with highlight and shadow. The rim light on right would certainly help define from the black bg.
Did they supply you with these parts? surprised you would have such a beat up derailleur for an ad/catalogue set.
Pretty good job overall.

No I used these products from my work. You have no idea I had parts I had to warp/transform for catalog shots I have done in the past. I have even had to add allen keys into tools because the sample they got were missing parts!

[ianjenn]

Ok FLAT LIGHT!