studio shot: what am i still doing wrong?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/10/2005 11:36:20 AM · #1

i took this photo the other night and tho i am happy with it( i added a partial glamour blur to it) there still seems to be something wrong with it. i cant put my finger on whaat it is, could u please have a look( at the link) and tell me what u think it needs? if u think the whole picture is just screwed please tell me as i want to improve my technique very badly. I promise i will not think u are mean or evil for telling me the truth. any and all suggestions/comments will be greatly appriciated!
fly fishing in the dark

thanks~~Cher~~

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

06/10/2005 11:43:28 AM · #2

To me it needs to be cropped just a touch more on the bottom and the contrast needs a boost.

Other than that I think you've got a great composition which gives a sense of nostalgia, especially due to the use of black and white.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

06/10/2005 11:46:46 AM · #3

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

ok...im going to do that very thing right now.see if that helps..then ill post the updated one here. thanks cpanaioti

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

06/10/2005 11:48:37 AM · #4

I think it's going to be beautiful when you work a bit more on it. To me, the background and surface don't work. Try just a cloth of the same tonal value as the background and something natural for the base. A light toned wood would be nice or a slab of stone. The flies aren't very noticable in the photo. Try to get more light on them or place them on something lighter that fits the theme, maybe a fishing licence or something. The fire fly thingy might need to be more integrated into the picture, bring it into the composition more. Anyway. It's a nice picture as is and these are only a few suggestions.

06/10/2005 11:55:06 AM · #5

better? crop too tight? i up'ed the contrast/brightness( i like the lighter version better)

cropped version

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/10/2005 11:59:33 AM · #6

Originally posted by pcody:

what do u mean by "The fire fly thingy might need to be more integrated into the picture, bring it into the composition more"?

i have some small wood slats(about the length and width of a paint stirrer) i may try them tonight when it gets dark(when i did the first photos) and see how they come out. i see what ya mean about the items look out of place..thanks for the suggestion :o)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

06/10/2005 12:03:50 PM · #7

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

better? crop too tight? i up'ed the contrast/brightness( i like the lighter version better)

cropped version

I like this crop better and now the basket is more prominent which just adds to the overall appeal. There may be just a couple of hotspots though I think they are present in the original as well.

Keith Maniac

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

06/10/2005 12:33:54 PM · #8

I honestly think it's a nice picture. To me, there really isn't anything that feels wrong about it, although I would agree that the background and surface are a little weird in some way. Maybe because I don't know what they are (Is the background a rock? What is the foreground?) By the way, what is glamour blur??

Olyuzi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

06/10/2005 12:53:50 PM · #9

I find the image to be flat, but perhaps a duotone or sepia effect would help bring more depth to it. Or maybe a copper colored duotone would help to highlight the lantern and basket.

ramevi

Sony Alpha a7 II

Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA

06/10/2005 12:57:30 PM · #10

Cropped version rocks!

Excellent shot!

SJCarter

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/10/2005 12:59:07 PM · #11

Hey Cher:

As several people have already said, I think the composition and the use of B/W are great. I also like the "glow" of the light. However, I think that either the background and/or surface are unbalanced with the rest of the shot (kinda don't necessarily go together as is) - if you know what I mean... again as others have said. But overall, I think it's a really cool shot. What bothers me most is the blurriness of the image itself. While the light glow adds a lot, I think it may be a bit distracting from the detail already there (IMHO - and just guessing as I'm learning too!).

I also thought that the idea of layering with a semi-transparent sepia or copper tone to the entire scene (or just your selected subjects) might add a really nice touch.

Neat shot - really. Makes me wanna break out my fly rod and hit the creek for some of the native rainbow trout we have up in Purgatory Holler! I think with a few more minor adjustments, you'll be really happy with it. :-)

Jimmy

06/10/2005 01:15:03 PM · #12

the background is a simple cheap gold tablecloth(flannel back). i keep it balled up( to give it the "wrinkles" ) to give it some depth. i have tried folding and rolling but i like the effect it gives a photo when used as a BG. I have the BG going under the items.

glamour blur is a plugin i found online for PS. I clicked the steps saved there then did a ctrl/alt/z to step back thru the process untill i got the look i wanted( which was about 1/2 of the steps). i wanted a soft kind of dreamy feel to the picture.

i have yet to learn the layering techniques( and nothing works like i want it to when i try) i just need to play around in that part more to learn. by the time i master the PS there will be a new one out to master and i will still be totally lost! ;o)

i have taken a few tryout shots with the wood slats i have and they are better but i used a blue BG and i dont like how that came out. it looks real flat to me. i think maybe too smooth. there is too much light hitting it right now and i will do some retakes with the wood slats and maybe the gold BG again. im also thinking of trying the small palm like plant i have as a BG. maybe try to give it an outside feel instead of a studio feel.

i did a duotone filter on one copy..gimmie a second to post it to yahoo( gonna crop it in too first)

thnaks for all the comments...you all rock in my book!

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/10/2005 01:30:07 PM · #13

duotone dream version of fly fishing

seipa of flyfishing on processing i did was to blur the BG and try to blur the cord from the "lantern"

gwphoto

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

06/10/2005 01:38:54 PM · #14

I think it is the bobber. YOu don't use they fly fishing. Take it out and get some files in the photo, maybe a reel too.

Message edited by author 2005-06-10 13:40:22.

SJCarter

Canon EOS-7D

06/10/2005 01:54:10 PM · #15

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

duotone dream version of fly fishing

seipa of flyfishing on processing i did was to blur the BG and try to blur the cord from the "lantern"

I think these are both big improvements... And I have to confess, even as a flyfisherman myself, I couldn't quite place exactly what was wrong with the shot until gwphoto nailed it on the head. You don't use a bobber when flyfishing! :-) LOL - Good catch gwphoto! (I feel like an idiot now, as I've been flyfishing since I was 5 years old!)

Regardless Cher, I think your latest two posts are improvements. They seem more crisp to me - for whatever reason. Nice work and a really nice shot. :-)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/10/2005 02:01:06 PM · #16

i never thought of the bobber not being part of fly fishing. my bathroom is done in fly fishing items with an antique feel. i liked the bobber beacuse of the antique look it has. next photo shoot i do (tonight) wont have it in....im such a dork sometimes ;p

Message edited by author 2005-06-10 14:04:13.

tsheets

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

06/10/2005 02:05:59 PM · #17

Not to beat a dead horse, but I agree with the others about the background/base. The glossy feel of the tablecloth doesn't feel right. A more natural/earthy surface/texture would work better (IMO). I didn't get to see the original post, so don't have the benefit of the progression, but I think with the suggestions given here, it could be a very nice photo!

darkyoda

Canon PowerShot A720IS

06/10/2005 02:07:23 PM · #18

Hmm I like the duotone version a lot.