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10/24/2002 09:51:07 PM · #1
Standing Guard II

How can I make this better?


10/24/2002 10:05:35 PM · #2
Cool shot John; I would like to see the light creating a tiny bit more definition of the pieces, but, especially would like more light on the top of the tall center piece - for some reason I feel like I definitely need to see more there.
FWIW,
Linda
10/24/2002 10:09:07 PM · #3
Maybe bring the light around to the front just a little to bring out more of the detail.
10/24/2002 10:21:37 PM · #4
It does need a little more detail somehow. Maybe some gray in the background? or blue?

Or more light sources for more detail and definition.

Maybe a white box on the top and sides??? not sure about that.

I don't have enough experience to guide someone, just ideas to try.
10/24/2002 11:05:33 PM · #5
What I am seeing is that the light intensity is unequal on the three pieces stong, weak, modererate. With the middle piece being the tallest, it is visually disturbing that it has the least light. The basic triangular format is ok. Have you tried linning them up in the other diagonal direction?
10/24/2002 11:18:39 PM · #6
HERE is the next iteration... I think I still need to do some work on it though...
10/24/2002 11:43:33 PM · #7
John -
Far be it for me to tell you of all people how to improve something, but since you asked, I'll drum in a little and stir up the pot a bit. I like the first rendition better than the second. I don't know if you're looking for better ways to edit, or retake, or what. I agree that the lighting intensity needs to be a bit stronger. The biggest reason I like II over IV is the color. I like the blue hue better. The other thing that might help (taking into account my WEEKS of experience here) would be to leave a little more "headroom" for "the fellas" which might show a little more of their size difference and therefore appropriate ranks. But wait, there's more....

I know you've talked about changing certain elements of a picture may entirely change the composition of the piece. Well now that you mention it (insert clever segway here), if it were me (and in no way shape or form am I comparing myself to Thou) I would try to take the shot from the lowest possible angle, even if I had to set the pieces at the edge of the board and have the camera at board level. I think that would make the "guards" look more puffy chested and altogether tougher, and also might show a little more size difference. But I think that if I did something like that, it might be necessary to put the light coming from the lower left corner, or board level from the right, sort of spotting on the king and letting the residual light give the guards a little face time.

So take that with a grain of salt big enough to kill a squirrel. I'm sure there's a reason why you're consistently around the top and I'm praying I make the top 150. You asked though....

Just a little note of little or no importance to the DPC diehards who actually might recognize my nick (mostly because its just stupid): I'm sending my camera in so they can fix my hot pixel, which is killing my picture this week because of the insane amount of editing that went into covering it up and still trying to retain some amount of sharpness (okay maybe it's just bad, but at least this time I have an excuse). So I won't be able to enter any challenges, relieving you all of at least one bad pic a week for the next few weeks. :( I better go to bed before I proof read this and realize what I said and to whom I said it. Night all. - Inspzil
10/24/2002 11:45:50 PM · #8
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
HERE is the next iteration... I think I still need to do some work on it though...


It's still too dark - I can't see the tops or bases. Did you try lighting from the top [grimaces and shrugs shoulders to ears....]?
10/25/2002 12:04:52 AM · #9
Ok John, this is what I see when I went back and looked at it. The light on the back of the horse was the first thing I saw. It seems to bright in that one area. Its like you are trying to emphasize the back of the horse and not the front. I would love to see more detail in the face of the horse. What do you think?
10/25/2002 12:07:09 AM · #10
What are you trying to show in this ?

What do you want to emphasise ? The guards, or the guarded ?

Might be a good candidate for more selective focus, so that either
the king or the 'protectors' are the ones in focus. Maybe just the cross
on the crown and nothing else would be interesting (though this is
just my fault for spending the weekend looking at a load of
split focus lens pictures...)

The same goes for the lighting, as for the focus. Light the subject,
darken/ shadow the other parts ?


10/25/2002 12:37:01 AM · #11
The contrast is too low, and I personally do not like how the base of the knight is cut off.

John,

I have a version of your xmas card to share with you. I really like the concept. However, I am not sure I can find a place to post it. I was able to make the flakes look gold, which really looked good to me against the red.
10/25/2002 01:37:09 AM · #12
John,
I like the color of the first better, but just want a teensy bit more light on the top of the horse's head to define the shape. Maybe like Gordon said and push the king a bit back out of the sharpest focus and emphasize the guards. Like the overall idea anyway -- maybe someday I'll be forced to pick which of a bunch of good shots I want to use...
10/25/2002 08:02:41 AM · #13
Well I like the second one a lot. I like how the highlights and shadows make a rhythem across the picture plane. Don't know if it was planed or not but the way the highlight on the knight's nose lines up with the king is to me a nice touch.

I'm seeing plenty of nuance in the shadows so I'm wondering if there is a calabration problem with some of the viewers.

hmmmm I just visualized it with them emerging out of foggy rays of soft light. (romantic mind here).
10/25/2002 08:06:17 AM · #14
OH and if it were me I'ed tweek the light on the crown a bit brighter and lower the intensity on the knight's back. That right now is the focal point.
10/25/2002 08:11:33 AM · #15
Thanks for all the comments :) Imma reshoot this tonight probably and see what I can come up with...

:)

10/25/2002 08:22:40 AM · #16
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Thanks for all the comments :) Imma reshoot this tonight probably and see what I can come up with...

:)



Jon, is this for a general free study?? Or are you doing it for somebody/something else? For example, packaging, a card etc.. Or are you just toying around again??
I prefer the second to the first, love the little highlights of colour, but as they said above, the pieces need a tad more definition...

Mark.
10/25/2002 08:25:41 AM · #17
Originally posted by marksimms:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
[i]Thanks for all the comments :) Imma reshoot this tonight probably and see what I can come up with...

:)



Jon, is this for a general free study?? Or are you doing it for somebody/something else? For example, packaging, a card etc.. Or are you just toying around again??
I prefer the second to the first, love the little highlights of colour, but as they said above, the pieces need a tad more definition...

Mark.[/i]

It's a simple project that I'm doing on my own. I suppose that what I'm trying to accomplish here is to use the artificial lighting that I have available to me to light these chess pieces with some amount of drama without overdoing it. I want darkness... I want a dark background (not completely dark). I want the hightlights on the chess pieces created by my lighting to be striking. :)


10/25/2002 08:43:25 AM · #18
How about a backlight, to accentuate the forms and give them some separation from the background, yet still retain the dark moodly overall feel of the shot?

(Inspizil: I really liked your Ghost Ship image : ) )
10/25/2002 08:47:24 AM · #19
Originally posted by magnetic9999:
How about a backlight, to accentuate the forms and give them some separation from the background, yet still retain the dark moodly overall feel of the shot?

(Inspizil: I [i]really
liked your Ghost Ship image : ) )
[/i]

I'm probalby gonna try that... I'm gonna need to go buy one more clamp light though...

Another interesting thing I have learned here about lighting... these clamp lights that I have... the ones with the metal reflectors that you screw the bulb into... These things create a light that seems very close to daylight temperature. When I use these lights, there is very little, if any, white balance correction required. Maybe it's just my imagination, but the results have been excellent :)

10/25/2002 08:48:52 AM · #20
I'm also seriously considering ditching the Knight for a bishop... The Knight has too many opportunities for harsh contrast in comparison to the Bishop...
10/25/2002 09:06:59 AM · #21
I would try to change the lighting ...
try to work with different direction of the light between the king and the guardains.... that may give a certain level of power o greatness to your pieces...
For instance if your try to iluminate the horse and the tower from botom up creating a shadow you will give them maybe a bigger size to defend the queen, which may have light from the top giving her a stand still (waiting to be defended) image...
It's easy to say... but hard to do it... maybe understand it! ;)
10/25/2002 09:12:54 AM · #22
Originally posted by Richi:
I would try to change the lighting ...
try to work with different direction of the light between the king and the guardains.... that may give a certain level of power o greatness to your pieces...
For instance if your try to iluminate the horse and the tower from botom up creating a shadow you will give them maybe a bigger size to defend the queen, which may have light from the top giving her a stand still (waiting to be defended) image...
It's easy to say... but hard to do it... maybe understand it! ;)


I do understand what you are saying here and I think it could possibly be done :) I may give that a try.. I would just have to use an elevated glass surface and play with the lights some more...

Actually, i will try this but I will make it a separate project :)

10/25/2002 09:45:20 AM · #23
Hey John, out of curiousity...is there a way you can take a snapshot of your setup...I'm interested in knowing how you setup that shot and what you used.

In fact (and this is for everyone else) I would like to find out more about 'home' studio setups...maybe other people can post up a photo of setups of some of their best photos.

I live in a small appartment and have limited space / resources (...and a fiancee who doesn't want me making a mess or rearranging the place) so it would be nice to know what others are doing to setup their photos.

Thanks...z
10/25/2002 09:50:31 AM · #24
I will do that tonite when I start shooting these again...

My setup here consists of two pieces of black foam core posterboard.. one for the surface and one for the background... Most of my 'studio' shots can be setup on a tabletop rather quickly...
10/25/2002 10:36:08 AM · #25
Make the kings crown stand out so it looks like ther are guarding something worth guarding, not a shady character.....though I suppose in chess the king is sort of a weakiling...
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