The Devil Dude

[stockphotojourney]

Got my Canon 50/1.8 today so I decided to try a little DOF test with my new Ebay slaves and my super old Sunpak 611 and umbrella. I need a new umbrella and head for sure. Maybe a softbox would be a better choice.

Comments and suggestions welcome.



Full size version - http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...0501873&size=l

[spellbound]

I think I need me one of them lenses!

Love the DOF.

[stockphotojourney]

It is pretty cheap and so far seems to work well. I got mine on amazon for like $75 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007E7JU

Pretty great deal I think.

[geotography]

stockphotojourney,

I like the composition you have chosen. Very interesting appeal with your subject. I suggest you shoot again to address your bottom frame issue where the table or ? has bled into the image. One thing, and its just my own personal taste, is the glare on the lower portion of the left horn...it's a bit distracting...that's small stuff though.

Nice job! Congratulations on your new fast 50!!!!

[VernonShaw]

Maybe a red backdrop?

[jiminyClickit]

stockphotojourney,

Why this crop, why that backdrop, and how could you have lit the subject better?

[Sid]

Agree with Jiminy completely.

[Murtasma]

This would be a fun subject to photograph becuase it's a hard one.

1. It's black
2. It's glossy
3. It has detail

Try getting a cardboard box cut off the flaps place a light inside the box pointing up just a lightbulb dont attempt to soften the light at first. Place a sheet of glass on top of the box then place the object on the glass. Then take another direct light source no softening and move it around to show so you get reflections on the front of the fiture were yoiu want.

When photographing something black like this that has no texture like fabric you will want to use direct reflections to show detail and the craftman ship in the figure. The light at the bottom will provide the reflections under the object which should help with the depth in the image. With a step like this you could even use a dark or black background. White would work well too.

[stockphotojourney]

Thanks guys!

@geotography - That shadow on the bottom was freaking me out for the entire shot. I could not for the life of me figure out what was causing it. This was a very wrinkled white bed sheet so I think I might have been getting some shadows from a wrinkle I was not seeing. Same deal with the shadows on the background.

@jiminyClickit - With the crop I am trying to impart a bit of motion to the subject. With his hands out it kinda feels like he is jumping out at someone. The backdrop is just the standard blown out white attempt but with a wrinkled sheet it did not quite work. I like the idea of a colored backdrop, I will give that a try. On the lighting front I would have just liked to have blown out the background totally.

@Murtasma - Thanks I will try that technique.

[jiminyClickit]

stockphotojourney,

The cut-off fingers, leg joint and that "thing" sticking up lower right all collude to distract from intention of showing movement. If you're feeling experimental, shoot again using as much of above advice as you can. Camera on tripod, leave everything in place after first shot, reduce light and shutter speed (1/2 sec to 2 seconds - experiment!). As you trip shutter, pull figure backwards smoothly out of frame right. Layer two photos, good detail plus movement.