Bass Fingers

[wulf]

I was very kindly complimented on my macro photography yesterday (see this thread, which reminded me that I haven't done much of that recently and certainly not with my Raynox DCR-250 adaptor. Since I needed a self portrait for my fiftytwo project and I have been thinking about bass playing a lot recently (lots of gigs this week and a bassplaying event I run called Deep to Deep this Saturday) I decided to work on that theme and this is the result:



That is okay but doesn't have the zing I need if I want to keep my laurels. Here is the result of a few minutes developing the photo using The Gimp:



Better? Here is a summary of what I did:

1. Crop to improve the composition. After some experimentation, I decided on a 16:9 ratio dividing the shot into two roughly even colour bands with the ball-ends of my bass strings creating some punctuation.

2. Levels adjustments. Working on a duplicate layer, I set black, white and grey points, which removed the greenish hue of the original. It looked a touch extreme, so I reduced the opacity of this layer and blended with a copy of the original (with many changes I find it easiest to go a bit far and then roll back like this).

3. Curves adjustment. A small tweak to make the shadows and midtones a bit darker and to boost the highlights (the "S" curve).

4. Resizing. Optional and arguable but I like my pictures to end up with nice round dimensions (2800 x 1575).

5. High pass filter. This is the technique I shared before. It adds crispness without looking too unnatural.

6. Final step. I noticed that my fingers were quite pink and the nut of the bass was quite blue, so I created a couple of transparent layers. I put a pink to transparent gradient fill across one and blue to transparent fill across the other and then set both to overlay mode. The opacity of each was adjusted so that the difference was almost imperceptible unless compared to the unadjusted layer.

7. All done. A close-up with some sharp detail and a range of contrasts (colours, soft fingers vs hard metal) which also works as a self-portrait (showing me as a bassist and also including my main instrument). Job done.

Wulf

[timkoo]

I like the high pass you did, sharpens it nicely.
I think the fingers are a bit pink though.

All in all, great job!

[wulf]

The pink is deliberate. I wanted a stronger contrast with the blue of the metal in the foreground than the natural colour gave - I wasn't going for a particularly natural effect with this particular set of edits.

Wulf

[richardpsic]

I like the contrast between the fingers/bass colors, I think that is the "story" that the photo tell us: The human factor in relation with the metalic instrument= music.
Good work!.

By the way, what kind of music you play bass for?

[embrodak]

Really awesome composition and PP! Hooray for a fellow gimper!

[ccallana]

ok - completely off topic - but are you really playing a 6 string? sort of unusual, isn't it?

[wulf]

It is a headless six string Sei bass, custom made by Martin Petersen at The Gallery in London (although I bought it from him second hand so it wasn't exactly custom made for me).



That's me playing jazz (someone else's shot - my camera and processing) with [url=http://www.reverbnation.com/thepicobrownfive/] (free music there and more if you sign up as a fan). I use it for a wide range of music though - my other main gigs at the moment are progressive folk-rock with The Elusive Teeth and the contemporary worship at my church.

Wulf

[Jacob6176]

My brother used to have a headless bass that he played but kinda fell away from it a few years ago. That highpass filter seems to work well.

[i_luv_ph0tos]

I really love what you did in the second image... nice editing... I really want to learn how to use gimp but i am having a hard time on it...

[private]

I was having a REALLY hard time with GIMP. So I bought PhotoShop Elements. And now I am having a hard time with that one also (it did not come with a manual). I believe it all boils down to being patient with yourself. I wish I learned that lesson a week ago - it would have saved me $90!