Dripping Blood

[Gonzo13]

I was shaving today and I cut myself. It was a small cut but from it an idea was born. I took a lancet and pierced my finger to get the amount of blood that I wanted. So yes it is real blood, real shaving cream, real hair, and a real straight razor. I took a bunch of pictures these are two that I thought were decent. Let me know which is better. I did some cropping, upped the contrast, saturation, and sharpness (no pun intended) on both and used the shaving cream as a white balance point.





If I wasn't shaving I would have grabbed the tripod so that the pictures would have been as sharp as the razor, and then I would have used a smaller aperture for a greater DOF.

[windrider86]

I personally like the first one but find the large portio that is out of focu distracting. Also, had you not mentioned it, I may not have know that was a razer blade.
I commend you for getting the blood so darn red!

[Char3105]

I agree with Windriders comments. I think I would prefer the second shot as well, but only if the razor was sharper. Personally I probably would have made that the focal point.. and have the sink with the blood out of focus more ? But I guess it depends on what you want to say with the images. If you are going for a gothic kinda theme then I also would make the images maybe a bit more grungy looking ? or darker ? Just a few ideas like.

Ohhh... hope you didnt cut off an ear or something to get these shots lol xxx

[Gonzo13]

Hold up now my name is Scott not Vincent, all of the blood came from a little prick in my pinky. In all honesty I am most likely going to repeat this type of photo with a tripod and not be shaving at the time that I do it. I was trying to hurry so the shaving cream didn't dry up on my face. I mainly with this am trying to get ideas about what would be better.
I like the idea of making it darker. Maybe I could set up a light to shine on the bloody razor and then leave the rest of it darker. Making the razor infocus and the sink just slightly out of focus so that the hair, blood, and grime can be seen in the sink.
This also lead to the possible idea of a mulitplicity picture where the image in the mirror looks like it is cutting itself and the non mirrored image is looking shocked at the events transpiring in the mirror.
Let me know what you all think.
~Gonzo13

[Char3105]

Glad you didnt loose any vital organs in the process. I really do like your ideas layed out there. Looking forward of seeing the results. xx

[Gonzo13]

It might be a couple of weeks. I have a test coming up on the 7th and then finals week is the week after. Lots of studying going on.

~Gonzo13

[B..]

In the first pic, I saw the copyright notice that happens to fall on the razor. For a second I thought you were "branding" the blood-letting razor.

[Gonzo13]

Nope just a watermark. I have had pictures downloaded and used before without my consent. Since then I have become a little cautious but I try not to interrupt the pictures that much.

~Gonzo13

[ebeard2802]

We've gone from murdered snowmen to bloody blades! Nice! Personally I like the first one better. Maybe a little greater dof as windrider suggested, though. It's a great, however morbid, concept. I like the way you think!

[Gonzo13]

Wait a sec ebeard don't make me out to be just some morbid photographer. My first posted critique was of a picture of Downtown Las Vegas. The snowman was my 14th post. I posted a couple of pictures from Zion, some still life (flower petals, a martini, dog tags), some pictures of the dog. I'm not saying that I am not morbid and thanks for the compliment. If you want to see some of my other work check out the threads started by me or look at my work here~~~~~>http://gonzo13.deviantart.com/ throw some critiques my way when you get a minute.

~Gonzo13