Western Saddle

[Weird Girl]

Thanks so much for the ideas! I will try to get more creative instead of just focusing on lighting

[RLucas]

I would like to see it more crosslit to show off the texture of the leatherwork myself. It looks a little flat for all that nice toolwork. The stand is a little distracting for me. If you had sometheing like a barrel to place it on, it would make it more interesting. Also play with different angles instead of just a flat side view.

[windrider86]

The thing that bothers me the most is the stand. Have you considered using just sections of the saddle so you wont see the saddle at all?
Even do a collage of sorts with parts of the saddle where you put them all together it brings the saddle in to be a whole? Does that make sense?

[Weird Girl]

Yes it does! I actually took one like that and I really like it. I will post it when I get home I love the ideas about changing the surroundings and now that I am more comfortable with lighting (which is what I was mainly working on), I will definitely let the creative side of me come out! Thanks everyone for the comments!

[JFSanders]

In my opinion. And it is only an opinion. But the discouragement is coming from you knowing there is something wrong with the image and suppressing your inner critique.

The saddle is out of its environment. Makes for a disjointed image. Carpet!? metal frame? Take the saddle out to the barn or stables set it up on the fence (wood) or hang it on the wall (use a nice grainy piece of wall) Get your lights arranged to make interesting shadows and or emphasize a part of the saddle just like you would a portrait.

[Weird Girl]

I think next time I will specify better on what I was actually working on which in this shot was lighting. The strobes are new to me and I really just wanted to practice with them without worrying too much about the surroundings. I definitely see where everyone is coming from and that's my fault... anyway, I plan to start letting my creativity come out more now that I am more comfortable with lighting... I just kept getting told my lighting looked flat. It's funny because first (with one light) I was being told the shadows were too harsh, so I added a second light to even it out. Now I guess I am lighting things too evenly so I just need to play around with it more. Thanks everyone!

[Weird Girl]

Here is the close up I was talking about... thoughts? Thanks!