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I have no idea what your goals were but these 2 are beautiful images.
If I were to nitpick it would be the slight scratch and tiny bright spot on the cover in #1. Everything else is very nice. Compass on gravel (or is that wood chips) instead of something less natural and indicative of the outdoors.
#2 is very good too. I like how you brought out the brushed steel look of that cover. It might have been better to have more light on the surface of the compass.
Hi Jon,
I know what it's like to try to produce an image when your hearts not in it. Don't beat yourself up too much, I think both are good images of an object that is obviously close and dear to you.
Go put you feet up and chill with a Devils Cut,
Cheers mate, Greg
I always admire a man who has found his direction in life. :D
Notice how the most important parts of the metal are brightly lit, which makes it attractive.
In the second photo, how did you get the background to be dark? The reason I ask is that it seems to be cork, which I think produces a fair amount of direct reflection though not as much as the shiny metal. I think it would look reasonably bright unless you used a particular lighting scheme, dealt with it in post-processing or merged two photos.
Congratulations on the new job and getting everyone to understand the unique circumstance.
Thanks for the kind words.
Mike, the first background is cork, the second is a black leather portfolio. I really need to get, and read, the book.
Grandpa always said that as long as he carried the compass he would never be lost...well, that is true if you know how to use it properly.:D
Cheers
Just a couple more...
http://i50.tinypic.com/2ug2y6d.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/34fyzpe.jpg
Both are really nice Jon. I love the sepia toning.
My pick is the first one as it shows more of the compass face but perhaps it could do with the contrast turned up a little and a tighter crop like the second.
Well done
For me, these last two versions are your best so far. Unlike Greg, I prefer the contrast in the first one.
Two ideas to consider trying on the first one:
Move the light a lot closer to the subject or place a diffuser between the light and the subject to create a softer shadow; the strong lines of the shadow distract the eye from the strong lines of the watch.
Use a really tight crop. Take the left, bottom and right sides of the watch closer to the edge of the frame but continue to leave more space on the right than on the left. Crop at the top to cut off a small part of the lid. That view makes me want to open the compass and review the inside details in a way that the current crop doesn't.
Do the initials represent the country, your grandfather's name, or what? Tell us some more about the history of the compass and its connection with your grandfather. In what situations was he using it?
Mike, thanks for the ideas. I will try them this weekend.
This compass is a U.S. Army compass that my grandpa carried with him all across Europe during WWII, and carried it everyday after. He did not really use it as a compass after the war, but as a reminder that it is sometimes the little things that really matter and mean the most. This is just the condensed version of his reasoning but I think you will get the point.
Cheers
That's a very poignant story, Jon. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Mike & Greg...how's this??
1.
http://i45.tinypic.com/9qjm9k.jpg
2.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ejc5jt.jpg
Tighter crop on both and a little more contrast on the first.
I think I kinda like it. Thanks for the advice:)
Wow! That first one (of the last two) is SO good. Your crop is in the spirit of the one that I suggested but is far better. The contrast is dramatic and romantic. I love the gold toning. Just the right amount of the inside is displayed. Perfect depth of field. Everything about it really works for me.
Any chance that you can repeat it using a wooden tabletop instead of cork?
Thanks Mike. I cropped a little more than I had intended to, but I liked it.:) I like it when a mistake turns out not to be one.
I think I may have to print this one and give it to Mom...it might make her cry though.
A wooden tabletop...hmm, I think I can do that. Stay tuned:rolleyes:
Present the photo and a lace handkerchief in a wrapped box. She'll love the photo and she'll need the handkerchief.
Since I am technically unemployed this week, I have decided that it is far less tiring to go to work than it is to stay home. My wife, aka "The Warden", has a long list of things for me to do on my "week off", and none of them include my camera.:(
Since I have NOTHING to offer, I decided to re-shoot last weeks compass. I have found a small area in the basement that I am starting to turn into a make-shift studio. I will be picking up some new lighting later this week, if I can get a day pass from the Warden.:D But until then...I humbly submit these for your kind thoughts.:rolleyes:
http://i45.tinypic.com/2z5rf3q.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2i9ldf9.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/im5kwn.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/166goxd.jpg
I think I should have cleaned the dust off first:eek:
I'm only on my iPhone looking at these photos Jon but boy do they look good.
The first two especially. I will have another look when I get home from work today.
Glad to here you are getting a studio together. Have fun.
Cheers, Greg
All four of these photos surpass the combination of creativity and technical skill of the previous images by a wide margin. That tells me that unemployment is good for you if not The Warden. (Notice the uppercase "T.")
Seriously, Jon, all of these are so nice, each of them in a completely different way. They make a nice body of work, so much so that I wonder how you can pick between them to present to your mother. My only suggestion is that the handkerchief that you provide her has to be super-sized.
I like the added dimension in this group that is different from all of the other photos -- the much larger depth of field.
Please tell me about the second one in this last group. Is the look a function of toning, color balance or both?
I have a favor to ask. Could you provide us the last image without the selective color? I really like the look of the compass in that one and wonder how it looks when the background has the same overall appearance.
These are so good that I keep coming back to them. In the first two photos, consider getting rid of the brightly lit spots in the tabletop in the bottom right corner. Those bright spots are distracting from the otherwise really nice parts of the images.
Dang good job on this latest batch. I like the 3rd one best. Looks exactly like it is being used and casually tossed onto a table while poring over some maps. The bits of dust add to the being used effect.
Bobo mentioned a map. A map would be an ideal backdrop for the compass, especially if it is a map of a wilderness area.