daveoo
Established
The vise has color and age.
Photo context is mainly carried by the vise itself. I would have to back away to add more context and I am not convinced about the interest of the background.
Lens: 90mm Macro at f2.8 I don't really care about the rear of the vise, But should I?
Focus location? Maybe the front and viewer's left edge of the vise.
Composition and angles? Remove the light colored box from the photo area.
Lighting was natural into the shop and fill flash.
Back away and add the shop owner? He looks great in B&W.
I tried vertical crop and kind of liked the view.
I think my Name got out of control also.
I can go back to the sight and try again. Or should I? Thanks.
sreed2006
Well-known
Of the two shown, I prefer the B&W rendering better, because the color one seems too bright to me.
If you have access to the vice, it wouldn't hurt to try more compositions. Aim for the essence (which you did pretty well here, in my opinion).
If you have access to the vice, it wouldn't hurt to try more compositions. Aim for the essence (which you did pretty well here, in my opinion).
Greyscale
Veteran
Put a rose in the vise. Soft meets steel.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Ahhh... a face only a hammer could love.
Your question asks can you make a good photo from this subject.
That answer is yes.
If you meant can you make a good photo from this particular capture,... I say the answer is no.
Well, good for what? Instruction, Art, Documentation ?
It's poorly framed and poorly lit for starters. With A static stationary subject there is no excuse for any compromise.
Cheers
Your question asks can you make a good photo from this subject.
That answer is yes.
If you meant can you make a good photo from this particular capture,... I say the answer is no.
Well, good for what? Instruction, Art, Documentation ?
It's poorly framed and poorly lit for starters. With A static stationary subject there is no excuse for any compromise.
Cheers
Noll
Well-known
Yes, but I think you're not close enough. The angle of the shot doesn't work for me either. As f16 says, keep on working it...
adietrich
Established
It doesn't happen that often that I stop and try to come up with some meaningful comments on a picture of a vise, so mission accomplished, David!
I actually do like the color, because the b/w rendition looks like stone to me and not like steel. I also don't think you need to get closer, but you might want to play with framing and diagonals.
On another note, f16sunshine, your comments sound very aloof and not very helpful, but you didn't really ask for feed back, did you?
I actually do like the color, because the b/w rendition looks like stone to me and not like steel. I also don't think you need to get closer, but you might want to play with framing and diagonals.
On another note, f16sunshine, your comments sound very aloof and not very helpful, but you didn't really ask for feed back, did you?
Brian Legge
Veteran
My gut reaction to the shot as is - its somewhere between wide enough to add context and make the object part of a scene with nothing to support it... and almost close enough to see interesting surface details but too far away.
...
I'd personally default to more abstract, closer in shot. Highlight something about it that people miss or can't see easily from their normal vantage point.
Another 'cheap' shot would be to add some tension or drama. Its a vise - put something non-traditional in it. Play with fragility. Use the color and texture of the vise as a supporting characteristic rather than the primary point of interest. Perhaps play with the vintage look by either incorporating other timely elements (or contrasting with something very modern)?
...
I'd personally default to more abstract, closer in shot. Highlight something about it that people miss or can't see easily from their normal vantage point.
Another 'cheap' shot would be to add some tension or drama. Its a vise - put something non-traditional in it. Play with fragility. Use the color and texture of the vise as a supporting characteristic rather than the primary point of interest. Perhaps play with the vintage look by either incorporating other timely elements (or contrasting with something very modern)?
mfogiel
Veteran
Take 2 or 3 lenses with different FL and circle around this object at varying altitude and distance, to find the most interesting perspective. Think of the light and background later.
2008040302 by marek fogiel, on Flickr
2008040302 by marek fogiel, on Flickr
Vince Lupo
Whatever
If I was to be taking this photo, I'd get that flash off my camera and move it to one side. For me the issue with the photo you've posted is the lighting - that frontal light basically tells me what the vise looks like - as in, 'here it is!'. Plus, with that frontal lighting you've 'flattened' things out. How does one 'recapture' that third dimension (or at least the illusion of it), give depth and 'shape' to an object in a photo? With lighting, and shadow. So if you're going to go back and reshoot, I'd have your light at least 90 degrees to the camera's position. For example, if you're going to shooting from the same camera angle, try putting the flash off to the right and and slightly above (you may need to fill in the shadow side with a white card). Or do you have a second flash? If so, cross-lighting might be an idea. you may also consider pulling back a bit to give the viewer a bit more context (where is this vice situated in space and time?). I like the colour as it (to me) more effectively shows the age and use of it.
I want to 'feel' the age and use of that vise, giving the viewer some more atmospheric light (and perhaps context) can go a long way to communicating that. With the light and framing in the shot you've posted, it's currently an 'inventory' photo. Nice thing is that you have a good subject to work with, and the ability to go back and refine your idea.
I want to 'feel' the age and use of that vise, giving the viewer some more atmospheric light (and perhaps context) can go a long way to communicating that. With the light and framing in the shot you've posted, it's currently an 'inventory' photo. Nice thing is that you have a good subject to work with, and the ability to go back and refine your idea.
nongfuspring
Well-known
As it is now the photo is poorly cropped and compositionally unbalanced, but that's the least of your problems - the biggest issue is you don't know why you're doing this in the first place. If you can figure out what you're trying to achieve with this photograph then how to photograph it should be much clearer.
Also, remove the watermark entirely; we live in a terrifying age of metadata, the EXIF data in the file alone is enough to trace it back to you. Decent artists stopped signing the front of their work about a hundred years ago.
Also, remove the watermark entirely; we live in a terrifying age of metadata, the EXIF data in the file alone is enough to trace it back to you. Decent artists stopped signing the front of their work about a hundred years ago.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'd be shooting it from a different angle and ditching the fill flash .... and trying to put it into some sort of context that gives it more meaning. And definitely black and white!
I often find an object that I feel should photograph well but it won't translate to the way I see it and creates a disappointing end result .... as vices go I don't actually find that one particularly interesting.
I often find an object that I feel should photograph well but it won't translate to the way I see it and creates a disappointing end result .... as vices go I don't actually find that one particularly interesting.
daveoo
Established
Thanks for the feedback. Good comments to digest.
daveoo
Established
One way I might look at this photo is on a line of Document---Reveal,Illuminate---Create. With a careful approach I can see a better document.
But beyond "to document" is what I would like to see.
So I will wait til I can visit the site soon.
But beyond "to document" is what I would like to see.
So I will wait til I can visit the site soon.
peterm1
Veteran
It can be fun experimenting with this kind of subject. Your bench vice has the obvious advantages of rustic color and texture so I would play on that. Also toy with depth of field and vignetting (you can add the latter in post).
Here is a similar kind of "nothing shot" if I can call it that, designed to do nothing more than play with color and patterns etc. I it made a while back and I think it worked OK. And I think yours could work well with a bit of experimentation.
Colour Imprisoned by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
And another
Car wreck by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
And another
Lady with pipes and dials by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
Here is a similar kind of "nothing shot" if I can call it that, designed to do nothing more than play with color and patterns etc. I it made a while back and I think it worked OK. And I think yours could work well with a bit of experimentation.
Colour Imprisoned by Life in Shadows, on FlickrAnd another
Car wreck by Life in Shadows, on FlickrAnd another
Lady with pipes and dials by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
MIkhail
-
+1
Photo of a subject is rarely an interesting thing.
On the other hand, as they say, feel the difference...
Granted, that's Alexander Sliussarev, genius of composition, so the comparison is not quite fair. But point being- it is possible to photograph the object and yet create the image that goes beyond the mere into about this object...
Jack Conrad
Well-known
A buxom girl in a bikini leaning in with deep cleavage and a big hammer would add to the vice-ness of the vice. Lol.......sorry.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I would give it some crazy light and take in with ToyCamera app on iPhone or on 4x5 loaded with paper as negative and contact print it for final image.
kermaier
Well-known
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Jack,A buxom girl in a bikini leaning in with deep cleavage and a big hammer would add to the vice-ness of the vice. Lol.......sorry.
Our minds were working along similar lines: making an indecent picture of the same thing.
The answer to the OP is "Probably, but I can't tell you how because I'm not good enough. And on the evidence presented, you may not be either."
Cheers,
R.
BillBingham2
Registered User
I'd come up about 15 degrees, open the jaws about two inches, angle down, not sure how I would have the handle but my gut says lower left of frame to middle right.
Direct flash is too much, you need to widen the source of light. Don't make it defuse as you want the edges in the picture.
Might try shooting it from below through the jaws too. A bit more abstract, but with light coming from above might just be the ticket.
B2 (;->
Direct flash is too much, you need to widen the source of light. Don't make it defuse as you want the edges in the picture.
Might try shooting it from below through the jaws too. A bit more abstract, but with light coming from above might just be the ticket.
B2 (;->