The Harpist: My sister, a professional harpist, poses for me out on the river bridge. I'm trying a new software, LightZone and this is a 'High Key Protrait' preset with just a little...

wrr Loc: SEK

My sister, a professional harpist, poses for me out on the river bridge.

I'm trying a new software, LightZone and this is a 'High Key Protrait' preset with just a little adjusting.

I am very interested to know what you think, toss or keep...if keep then what would improve the pic. Actually would like to know all aspects on this pic from the comp to the processing.

edit: looking at it now, thinking I should've cropped the extra white space from the top and some from behind her...

...to all who comment, thanks for looking and commenting!

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Nice shot. How dose she move that thing? Must have a pick up truck.

wrr Loc: SEK

Hal81 wrote:

Nice shot. How dose she move that thing? Must have a pick up truck.

Thanks Hal...the harp weighs a few hundred pounds and they lay it on it's side in a case and it just fits in a van.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Thank you for sharing.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Yes, cropping the sky and right side a bit.

I would pose her left hand a bit more gracefully and not have the fingers curled, unless she has worn them down playing...

Possibly lighten her face a bit more... depending on what your intent is for the shot.

A very nice photo overall.

wrr Loc: SEK

jdubu wrote:

Yes, cropping the sky and right side a bit.

I would pose her left hand a bit more gracefully and not have the fingers curled, unless she has worn them down playing...

Possibly lighten her face a bit more... depending on what your intent is for the shot.

A very nice photo overall.

Thanks! I'll remember that about the fingers.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Ask her if it is true that harpists spend half their time tuning and the other half playing out of tunr. - Nice picture - Dave

wrr Loc: SEK

wilsondl2 wrote:

Ask her if it is true that harpists spend half their time tuning and the other half playing out of tunr. - Nice picture - Dave

thanks...I don't believe she spends much time playing out of tune but it is possible she spends a lot of time tuning the harp. It has to be done every day. There is over 2000 pounds of pressure pulling on the arch and if the harp is not constantly kept in tune the strings can pull enough to crack the harp. When they go on vacation they have to have someone come tune the harp everyday. I have babysat the thing more than once, using a electronic device to tune it.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

My kids are string players and when they were younger they had two friends that played the harp. After helping move the harp I never felt bad about the girls Cellos - Dave

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

wrr wrote:

thanks...I don't believe she spends much time playing out of tune but it is possible she spends a lot of time tuning the harp. It has to be done every day. There is over 2000 pounds of pressure pulling on the arch and if the harp is not constantly kept in tune the strings can pull enough to crack the harp. When they go on vacation they have to have someone come tune the harp everyday. I have babysat the thing more than once, using a electronic device to tune it.

Now that's dedication to something loved...very nice shot

Dave Chinn

Love this photo.

wrr Loc: SEK

OnDSnap wrote:

Now that's dedication to something loved...very nice shot

Thanks Doug! Her harp took over ten months to build. She had ordered it with several exotic woods and a larger soundboard...it was made here.
http://www.venusharps.com/Grand-Concert-Harps.htm

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

If this is what your are striving for it is a good picture. I would crop right side to remove the "boxey" looking object (part of the wall?) to the right of her left foot and the tree above it out of the photo and then crop some of the sky out for a balance picture.

I really like the light on the strings.
If you have the chance to try this again I think I would try a couple of things together and independently:
1. Use HDR to capture greater range of the light,
2. I might try to use a fill flash bring her and the harp out of the darkness,
3. Move the camera clock-wise to place more of the strings in front of the dark trees in the background try and capture more of the strings in the light,

It is a good picture

wrr Loc: SEK

dave sproul wrote:

If this is what your are striving for it is a good... (show quote)

Thank you very much...I will certainly consider your suggestions, good stuff, appreciate your input.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Very cool shot!