Still Life: High Heels
Nov 20, 2016 22:37:24 #
I bought these as a prop in a thrift store a while back. Thought I would try to apply some of the concepts that Jenny talked about. Keep it simple, one source of light, arrange the item(s). Use light fall off to your advantage. On my monitor, I had just a hint of the background and the shadow that the shoes make on the background. Remembering that many of my shots come out darker on the Hog than what I see on my monitor, I brightened the image up a bit. Hopefully I did not brighten it up too much. Comments, as always, are welcome. Also kept in mind the idea that the scene should look like you just got up and walked away from it. Edits are welcome too.
Erich
Erich
Nov 20, 2016 23:33:56 #
Frank2013
Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.
It appears like it's well done to me Erich though I'm not well versed in the genre.
Nov 21, 2016 05:21:54 #
Frank2013 wrote:
It appears like it's well done to me Erich though I'm not well versed in the genre.
Thanks, Frank. I'm looking at it on a laptop that is not the best for photos. I think the posted version got darker again. I had some very subtle shadowing going on which I can't see on the laptop. Hope it looks better on people's monitors. THank you for taking a look.
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 07:34:37 #
I use a bright-screen Chromebook and I couldn't see the shadows behind the shoes until I lightened the image significantly in an editing app. I hope you're able to adjust for online as I think the shadows would add great interest.
I like the simplicity of the image and love the composition. For me it's a study of form and colors. The shoes are a beautiful (oh how subjective!) design and color combination, and the way you've arranged them shows off these aspects wonderfully.
Not being a shoe aficionado, I don't know if the yellow tags are significant, i.e. does that mean they are very expensive? If they are, then I presume the designer is part of the story.
But as a wearer of sneakers/tennis shoes
I am curious about a version with the yellow removed.
From a non-still life shooter's pov, the lighting looks fantastic.
I like the simplicity of the image and love the composition. For me it's a study of form and colors. The shoes are a beautiful (oh how subjective!) design and color combination, and the way you've arranged them shows off these aspects wonderfully.
Not being a shoe aficionado, I don't know if the yellow tags are significant, i.e. does that mean they are very expensive? If they are, then I presume the designer is part of the story.
But as a wearer of sneakers/tennis shoes
I am curious about a version with the yellow removed.From a non-still life shooter's pov, the lighting looks fantastic.
Nov 21, 2016 12:01:25 #
Nov 21, 2016 14:42:22 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I use a bright-screen Chromebook and I couldn't se... (show quote)
Thanks, Linda. I don't know a damned thing about high heeled shoes except that they were designed by men to make women's legs look good. I wouldn't wear them if I were a woman. Yet, as a subject, I think they have a lot to offer. I could clone out the tags and re post. I don't know if the tags are significant. I was attracted to the pokka-dot pattern on the shoes. I only had one light source and it was behind and to the left of the camera so that there would be light fall off. Basically, the light was only really catching the highlights and the bright spots. Fun to play with.
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 14:43:09 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Shoes are subjective, but this is a really engaging shot.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. If it made you look and pause for more than a few seconds, I consider that a success.
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 16:22:04 #
Excellent Erich!! You already had the desire to do still life when you bought the shoes! And you did VERY
well with this!! Wonder what the background may have been. This is like small product photography and
will be looking to see what other styles of shoes you might offer. Might want to buy them from you if
you make them look this good, laf.
well with this!! Wonder what the background may have been. This is like small product photography and
will be looking to see what other styles of shoes you might offer. Might want to buy them from you if
you make them look this good, laf.
Nov 21, 2016 17:38:40 #
jenny wrote:
Excellent Erich!! You already had the desire to do still life when you bought the shoes! And you did VERY
well with this!! Wonder what the background may have been. This is like small product photography and
will be looking to see what other styles of shoes you might offer. Might want to buy them from you if
you make them look this good, laf.
well with this!! Wonder what the background may have been. This is like small product photography and
will be looking to see what other styles of shoes you might offer. Might want to buy them from you if
you make them look this good, laf.
I've looked at this version and it is, unfortunately, darker than my original. The slightly lighter version shows a bit of shadow which worked out nice. The background was still basically very dark; but you could just make out the shadow. I had fun with this one and I'm pleased that you like the photo. The shoes are placed on a black terry throw. The problem is that it picks up dog hair and dust. The lighter you make it, the more they appear. Had to use the spot removal brush in PS to great advantage.
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 17:42:39 #
ebrunner wrote:
The shoes are placed on a black terry throw. The problem is that it picks up dog hair and dust.
First rule: use a background that matches the dog's fur!
Nov 21, 2016 18:01:35 #
Now now Linda, let's not lead him astray, laf. No rules, no critique, just exploration and discovery of the new world. Dog/cat/people hair, cookie crumbs, coffee stains, salt, sugar, dust, we even have to shake the house plant because there is dust on the leaves.
Our environment is incredibly messy and we never knew it until now! And...to save time, since we are being so careful anyway, we save a ton of time in just taking care of those details when doing the set, and BEFORE we hit the shutter, rather than having to spend more time with processing.
Our environment is incredibly messy and we never knew it until now! And...to save time, since we are being so careful anyway, we save a ton of time in just taking care of those details when doing the set, and BEFORE we hit the shutter, rather than having to spend more time with processing.
Nov 21, 2016 21:25:07 #
Erich, you've done a commendable job here. You captured the essence of the subject, whilst providing areas for our imaginations to "fill in the blanks".
--Bob
--Bob
ebrunner wrote:
I bought these as a prop in a thrift store a while... (show quote)
Nov 21, 2016 22:00:09 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
First rule: use a background that matches the dog's fur!
It might take a long time for me to accumulate enough dog hair. Maybe if I could get him to roll around on the background. lol
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 22:02:10 #
jenny wrote:
Now now Linda, let's not lead him astray, laf. No ... (show quote)
Yep, getting the prep right before clicking the shutter is key. Problem is you always find something you missed. Then I guess you just have to clean it up in post.
Erich
Nov 21, 2016 22:03:36 #
rmalarz wrote:
Erich, you've done a commendable job here. You captured the essence of the subject, whilst providing areas for our imaginations to "fill in the blanks".
--Bob
--Bob
Thanks, Bob. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It certainly is a fun area to explore and experiment.
Erich
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