Here we go again ... with product photography not produce: Found an old violin in the basement. I was more interested in the lighting, composition 2nd. Used the living room this time...

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Found an old violin in the basement. I was more interested in the lighting, composition 2nd. Used the living room this time instead of the basement. A higher ceiling made it a more enjoyable experience, but mama wouldn't let me leave it up. So, Maybe it's back to the basement.
I used a softbox with a speedlight and 1 reflector on the right and in front.

Comments always welcome.

Thanks for stopping by.
--Steve

(Download)

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Very nice! My only comment is I wonder how it would look without the towel or with a more elegant backdrop, such as velvet, red satin or a piece of old lace?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

steve DeMott wrote:

Found an old violin in the basement. I was more interested in the lighting, composition 2nd. Used the living room this time instead of the basement. A higher ceiling made it a more enjoyable experience, but mama wouldn't let me leave it up. So, Maybe it's back to the basement.
I used a softbox with a speedlight and 1 reflector on the right and in front.

Comments always welcome.

Thanks for stopping by.
--Steve

Steve, Concept great. Lighting perfect. Composition excellent. The towel as a backdrop takes away from the beauty.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I agree. Very nice but for the towel.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

You have a potentially great image in the making.

PLEASE lose the towel. Find a darker cloth made of velvet or velveteen- perhaps in maron or very dark green and drape in carefully with a diagonal pleat. The violin and bow are perfectly placed. Clean up the sheet music and don't allow it to stick out of the right side at the back of the instrument. Bring the instrument further from the cloth- prop it up on something. This will allow you to bring the soft box a bit further back and get more of a rim ligh on the edges of the violin. Fill in with the reflector from the side and make sure you are seeing the grain in the instrument. The wooden chair is nice but don't light it as much.

Another background could be a tapestry in very muted shades.

I tried to edit to kill the terrycloth- just to give you an idea.

Back to the basement- this may take a few days!

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Ok. I get it. Actually it was a throw blanket.

Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement and suggestions. I'll setup and try again.

We're having fun now.

Thanks

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Very nice find. Love the composition, and lighting.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

You have some great stuff to work with for one outstanding Photograph. I would love to have them to work with. I could easily spend a day or even two checking different angles and moving lights to get the shot.
I agree with E.L. Shapiro the white material is way to bright for the shot. I would go for a different and probably darker material, darker that the instrument, then softer warmer light overall with an additional light for the violin and bow creating drama. A bit of rim light and some shadows are your friend don't worry if they are in the photo.
Again the pieces you have are so good please take the time to work with them again and re post your success. If we live close to one another I would be happy to rent them from you for a shot of my own.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Jim-Pops wrote:

You have some great stuff to work with for one out... (show quote)

Great ideas! Also- I am always on the lookout, in second-hand shops and even junk yards etc for cool props! My "prop-room" is begin to look lie a junkyard, so I rotate some the the stuff and swap with other photograhers and junk collectors. Sometimes old musical instruments can be had at low prices- they don't sound very good but they look nice!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Steve have you considered having a violinist showcase this instrument?
Just a thought...

Thank you so much for sharing, brings back many wonderful precious moments...
Oh for the magical touch of spruce and ebony...

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Thomas902 wrote:

Steve have you considered having a violinist showcase this instrument?
Just a thought...

Thank you so much for sharing, brings back many wonderful precious moments...
Oh for the magical touch of spruce and ebony...

Not really. I would think that it does have a nice sound. My father-In-Law played this when he was in grade school. Had it appraised and it's was worth a couple of hundred dollars years back.
Back in the 30's they made cheap knock-offs of a Stradivarius by the thousands. It even has a Stradivarius tag on the inside.
I do have a friend who plays Bluegrass fiddle and restores/rebuilds instruments. I'll ask him what he thinks.

Thanks for the idea and comments.

On a side note. My Aunt played bluegrass back in the 30's & 40's on KMOX radio here in St. Louis, and I have her 1945 O-17 Martin guitar. Beautiful sounding instrument.

Steve

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

steve DeMott wrote:

Not really. I would think that it does have a nice... (show quote)

My grandfather was a classical violinist. In his younghr days he played in the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He came to America in 1912 but couldn't find work in his field so he went to work in a shipyard to support his family and seriously injured his hands. His professional career ended but he always played beautifully.

My dad was an amateur violinist and fiddler.

My thing was the accurdion. I played all my life just for fun. I adapt classical pieces for the squeezebox.

I am no master virtuoso accordionist but I did get to produce two CD covers for some real players. I got to use my accordion for props.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Beautiful sounding instrument..." is it is the hand that plays that brings out the beauty?

To a commercial musician an instrument is only a tool...
Those who don't play music have no clue here...

There is a tactile sensation i.e. somatic aura to the touch of ebony that has no equal...

namaste

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

A little off topic, but I must agree that from a woodworker’s (rather than a musician’s perspective), Ebony is a very special wood indeed - rare and one of the most expensive hardwoods. I have a few pieces stashed away for a very special project one day.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

Ed, Thomas & TriX. Thanks for your inspiration and family history.

Steve