Paid Photo Job

Sam

A couple of weeks ago my neighbor Ed asked me if I would take a few photos of his friend’s gun collection. I did and they came out pretty well.

Let me tell you photographing these guns is difficult. Getting the color right is very hard, and critical. These are very high end collectables, color, tone, and markings are very important.

These guns are military 1911, 45 caliber hand guns, and are very valuable, with values ranging from $3000 to over $40,000 each.

Bottom line is he liked the photos, and wants me to photograph 30 guns and provide 2 photos per gun. One left side and one right side, along with digital images on a CD.

I have already quoted him a low price, and he snapped up the offer.

So, this looks like my first paid job.

I plan on putting a GretagMacbeth color checker in every photo. I will color balance with this and then clone it out. I plan on using my neighbor’s porch, which has a translucent roof, and let daylight provide the lighting.

I have tried using a light tent, and while I get great results with glass, and other objects, I seem to have trouble with the guns?

I am still working on the best set up, so if any of you have any thoughts on this please feel free to let me know.

Dee

Pity us poor people using the white option
For viewing the forum. I saw a huge white box! :

Sam

Dee wrote:

For viewing the forum. I saw a huge white box! :

Dee,

I don't understand???? Are you saying you don't see any text, but you see a big white box where the text should be???

Sam

Dee

Yep

Sam wrote:

Dee,

I don't understand???? Are you saying you don't see any text, but you see a big white box where the text should be???

Sam

Exactly!

I had to "highlight" the white box and then I could see the text.

Dee

A picture worth a thousand words...
Here's what I see...

PossumCorner

Congratulations

Sam wrote:

........ So, this looks like my first paid job. ........

Sam that's great, sounds interesting: maybe a couple of shots could be put aside in time for Challenge 51. (Maybe a mousie nibbling on a gunstock). Will we see any of the results or is it all 'copyrighted' to the client? Sounds fairly specialist - be nice if it led to more of the same.

Sam

Dee wrote:

Here's what I see...

Thanks for showing me. I have no idea why my post looks like this.

It looks normal on my screen?

Sam

mercphoto

Sam wrote:

Thanks for showing me. I have no idea why my post looks like this.

Its because your original post started with a COLOR directive, and that color was very nearly white. Hence on a white screen your text did not show up.

What in particular about a soft box did not work for the guns? Can you post a good picture and a bad picture?

Sam

mercphoto wrote:

Its because your original post started with a COLOR directive, and that color was very nearly white. Hence on a white screen your text did not show up.

What in particular about a soft box did not work for the guns? Can you post a good picture and a bad picture?

Ok, I tried to change the color in the original post. Now it looks like black text on a black background to me.

Can you see it better?

As for the photos: Here is one that came out pretty well.

What I like is crisp detail, and good clear markings. What I don't like is the shadow.

This was taken outside in the shade. No defusers, or reflectors.

Sam

This a photo of a different gun in the light tent. I used the same lens. Don't worry about the color difference. There are differences among the models.

I like the lack of shadow, but the photo, and this is representative of all taken in the light box, seems soft and the markings are unclear, and washed out. Perhaps some side light is needed to create shadow in the ingraved markings?

mercphoto

Sam wrote:

As for the photos: Here is one that came out pretty well.

What I like is crisp detail, and good clear markings. What I don't like is the shadow.

This was taken outside in the shade. No defusers, or reflectors.

The shadow is very, very minor. I like it better than the one without the shadow. As a portrait photograph I know says, its the highlights, mid-ranges and shadows that give depth, give life to a photo. Your first photo looks more three dimensional, the second looks more flat to my eyes.

The point of a diffuser or light box is not to remove shadows, its to make them softer. Ditto with highlights, it doesn't remove them, it makes them softer.

portellimagery

I like the first as well. And since these are rare handguns, you want those markings visible. I have zero experience doing product shots like this. And I only got studio lights yesterday (I have been requested to do a set of senoir portraits because they like my work, is why I got them)

Nikolai

Sam,
Unless the lack of backround (or presence of white/empty one) is specifically requested, I'd suggest to try using nice soft fabric as a background material. Try black or deep red satin/velvet, as it it was a museum exposition. It should add "richness" to the image and imrove the concept of "unique and expensive" target.

Here's an example of what I mean. I'm not saying it's perfectly executed (in fact it was a kwikie and lame) , but I hope you'll get the idea:



I think weaponry shooting requires some proper background. Look at the site of my fencing buddy, Joe Caswell, who forges damaskus swords, knives and other steel objects. As you can see, none of them are on the white/empty background.

I also think, as with cars and other shiny/reflecting objects, the use of polarizer is in order if you want to control the reflection a little bit more.

Good luck! Seems like a nice gig!

Sam

Nikolai wrote:

Unless the lack of backround (or presence of white/empty one) is specifically requested, I'd suggest to try using nice soft fabric as a background material. Try black or deep red satin/velvet, as it it was a museum exposition. It should add "richness" to the image and imrove the concept of "unique and expensive" target.

I also think, as with cars and other shiny/reflecting objects, the use of polarizer is in order if you want to control the reflection a little bit more.

Good luck! Seems like a nice gig!

I will see about a different background, I have a very nice early 1900 wood folding table, and I will also look into some type of red cloth.

Thanks,

Sam