I dont have a second camera so i wasnt able to get a photo of the "set up". But here is what i did: using a cloth backdrop that i placed on the floor, i put a book (The Decameron, if it matters ) on the sheet and then placed the knife on top. my camera was mounted on a tripod pointing down. i moved the lighting around until i felt it looked ok. post-processing includes white balancing the RAW file, some sharpening, and then i added the vignette.
as for the table saw blade: well...i just turned it on and took a picture of it.
Doug, thank you!
It's a nice cover, but what I would really like to see is a blade filling more space on the final image.
Haha, Douglas, this is classic, albeit the knife almost looks like the one from the "Cobra", earlier Sly's flick.
Funny - I also used "Lens flare" effect for my entry:-)
Haha, Douglas, this is classic, albeit the knife almost looks like the one from the "Cobra", earlier Sly's flick.
Funny - I also used "Lens flare" effect for my entry:-)
i was thinking it looked like one of the blades on the Predators arm.
It does :-)
It also shows one of the main issue with polished steel: excessive reflection. In your case the bottom part of the blade almost dissolves in the background You gotta choose your angles very carefully for this type of things!
The original (I'm not happy with the shallow DOF - I had to open up to 3.5 in order to expose properly to blow out the background. Probably should do this during the day when there is more ambient light.)
The setup - my quickly-thrown-together DIY macro lightbox Not very fancy, but it did the job.
I used one strobe on the right, glossy photo paper for bounce on left and back, blade angled away from the flash so it didn't catch direct light.
The original (I'm not happy with the shallow DOF - I had to open up to 3.5 in order to expose properly to blow out the background. Probably should do this during the day when there is more ambient light.)
The setup - my quickly-thrown-together DIY macro lightbox Not very fancy, but it did the job.
I used one strobe on the right, glossy photo paper for bounce on left and back, blade angled away from the flash so it didn't catch direct light.
Lori,
thank you very much, both for the nice final entry and for actually providing the requested "how-to" photos...
And I've got a crack of the subtitle
Moonlight and Hatchets
I took this shot about an hour ago. Sorry I didn't take a how-to picture, I used two lights, difused tungston, white balanced for same.
I haven neither experience nor templates for designing magazine covers. :cry
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
I took these shots about half an hour ago. Sorry I didn't take any how-to pictures, but I think they pretty much explain themselves: difused tungston, white balanced for same.
Thank you, Lee, nice blade!
I had fun with similar hatchets during the Big Bear Renaissance Fair last summer...
Now, how about putting it on a cover?
I understand that you haven't done it before, but that's why we do it here - we learn...
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Thank you, Lee, nice blade!
I had fun with similar hatchets during the Big Bear Renaissance Fair last summer...
Now, how about putting it on a cover?
I understand that you haven't done it before, but that's why we do it here - we learn...
Thank you very much.
Well, I can try. But, like I said, I have neither experience nor templates. I'm using PhotoShop 7, and just started learning that a couple months ago. Have you any suggestions for me?
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Well, I can try. But, like I said, I have neither experience nor templates. I'm using PhotoShop 7, and just started learning that a couple months ago. Have you any suggestions for me?
If it makes you feel any better: in 2005 I honestly didn't know what "layer" is, let alone "curves" and "blending styles". Well, I got and read a few books (Kelby is a great start), did some exercises... Now I can probably write 90% of PS books on the market...
I must say one thing though: get CS3. Academic version is $200 only. I can't even describe how much better it is compared to PS7
Thank you, Nikolai. It sounds like you've got Photoshop down! Something to aspire to, for me.
I have a book, but I think it's for PS6 and it's buried deep in my storage. I'll look for Kelby's book. $200.00 for the academic version, eh? Can a non-student get it? I'm a couple decades past that.
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
I have a book, but I think it's for PS6 and it's buried deep in my storage. I'll look for Kelby's book.
Books. There are several. I'd start for CS3 for Digital Photographers, then Classic Effects, then Down and Dirty tricks. Don't bother with Channels, it's a blah thing.
$200.00 for the academic version, eh? Can a non-student get it? I'm a couple decades past that.
Well, then you prolly have a student of your own, eh?
What are yout thoughts on Elements?
I tried them when they were version 4. They sucked big time. I heard the latest one is pretty good, but since I have CS3 I see no reason to downgrade...
Well this might be a bit dark. But my son and I tried to come up with something different and he suggested the shock factor. (Thats a 19 year old for you!).
I used two light set up with a high iso. You can find the Exif files on any of the other images in a
I just set up. I used a combination of 3 seperate images plus some paint shop pro to make it look more illustrated look.
Here are the three images in their original unedited form...
this last one I only used the blade portion because it was reflecting better...
BTW...no fingers were actually harmed in the making of this mag cover!
Well this might be a bit dark. But my son and I tried to come up with something different and he suggested the shock factor. (Thats a 19 year old for you!).
Jag,
great entry, thank you very much!
I like the contents!
Also great howto portion!
Comments
Nice shot, great story, thank you, Antonio!
Doug, thank you!
It's a nice cover, but what I would really like to see is a blade filling more space on the final image.
Funny - I also used "Lens flare" effect for my entry:-)
hopefully this fits the requirements better.
www.douglaspettway.com
www.douglaspettwaylive.com
i was thinking it looked like one of the blades on the Predators arm.
www.douglaspettway.com
www.douglaspettwaylive.com
It also shows one of the main issue with polished steel: excessive reflection. In your case the bottom part of the blade almost dissolves in the background
The original (I'm not happy with the shallow DOF - I had to open up to 3.5 in order to expose properly to blow out the background. Probably should do this during the day when there is more ambient light.)
The setup - my quickly-thrown-together DIY macro lightbox
I used one strobe on the right, glossy photo paper for bounce on left and back, blade angled away from the flash so it didn't catch direct light.
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thank you very much, both for the nice final entry and for actually providing the requested "how-to" photos...
And I've got a crack of the subtitle
I took this shot about an hour ago. Sorry I didn't take a how-to picture, I used two lights, difused tungston, white balanced for same.
I haven neither experience nor templates for designing magazine covers. :cry
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"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Thank you, Lee, nice blade!
I had fun with similar hatchets during the Big Bear Renaissance Fair last summer...
Now, how about putting it on a cover?
I understand that you haven't done it before, but that's why we do it here - we learn...
I took this one at the same time.
Similar lighting as the previous, rotated 90 degrees CW.
Maybe these could be editorial photos wthin the article?
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My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
Thank you very much.
Well, I can try. But, like I said, I have neither experience nor templates. I'm using PhotoShop 7, and just started learning that a couple months ago. Have you any suggestions for me?
__________________
My SmugMug Gallery
My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
I must say one thing though: get CS3. Academic version is $200 only. I can't even describe how much better it is compared to PS7
I have a book, but I think it's for PS6 and it's buried deep in my storage. I'll look for Kelby's book. $200.00 for the academic version, eh? Can a non-student get it? I'm a couple decades past that.
What are yout thoughts on Elements?
Thank you again.
__________________
My SmugMug Gallery
My Facebook
"If you've found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it." - Mae West, to Edith Head.
"Every guy has to have one weakness - and it might as well be a good one." - Shell Scott: Dance With the Dead by Richard S. Prather
I tried them when they were version 4. They sucked big time.
HTH
Thanks for viewing.
http://www.facebook.com/brocklawsonphoto
I used two light set up with a high iso. You can find the Exif files on any of the other images in a
I just set up. I used a combination of 3 seperate images plus some paint shop pro to make it look more illustrated look.
Here are the three images in their original unedited form...
this last one I only used the blade portion because it was reflecting better...
BTW...no fingers were actually harmed in the making of this mag cover!
great entry, thank you very much!
I like the contents!
Also great howto portion!