Misc Hard Working Chuck

HockeyDad · 01-18-2012, 10:18 AM

I had an idea for this photo rattling around in my head and I just acquired my M 50mm f/1.7 so I decided to try it out with this. This whole Converse photo habit of mine started long long ago with a "portrait" a friend took of my shoes hanging from a truck mirror with a sunset reflecting in the paint on the truck. Since then... it's kinda become a thing our friends get a kick out of. But anyway, on to the image at hand... I would love some critique on ways I can improve on it. Hit me with everything, composition, lighting, exposure, etc... Also, PP treatment. I am posting two versions, 1st the sepia(ish) image that I originally conceived but also the color version because I like what the rust brings to the table. So, I'm also looking for opinions on which you prefer.

Thanks for looking.

onesikej8 · 01-18-2012, 10:29 AM

what about bringing out the rust on the sockets and the chisel (?, i think its a chisel bottom left) and leave the rest in the sepia-ish? .. I am just saying that because you like what the rust brings to the table and you like the sepia-ish. For me to pick one I like better, umm, I think I would pick the sepia-ish because the converse shoe is very retro and the first image brings a vintage feel to it. But, to modernize it a little bit, adding that rust into it may do that.

JohnBee · 01-18-2012, 10:38 AM

Very interesting.

One thing that I've learned with images such as these is that sometimes, its best to hone-in or identify something that strikes you about the image and then post process to bring that particular characteristic.

ie. in this image I find the stressed metal could work and so I'd push for a distressed look.

And so just for fun, I tried a high structure(detail) look combined with a rather strong vignette effect to add a feeling of obscurity feeling to the scene. TO sort of make someone work to figure out what their looking at. - of course this is all just from my own perspective, and so take it with a grain of salt.

PS. please don't take offense to the edit, I assure you that my intentions are based entirely on sharing ideas with others.

Hope this helps.
JohnB

HockeyDad · 01-18-2012, 10:57 AM

Thank you both for taking the time to comment!

Originally posted by onesikej8

But, to modernize it a little bit, adding that rust into it may do that.

I hadn't thought of that. I just now tried working that up and it seemed like it would almost work but I felt the upper right wound up lacking... like if I had an upended sledge hammer or something to add a little rusty balance up there...

Originally posted by JohnBee

PS. please don't take offense to my edit, I assure you that my itentions are based entirely on sharing my own ideas with others.

No offense taken! I'm very new to this hobby and the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know! I got into it to shoot my kids playing hockey but I'm loving the hobby of photography as a whole so the more information/input/ideas people post, the better. I like what you suggest about a less obvious image... I may try throwing some kind of brush stroke filter at it and see where that takes me.

Thanks again for the input!

grainbelt · 01-18-2012, 02:06 PM

Is the subject the socket, or the shoe? I'm more drawn to the socket, and I'm not sure why the shoe is there. The socket is also the only thing that is completely in the frame, everything else is partially cut out.

The most interesting elements of the shoes, for me, are the texture of the canvas and the grommets for the laces and vents. I'd maybe shoot it from 90 degrees to the left, to get more of that and less of the logo/emblem. The front quarter view, rather than the rear quarter.The brightest part of the scene draws the eye to it, so I'm seeing a lot of the sole and logo and not as much of the socket and canvas texture.

HockeyDad · 01-18-2012, 07:57 PM

Thanks for commenting grainbelt. I had the same thought about the angle of the shoe. In fact the torn canvas toward the front caught my eye and I did shoot several from a forward looking angle but in the end, didn't like them as well. Not because the idea was flawed, but I think because that socked didn't play as well from that angle. I think ultimately I'm going to re-stage this and try again so I can explore everyone's input so please keep the feedback coming!

onesikej8 · 01-19-2012, 05:33 AM

Yeah you're right, something rusty up in the right is needed

HockeyDad · 01-25-2012, 10:05 AM

Ok, so I had a chance to give it another try... Better? worse? All critique welcome.

1st the new composition with reduced saturation and some vignetting:

And here's a monochromatic/sepia(ish) version:

onesikej8 · 01-28-2012, 10:47 PM

I like the sepia-ish one more again, for the same reasons haha

ekim89 · 01-30-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally posted by HockeyDad

Ok, so I had a chance to give it another try... Better? worse? All critique welcome.

This angle works much better in my opinion and the sepia(ish) rendering is done well. Great job! PS, I really enjoy the Lego Star Troopers holding up the red shoe on your Flickr!

HockeyDad · 01-30-2012, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the compliments. I think it's definitely getting better. This whole exercise is really giving me a respect for composition. Each time I try, I notice something more in the image that I should have paid more attention to while shooting. In the end, it will make me a better photographer by having a greater attention to extraneous details. It's also a fun experiment in lighting using my old Minolta flash and some utility lights to try get the background dark enough that it hides my garage clutter.

It's also funny that people have walked through the garage and not one has asked, "Why is there a shoe in a pile of old tools on the floor?".

P.S. Thanks for the fav on flickr. That shoot was the result of me and my 7 year old goofing around one evening... there's actually one more, "Tragedy Strikes", that I'll have to upload.

01-18-2012, 10:18 AM	#1
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482	Hard Working Chuck Lens: Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 Camera: Pentax Kr Photo Location: Garage ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/180s Aperture: F8 I had an idea for this photo rattling around in my head and I just acquired my M 50mm f/1.7 so I decided to try it out with this. This whole Converse photo habit of mine started long long ago with a "portrait" a friend took of my shoes hanging from a truck mirror with a sunset reflecting in the paint on the truck. Since then... it's kinda become a thing our friends get a kick out of. But anyway, on to the image at hand... I would love some critique on ways I can improve on it. Hit me with everything, composition, lighting, exposure, etc... Also, PP treatment. I am posting two versions, 1st the sepia(ish) image that I originally conceived but also the color version because I like what the rust brings to the table. So, I'm also looking for opinions on which you prefer. Thanks for looking.

01-18-2012, 10:38 AM	#3
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Very interesting. One thing that I've learned with images such as these is that sometimes, its best to hone-in or identify something that strikes you about the image and then post process to bring that particular characteristic. ie. in this image I find the stressed metal could work and so I'd push for a distressed look. And so just for fun, I tried a high structure(detail) look combined with a rather strong vignette effect to add a feeling of obscurity feeling to the scene. TO sort of make someone work to figure out what their looking at. - of course this is all just from my own perspective, and so take it with a grain of salt. PS. please don't take offense to the edit, I assure you that my intentions are based entirely on sharing ideas with others. Hope this helps. JohnB Last edited by JohnBee; 01-18-2012 at 11:19 AM.

01-25-2012, 10:05 AM	#8
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482 Original Poster	Ok, so I had a chance to give it another try... Better? worse? All critique welcome. 1st the new composition with reduced saturation and some vignetting: And here's a monochromatic/sepia(ish) version: Last edited by HockeyDad; 01-25-2012 at 10:22 AM.

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01-18-2012, 10:29 AM	#2
onesikej8 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 42	what about bringing out the rust on the sockets and the chisel (?, i think its a chisel bottom left) and leave the rest in the sepia-ish? .. I am just saying that because you like what the rust brings to the table and you like the sepia-ish. For me to pick one I like better, umm, I think I would pick the sepia-ish because the converse shoe is very retro and the first image brings a vintage feel to it. But, to modernize it a little bit, adding that rust into it may do that.

01-18-2012, 10:57 AM	#4
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482 Original Poster	Thank you both for taking the time to comment! Originally posted by onesikej8 But, to modernize it a little bit, adding that rust into it may do that. I hadn't thought of that. I just now tried working that up and it seemed like it would almost work but I felt the upper right wound up lacking... like if I had an upended sledge hammer or something to add a little rusty balance up there... Originally posted by JohnBee PS. please don't take offense to my edit, I assure you that my itentions are based entirely on sharing my own ideas with others. No offense taken! I'm very new to this hobby and the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know! I got into it to shoot my kids playing hockey but I'm loving the hobby of photography as a whole so the more information/input/ideas people post, the better. I like what you suggest about a less obvious image... I may try throwing some kind of brush stroke filter at it and see where that takes me. Thanks again for the input!

01-18-2012, 02:06 PM	#5
grainbelt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Albums Posts: 587	Is the subject the socket, or the shoe? I'm more drawn to the socket, and I'm not sure why the shoe is there. The socket is also the only thing that is completely in the frame, everything else is partially cut out. The most interesting elements of the shoes, for me, are the texture of the canvas and the grommets for the laces and vents. I'd maybe shoot it from 90 degrees to the left, to get more of that and less of the logo/emblem. The front quarter view, rather than the rear quarter.The brightest part of the scene draws the eye to it, so I'm seeing a lot of the sole and logo and not as much of the socket and canvas texture.

01-18-2012, 07:57 PM	#6
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482 Original Poster	Thanks for commenting grainbelt. I had the same thought about the angle of the shoe. In fact the torn canvas toward the front caught my eye and I did shoot several from a forward looking angle but in the end, didn't like them as well. Not because the idea was flawed, but I think because that socked didn't play as well from that angle. I think ultimately I'm going to re-stage this and try again so I can explore everyone's input so please keep the feedback coming!

01-19-2012, 05:33 AM	#7
onesikej8 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 42	Yeah you're right, something rusty up in the right is needed

01-28-2012, 10:47 PM	#9
onesikej8 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 42	I like the sepia-ish one more again, for the same reasons haha

01-30-2012, 01:39 PM	#10
ekim89 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 239	Originally posted by HockeyDad Ok, so I had a chance to give it another try... Better? worse? All critique welcome. This angle works much better in my opinion and the sepia(ish) rendering is done well. Great job! PS, I really enjoy the Lego Star Troopers holding up the red shoe on your Flickr!

01-30-2012, 07:19 PM	#11
HockeyDad Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 482 Original Poster	Thanks for the compliments. I think it's definitely getting better. This whole exercise is really giving me a respect for composition. Each time I try, I notice something more in the image that I should have paid more attention to while shooting. In the end, it will make me a better photographer by having a greater attention to extraneous details. It's also a fun experiment in lighting using my old Minolta flash and some utility lights to try get the background dark enough that it hides my garage clutter. It's also funny that people have walked through the garage and not one has asked, "Why is there a shoe in a pile of old tools on the floor?". P.S. Thanks for the fav on flickr. That shoot was the result of me and my 7 year old goofing around one evening... there's actually one more, "Tragedy Strikes", that I'll have to upload.