[swanlefitte]

This is not photoshop but one picture carefully composed. It looks photoshopped but just sliders were used to tweak the Raw. I got what I wanted but I don't like what I got.
All insights welcome.

[pichaser]

I like it .

[Just1MoreDave]

It reminds me of the Lee Valley catalog cover photos. Same subject, different approach. Maybe this gives you an idea?

- Lee Valley Tools

[swanlefitte]

I like that photo better. Maybe it's how they weave together.
Thanks for pointing that out.

[mhrish]

I like it other than the lens flare in the lower left. Not sure how you could get rid of it.

[SJM]

I like it Swan.

[swanlefitte]

Thanks for the comments so far.

[aaacb]

I also like it, especially how you got the different materials to show their texture.

In the spirit of constructive criticism, I think it has great technique but the composition could be improved. For example, the shiniest hammer in the center wants to be the focus point, but the row under it doesn't draw your eye to it, especially the bright leftmost hammer. It feels unbalanced between a geometric arrangement and a shiny central subject, i would experiment with creating some visual lines to guide the viewer.

[swanlefitte]

Thanks aaacb,
That's the stuff I need. After "hammering " out the technical my thought process doesn't want to step back. I see what is there but can't see what's missing. Like tasting a soup that's bland but not knowing how to make it good without ruining it.

[hks_kansei]

A great concept and start.


Personally I think that an image like this relies on sharpness, and a few of the hammers seem to be a bit soft. Normally not an issue, but mechanical/hard items really do benefit from being spot on in focus.

Either double check focus/movement, or stop the lens down a bit to give greater DOF.




Lighting wise I think it's a bit harsh, maybe try some tissue over the flash, or a softbox to just take the harshness out. And yeah move the flash back a little to try and lose the flare at the bottom.




Composition, personally I prefer things like this to be a bit geometric, I would have put the hammers all on a flat plane and focussed more on shape etc.
But it really depends on what you're going for here, more a descriptive image of hammers as hammers, or a more abstract use where the hammers are really incidental to it all and the focus is more about the shape/texture of them,

[swanlefitte]

But it really depends on what you're going for here, more a descriptive image of hammers as hammers, or a more abstract use where the hammers are really incidental to it all and the focus is more about the shape/texture of them,

Thanks for the input. I believe you identified the biggest problem.
I think I need to answer this question, I think i was going for both. The variety of shape/texture in hammers was my goal. I got caught up in a fancy layout that distracts from that goal.
The rest of the I input is nice also.

[kjfishman]

This is not photoshop but one picture carefully composed. It looks photoshopped but just sliders were used to tweak the Raw. I got what I wanted but I don't like what I got.
All insights welcome.

Very clever, great composition and lighting.

[clackers]

This is not photoshop but one picture carefully composed. It looks photoshopped but just sliders were used to tweak the Raw. I got what I wanted but I don't like what I got.
All insights welcome.

Love the idea!

[swanlefitte]

Love the idea!

Had the hammers and thought Pink Floyd. ☺

[taktoon]

I really like the idea!