My favourite photo ever C&C

[fokker]

I did this one about 9 months or so ago for a canon EOS photo competition, but then decided to enter a different shot at the last minute (and regretted the decision). I also entered it into a local competition where I got a highly commended (the most minor accolode given, to about 30 out of the 150 or so photos entered). I really really like this photo, but it this just me? What could be improved again if it was reshot, and what could I improve on in post? Is it worthy of accodolade?

It was shot at something like f/11 1/4s with all light coming from a single 430EX strobe through a lightbox. I had the speaker hooked up to some NZ drum & bass with the cd paused. I hit the remote to play the cd and the remote for the camera shutter at the same time.

 

[VTL67]

lol awesome, very innovative

Not real sure what you could do next time to be honest.

 

[LaFoto]

I think it is cool as is. There is nothing I'd change about it. And I admire you for your creativity. Such ideas wouldn't even occur to me (apart from the fact that I lack the kind of loudspeakers, music (!), and colourful ... what are they??)

 

[Mbnmac]

It's a great shot I think, I love the colour.
What kind of photos beat out yours?
Could just be a taste thing, it's fun but very pop arty (Maybe I'm not applying that term correctly here) and some people just like a solid landscape.

 

[edouble]

I love this shot. I also like speaker designs and would have liked to have see the magnet and the entire speaker basket.

 

[iAstonish]

Looks cool

 

[AverageJoe]

Great shot, but to your question, it took a while for me to realize it was a speaker (maybe I'm the only one?), maybe if you made that a little more clear (added some speakers in the background?) people would get it right away.

 

[iAstonish]

Great shot, but to your question, it took a while for me to realize it was a speaker (maybe I'm the only one?), maybe if you made that a little more clear (added some speakers in the background?) people would get it right away.

I didn't realize it either. I thought it was some type of pot at first lol

 

[ababysean]

I knew it was a speaker right away but I am ashamed to admit in my younger days to sport the base boxes and all that other jazz in my car.... lol

 

[MohaimenK]

Next time, make sure those little beads don't fly too much to the right :lmao: J/K!
But seroiusly though, it's a great photo. How many lights did you use? What type?

Reason I ask, I am working on a similar setup, but with different materials. There's an article I just read on a Photography magazine which just did something very similar which had me very interested. I am just waiting for my wireless transmitter for my speedlite.

It also lists all the equipment they used. Sorry at work or else I could send you a copy of the PDF of it. It should really help with this perticular shot.

 

[pbelarge]

Maybe it is just my screen, but the backround is so white/bright, that the white almost 'wraps' around some of the small beads, making them hard to show their colors. Also, some of the beads are blurry, so a faster lens speed.

The image is very cool though, I like it.

 

[fokker]

Maybe it is just my screen, but the backround is so white/bright, that the white almost 'wraps' around some of the small beads, making them hard to show their colors. Also, some of the beads are blurry, so a faster lens speed.

The image is very cool though, I like it.

Not really sure what you mean by wrapping around:scratch:

This was the first time I clicked about how ambient light and strobed light interact in relation to shutter speed. I used a pretty slow shutter (something like 1/4s) but all the light on the subject was from the strobe, hence the frozen motion. The slight blur is from the ambient light that was present - I should have shut the curtains or did it at night with the lights off.

Next time, make sure those little beads don't fly too much to the right :lmao: J/K!
But seroiusly though, it's a great photo. How many lights did you use? What type?

Reason I ask, I am working on a similar setup, but with different materials. There's an article I just read on a Photography magazine which just did something very similar which had me very interested. I am just waiting for my wireless transmitter for my speedlite.

It also lists all the equipment they used. Sorry at work or else I could send you a copy of the PDF of it. It should really help with this perticular shot.

It was just one strobe, a 430EX. The whole speaker was inside a DIY lightbox and the strobe was firing down through the top.

Great shot, but to your question, it took a while for me to realize it was a speaker (maybe I'm the only one?), maybe if you made that a little more clear (added some speakers in the background?) people would get it right away.

You raise a good point, I guess I just assumed it was obvious because it's obvious to me. I have other shots that show the whole speaker, but they didn't come out as well (not as well executed, not so much the composition).

It's a great shot I think, I love the colour.
What kind of photos beat out yours?
Could just be a taste thing, it's fun but very pop arty (Maybe I'm not applying that term correctly here) and some people just like a solid landscape.

Thanks. I can't remember all the photos that did better in the local contest, but I thought the winners were average (well, they were good photos but nothing original - the winner was a bride on a beach, second was a black and white portrait of a black guy and third was a colourful building showing a set of steps and a potplant).

 

[RobNZ]

Maybe it is just my screen, but the backround is so white/bright, that the white almost 'wraps' around some of the small beads, making them hard to show their colors. Also, some of the beads are blurry, so a faster lens speed.

The image is very cool though, I like it.

I think pbelarge is referring to the white beads getting a little lost against a white background perhaps?

Very cool shot fokker :thumbup:

 

[Lazy Photographer]

Really nice shot, very creative. I would have thought you shot it at a much faster shutter speed. I guess the flash froze everything.

 

[rallysman]

That shot is awesome!!
The only thing I would have done differently is hide the speaker wires. You could clone the wires out as it is easily enough though.