help with this simple ball&glove composition

[perfectpixel]

Hi all,
I am trying to get a picture of my kid's old ball and glove.
It's a classic shot, but I can't recreate it to my liking so far.
What do you think? Anyideas? Seen any samples you an point me too?
I'd appreciate your input.
http://www.pbase.com/image/26177606.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/26177611.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/26177616.jpg

[gsmx2]

This is a challenge because the ball is too big for the glove---at least to the eye. So the trick is to make the ball look smaller.

So--one thing you could do it do find a smaller ball...which may be difficult.

Or you could move the ball up into the web of the glove, maybe even wrap the ball in the web of the glove with an ace bandage for a couple of hours to it will mold better and keep in the web deeper.

You'll get it....good luck to you.

gsm x2

[Radtech1]

I really like the ball in the first one.

What about adding a 3rd element - a bat?

It would help close the glove as allready mentioned, and might add some depth to the composition. Here, I moved the ball out to the webbing, closed the glove some, and added a bat. Just my 2cts.

Rad

http://users.adelphia.net/~radtech1/Photos/cam/bat.jpg

[SoCal69]

Here's my take... much of which was stated previously by others:

The ball is too big for the glove... Get a smaller ball (BTW-without a lot of distracting green print on it). The ball should sit higher in the webbing.

Another big problem to me is the orientation... I think it would be more pleasing if the glove were positioned vertically... perhaps positioned against a bat and/or a set of cleats.

I would also make sure you have sufficient DOF... I don't think shallow DOF is appropriate in this case.

How's that for starters? I know how difficult this shot is... I tried a few the other day, but didn't get a result I liked (mostly because I was cropping tightly on the ball). You can envision it in your mind...you just have trouble getting there... very frustrating!

[Cheese]

I like the feeling you are trying to capture. The ball is a bit large for the glove but that is the way it should be for a younger child.
How about taking the shot outside and having some nice green grass as the background instead of just a black background.
When people think of baseball they think of sunshine, grass and being outside.

Good pictures. Keep working at it.

Cheese!

[Radtech1]

Hi all,
I am trying to get a picture of my kid's old ball and glove.
It's a classic shot, but I can't recreate it to my liking so far.
What do you thin? Anyideas? Seen any samples you an point me too?
I'd appreciate your input.


What do I thin? What do I thin?

I thin, "Loosey, jou got some splainen to do !!!"

[perfectpixel]

I like these ideas!
Here's a few more detail though:
The ball looks so big, because the glove is so small. It was my son's first "real glove" he got at 4 years old.
I kept the ball out of the webbing to keep his name written in the index finger visible.
I can add a bat, but he didn't really have one, and the ones laying around are ugly aluminum jobs.
Ultimately, my goal is to keep this shot as a stand alone or some how blend it with one of his baseball mug shots for a poster presentation.
I hope you creative people can help me come up with something unique.
Thanks!

[SoCal69]

I like these ideas!
Here's a few more detail though:
The ball looks so big, because the glove is so small. It was my son's first "real glove" he got at 4 years old.
I kept the ball out of the webbing to keep his name written in the index finger visible.
I can add a bat, but he didn't really have one, and the ones laying around are ugly aluminum jobs.
Ultimately, my goal is to keep this shot as a stand alone or some how blend it with one of his baseball mug shots for a poster presentation.
I hope you creative people can help me come up with something unique.
Thanks!

Ahhh... now you have gone beyond the simple pleasing ball and glove composition! If this is to be a sentimental piece, and this was his first glove, I would suggest bringing something into the composition that will make the scale evident. As it is, it is impossible to tell this is a 4 year old's glove. Other than that, perhaps add his 4 year old baseball cap (assuming he had one) or other such items. Good luck and let us see what you come up with!

[perfectpixel]

Here's my take... much of which was stated previously by others:

The ball is too big for the glove... Get a smaller ball (BTW-without a lot of distracting green print on it). The ball should sit higher in the webbing.

Another big problem to me is the orientation... I think it would be more pleasing if the glove were positioned vertically... perhaps positioned against a bat and/or a set of cleats.

I would also make sure you have sufficient DOF... I don't think shallow DOF is appropriate in this case.

How's that for starters? I know how difficult this shot is... I tried a few the other day, but didn't get a result I liked (mostly because I was cropping tightly on the ball). You can envision it in your mind...you just have trouble getting there... very frustrating!

you posted while I was responding to the first two.....
Cleats! I hadn't thought o f that! sounds more workable than a bat....
I agree with the DOF comment. My trouble is how to keep the backdrop out of focus/dark while keeping this subject sharp.

[perfectpixel]

Hey chuck,
good points. I'll definately keep working on it.
I hope you don't mind, but I am going to steal your quote. :wink:

[gsmx2]

Do you have a glove? How about shooting them together.

Or how about a snapshot that was taken of your son with his glove? Put that in the picture.

gsm x2

[Dawg]

Gentlemen and Ladies

Ball and glove are sentimental so we have to live with that. I don't like the black background, because of the glove trimed in black.

Background: ideas

1. Grass (green)
2. Dirt (brown)
3. Home Plate (white on brown)
4. Sons old game shirt (favorite)
5. Sons new game shirt

Just my thoughts
Dawg