Guitar shot

[1G2BNVD]

I'm doing some product photography for Eastman Strings and would like some feedback, i'm only going to post up this one shot for now.

I'm using a 5'x5' lightbox with a black backdrop. 4 250W floods on either side of the box and 2 500W floods in front of the guitar with white cloth to diffuse the light.

This shot was done with my 85 1.8 @ 2.2 ISO 500.

EDIT: it's actually EASTMAN GUITARS. their website is eastmanguitars.com
-GP-

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/gdup35sedan/IMG_2951copy.jpg

[Vetteography]

I think it is gorgeous. Very professional.

[Mark1]

If it is for a string manufacture, I would have opened up, so all of the strings are in focus. After all, that is thier product they want people to see.

Other than that It looks OK.

[1G2BNVD]

It is not for a string manufacturer, it is for the actual company that makes the guitars; Eastman Strings. What can i do to make it better?
-GP-

[roffy]

Love it, makes me drool. Nothing like a hollow body.

The only thing I find weird about it is that the strings are very low lying and th angle (and lighting) makes it almost look like they are resting on the pickup because it appears that the shadow meets the string. On that note (heh, no pun intended), the action must be wonderful. Other than that, clone the dust off the body and it looks friggin beautiful.

All nitpicking aside most people are going to look at this and think it's a wonderful shot.


EDIT: One more thing I noticed. What do you think about blacking out the bottom half of the toggle that is visible through the f-hole?

[1G2BNVD]

Love it, makes me drool. Nothing like a hollow body.

The only thing I find weird about it is that the strings are very low lying and th angle (and lighting) makes it almost look like they are resting on the pickup because it appears that the shadow meets the string. On that note (heh, no pun intended), the action must be wonderful. Other than that, clone the dust off the body and it looks friggin beautiful.

All nitpicking aside most people are going to look at this and think it's a wonderful shot.


EDIT: One more thing I noticed. What do you think about blacking out the bottom half of the toggle that is visible through the f-hole?

that's quite the observation, i never noticed the string farthest from the left appeared to be resting on the pickup. It's actually an illusion because the shadow from the second from the right string meets the first string on the right perfectly!! how bazzar!

I can easily clone out the bottom half othe the toggle, when i send it to the boss, i'll be sure to ask which version she likes better.

[Mark1]

It is not for a string manufacturer, it is for the actual company that makes the guitars; Eastman Strings.


Sorry, I read too much into the "Strings" part. As far as making it better I am in the same boat as you. Im working with a small guitar maker as well. Im just shooting the heck out of the guitar to try to break out of the creative block. Some of the silly shots will inspire some decient ones.

I actually went through the Fender, Gibson, Carvin, Ibanez, and, Ovation websites for some inspiration..... got nothin'. they pretty much just had standars shots.

[1G2BNVD]

yeah, i've been going through all the guitar/mandolin websites i can looking for different angles/lighting and they all seem too similar. I've been spending over an hour on each guitar but i seem to end up with similar pictures every time.

On a side note, looking at all the websites out there, some of these companies totally skimp on their pictures, they look like they were taken with a point-n-shoot!
-GP-

[Mark1]

Well the guitar is not like a model. You cant make it do different poses and expressions. So I found the same angels on different models are OK. I dont know how many shots per guitar your client is wanting, mine is totaly open. Im giving 1 standard full body shot, then some beauty shots like you posted. My client does all 1 off customs, so mostly they are for record shots, and to make the website pretty.

[1G2BNVD]

Were trying to get around 10 shots per guitar. 1 full shot head on front/back, 1 full shot at an angle front/back and the rest beauty shots of the knobs, close ups of the grain on the back, the neck and such. The pictures they have on their website right now are just horrid and do no justice to the handmade $1,600-$4,000 guitar's/mandolin's they produce.
-GP-

[Mark1]

Its harder when you are shooting very similar guitars. I think its a bit easier when they all are drastically different. The unique features of each stand out a lot more and are easier to be creative with.

[1G2BNVD]

that's very true. Would you care to post any of your guitar photos? its always nice to see it from someone elses eye, and obviously most the pictures on the websites for the companies are sub-par.
-GP-

[Mark1]

Ill have to check first. Im sure they will be OK with it.