Piano on Stage

[londonblue007]

So, while kinda still life, it is still a piano on a stage, with theatrical lights on it. So, I guess it's performing arts. I've bounced a similar thread off the Still Life crowd, but wanted to get opinions from my Performing Arts peeps.

STORY:
This is a Steinway Concert Grand Piano shot at the Roger's Center for the Arts at Merrimack College.

We used 4 theatrical lights on this.

1 - ETC Source 4, about 10% power, Directly above the right side (in the pictures) of the piano, focused directly down on the piano, to give a little back lighting on the open lid.
2 - ETC Source 4, about 60% power, About 15 feet to the left (in the pictures) of the piano, focused on the seat and keys.
3 - ETC Source 4, 100% power, gelled blue, about 15 feet to the right of the piano, focused at the right side of the piano.
4 - ETC Source 4, in House Right Box Boom, 30 feet to the right and 15 feet downstage of the piano. Focused to just illuminate the interior of the piano. About 35% power.

For Piano only shots, All other lights in the theatre were off. For shots of the Piano on stage from the house, the house lights were lit to 25% power.
I was about 2-10 feet away from the Piano when shooting on stage, and about 3/4 of the way back when shooting the whole room.

All were 5 to 10 second exposures, ISO 200, f/18-22. I wanted to get as much in focus as possible with as large a depth of field as possible. I didn't want the back of the piano blurring out on me. Thoughts?

Lenses used - Canon 15mm Fisheye, Sigma 50-150 f/2.8, Canon XTi Kit lens.


1.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2781868281_d8562b00f7_b.jpg

2.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/2781868243_fc72350c0e_b.jpg

3.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2782071232_ac3ebf1c25_b.jpg

4.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2781868337_8f1d9634fb_b.jpg

5.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2781212893_7fd91b2551_b.jpg

6.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2781212849_c167ba0625_b.jpg

7.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2781212809_826b9f6569_b.jpg

8. This is the setup, with the lighting rig flown in, showing you where the 3 upstage lights were.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2782071500_8e97bcb28f_b.jpg

[Ukuleleman]

It's very dramatic stuff, and your model is the kind of good looker that I always wanted to pose for me, what a piano!

I like the shots but 1. 6. and 8. are spoiled for me by the scratched stage floor, I realise that there is not a lot you can do about that but pianos do roll and perhaps some kind of cloth would help, I recently saw a studio set up that used the back of a 4 mtr sheet of lino/vinyl flooring as the studio white backdrop, when it gets dirty they give it a coat of white paint! just an idea, but I do like the shots.

[londonblue007]

It's very dramatic stuff, and your model is the kind of good looker that I always wanted to pose for me, what a piano!

I like the shots but 1. 6. and 8. are spoiled for me by the scratched stage floor, I realise that there is not a lot you can do about that but pianos do roll and perhaps some kind of cloth would help, I recently saw a studio set up that used the back of a 4 mtr sheet of lino/vinyl flooring as the studio white backdrop, when it gets dirty they give it a coat of white paint! just an idea, but I do like the shots.

Thanks Uku-Man. The floor is a black vinyl dance floor. The scratches are actually scuffs from dancers. The real floor is a light colored parquet floor. I don't know which I would prefer, since the dance floor is still there and I haven't had a chance to shoot without it.

The piano rolls on a large mover device, you can kind of see it in #2. The theatre has some old black drops, maybe we could put the drop on the floor, bring the piano in and then pull out the tansport device.


By the way, love the screen name. Do you have an Ukes? I have a Kala Tenor Uke. Got it in Kauai a year ago. I should post some pics of it.

[Ukuleleman]

Hi London

My screen name is a bit confusing inasmuch as I have played Banjo Ukulele almost all my life, although stringing and tuning is exactly the same as a wooden uke, I have three b/ukes and a cheap japanese wooden uke that I have had for about thirty years now, it has a harplike quality to it that I love, but it isn't in the same league as a Kala, I always wanted a Martin, they are gorgeous.
You can see my instruments here.

http://ukuleleman.zenfolio.com

[amareica]

I love number one...I can almost hear the ole gal saying "Come play me". 6 and 7 are cool as well.

[narlus]

i like 4 and 7 the best...4's a bit blown out on the highlights but i like the perspective, adn same w/ 7

[londonblue007]

i like 4 and 7 the best...4's a bit blown out on the highlights but i like the perspective, adn same w/ 7

The piano keys really gave me a problem... not sure what I could have done different... maybe drop the light that highlighted the keys to 40%.....

Maybe I'll run these through photoshop and see if I can't burn in the keys while bringing up th rest of it... thoughts?