Guitars

[Eggster]

I've been trying for ages to successfully photograph guitars, but they come out either as very bland or as far too lively with multiple relfections etc.

What do i need to get good guitar photos - I'm trying for close up photos as well as photos of the whole instrument with plain white or black backdrops.

How to stand them up while photographing is a real bugbear too - no one wants to see a guitar stand in the way

[Mike]

Well, to stand them up you could attach some thread to the tuning bolt thingies (I don't know the technical term for them!!) and then tie the threads to a support above the guitar out of the frame. With a white or black background these threads would be easy to clone out.

I'm no guitarist though so check out the flickr group on guitars for some inspiration: http://www.flickr.com/groups/guitar/

[gorgon2k]

I shot a guitar once and shot some close ups down the neck and stuff at 2.8 and got a really nice DOF effect.

[snyderman]

Use black backdrop unless the guitar is black. Any other color looks best on black. Go to a website called Wildwood Guitars (google it) they have really nice guitar pics and several of many of their guitars close-ups included.

dave

[jimz66]

How about posting some of the ones you've done so we can see them and offer advice?

[ShoePhoto]

Heres some of mine...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=778018

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=799266

[dave63]

Well, to stand them up you could attach some thread to the tuning bolt thingies (I don't know the technical term for them!!) and then tie the threads to a support above the guitar out of the frame. With a white or black background these threads would be easy to clone out.

Multi-instrumentalist and guitar collector, here.
Never do that! The tuners aren't really built to support that kind of weight, and you'll run a high risk of damaging the guitar... and if it's a vintage guitar with original tuners on it, you're screwed. Best to find something to support the guitar with, underneath, and clone it out in post, if necessary.

Here's a suggestion:
Go to the hardware store, and get a wooden dowel rod, minimum of 1" diameter. Cut it down into pieces about 4" high. Cut a different angle on one end of each piece, e.g., a 5º, a 10º, and so on, so that you have a variety of angles to work with. Take an old bicycle inner tube, and cut swatches out of it, glue them on to the angled edge of each piece, and after the glue dries, trim it to the edge of the dowel.
Then cut some squares of MDF or plywood, between 4" and 6" square, and use them as bases for each of the rods, anchoring the flat end to the square with a screw. For extra measure, you could paint them black, or the color of whatever background you're using.
Now you have some support stands for the guitars that should be substantial enough to support the valuable instrument, not scratch the finish, and show you care.

[JeffreyO]

Sorry I don't have the picture but I saw one put in the middle of a nice living room (one a stand) and they used HDR. Turned out really nice. I'm going to do the same with my wife's guitar someday.

[Moonrocks]

didn't know where to put this...
Lightroom to a Baby Martin LX
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/panclan81/2-1-1.jpg