PDA

View Full Version : Western Still LIfe

Canonguy39
12th of October 2009 (Mon), 14:04
Several months back I build a light box based on DIY instructions and have been pretty happy with it. Here a are couple of shots I took recently. The first is a set of spurs with an old piece of barbwire. The 2nd is the Dead Man's Hand, Wild Bill Hickok's last poker hand. The pistol is a 36cal black power which is similar to what he carried.

Let me know what you think.
Canonguy39
12th of October 2009 (Mon), 14:09
Posted the wrong shot of the Dead Mans Hand, here is the one I intended to send.
Lonnie
12th of October 2009 (Mon), 20:59
Rod - these are really cool. I'm a poker dealer so I can appreciate the dead man's hand. Both shots would make good stock photos, you'd just have to put a different card on top of the DMH so that Hoyle isn't showing. Good work!
jetcode
12th of October 2009 (Mon), 21:17
For the spurs image it might be nice to try one without the barb wire even though that provides the viewer a context for the spurs. In my eye the barbed wire competes with (distracts from) the spurs.

For the card shot I have never seen a dead mans hand so that is one for the insiders. One for the outsiders is a royal flush, something recognized by amateurs as the best hand possible.

On the other hand you can safely ignore everything I just said ... LOL!
tmcman
12th of October 2009 (Mon), 23:54
A challenging shot having the bg be so close to the cards in whiteness.
I like the card shot because the gunmetal gray is giving a solid dark for the whole thing to rest on.
The items in the first are difficult because they are all similar in tone.
Thanks for sharing.
Lee Nelson
13th of October 2009 (Tue), 00:38
Great subject matter.
The red nine upstages a little for me in the second.
The light box you have made really handles the task.
Nice work.
Canonguy39
13th of October 2009 (Tue), 10:25
Thanks everyone for the good words. I have really enjoyed learning to use the lightbox and it has opened up a whole new world of photography for me.

Jetcode, I did take some shots without the barbwire but didn't like them as well, seemed like something was missing so I added the barbwire. Here is one without the barbwire and one in B&W. What do you think about the B&W?
Lonnie
13th of October 2009 (Tue), 14:27
I think I like the black and white better, and I agree that the one without barb wire is better also.

Do you have a picture of your setup? You got great results.
OL9245
13th of October 2009 (Tue), 15:29
I'm not a fan of the white BG. It kills the mood you wanted to put in the images.