Still-life Skeleton Key (C&C appreciated)

Here is a picture I took a few months ago of a skeleton key in a farmhouse my parents own. The place is fairly rundown and we had started renovations. This was taken sitting ontop of a walled-up fireplace, with a mirror beyond the top of the picture. Shot with my XT and 18-55 kit lens, I bounced the pop-up flash off the mirror. Resizing and PPing to adjust the color to this look, although I'm not sure if I like it. C&C appreciated, I'm always looking to learn something new that I can try next time

Hey Chris, I promised I'd comment so here goes.

I like the processing and I like the idea. I think it is maybe a little too dark and a little too centered. Try and get the key more on the thirds lines. Also, there's a bunch of junk that is on the top right and the bright line and dark line are distracting from your subject. Here's a take from me.

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Thanks for the input. You're a woman of your word
The line did stand out when I was editing but I didn't want to crop out too much. I liked the grain and particles on the sides but I can see what you mean about it being a little too dark, especially in the top and bottom. On the bright side, I can always retake the shot as many times as I want until I get it perfect

I don't mind the grains/particles, it was the chunk of wood that bothered me. Definitely try again though and try and get in a little closer.

gotcha next time I go out there to pick up the mail I'll reshoot and post it in here

I'm so proud you're going to take some time off from BPAM and abandon all hope to take a picture. Aw, the kid is growing up.

yeah, ain't it great

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I was also going to suggest a crop of the shot then scrolled down the page to see that it had already been suggested!

Not sure about the look of the key in the upper third of the crop though?

Maybe something along the lines of this? I had to clone out some stuff to fix it up...or screw it up, more acurately put!:o

Cheers!

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interesting concept there, never thought about that. I could do that and add an angle to make it look like the bottom of the wall. Thanks for commenting

ssidiv3r wrote in post #4487186
interesting concept there, never thought about that. I could do that and add an angle to make it look like the bottom of the wall. Thanks for commenting

I actually posted the wrong picture! Sorry bout that...I edited my post.

Cheers!

oh, well, other than some slight pixelation at the edge of the light line I don't see much difference from a regular crop unless you took out the tip of that stick

I retook the key shot after moving that thingy at the top out of the frame. I also took 125 shots of our farm but I didn't really see any I liked.

First shot.

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I like the first set better, with some tweaking. The new ones look kind of flat without the effect of the shadow.

Yeah, I held the camera a little higher this time around and didn't really notice the missing shadow until you mentioned it