C&C Gun and Money Photo Project

Need some opinions on improvements. This was a photo project for my neighbor's man cave. First attempt at lighting with a desk lamp. The picture temp is supposed to be warm and the mood is supposed to portray a Gangster/Gambling type theme. Thanks for any help you can provide.

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Use the BBcode to post your image, and just paste that code in, don't use the Insert Image button. The code is designed to show the image, and link back to your Flickr. The HTML code won't work on POTN, at least it won't work when I use it, so I always use the BBcode.

Thanks, katodog. I am new and I was getting frustrated. That worked perfect.

Hotspot on the watch is a bit too much, and overall the front part of the image looks to be a bit overlit to match the mood. I understand that you were going for a certain mood, but the white balance bothers me a bit. Try flagging the desk lamp so that the light is falling mainly on the gun and not so much on the front of the box or the watch. Dial the WB back a bit and you are probably good to go.

doesn't strike me as "gangster"... more old military.

Don't use the Insert Image button, that's why you're getting the IMG tags on either side of the image. Just paste the BBcode.


The shot is nice, the hotspot wasn't distracting until it was brought up, now I can't stop looking at it. I like the first shot, the white balance isn't an issue. I'd probably add a small amount of noise though, give it a bit of an "older" feel. As for context, it kinda gives off a mafia-type vibe to me, like Don Corleone emptied his pockets onto a cigar box. I like it. Add a little bit of noise, change the color tone a bit for a more "antique" look, and see how you like it.

As for the hotspot, I'd just try angling the watch a little bit and shoot a frame each time, see what angle works to remove the hotspot. The watch being in the background and out of the DOF makes it possible to put it at a steeper angle if necessary and it won't hurt the shot.

katodog, will do and thanks for your help. Learning every day.

just my dumb opinion but i would really like to see that watch in focus, i can tell it is very nice and would love to see the details. id say bring it to the foreground somehow and place a cigar back there, now a cigar would look good OOF but the watch i feel is too strong not to be in focus