HELP! - Ideas for Composition/Shots of Musical Instruments

jcoutts

jcoutts

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Name
Justin
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Hi,

Had three choices of items for C&G Photography course, BUT they aren't as open as they seem you have to narrow yourself right down with a "Statement of Intent" almost to the point like - I am going to take a photo of Buckingham Palace in AV Mode, Blah blah blah.... very disappointing

Anyway, choices were...

Objects - Have a barrage of Musical Instruments so though would be good :thinking:
People - Didn't really have that much access to models. Family aren't really good enough, nor willing sometimes (Good job missus ain't reading this :lol::lol:)
Places - Didn't want to HAVE to go somewhere to get pics, and possibly pay everytime e.g. Zoo + Weather is CRAP!!!!....

I have chosen Musical Instruments but am struggling with composition ideas and set-up for pics. The other day I did one close-up of the Clarinet "Diagonally" laid across some music - looked very good.

Tried to get a DOF job down the length of the Clarinet - Was really disappointing! Now am wondering wheher I chose right or not!

Instruments I have are:- Electronic Keyboard, Clarinet (Obviously), Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mouth Organ, Very Old Pianette (Piano) about 2 ton in weight :lol: Electronic Drums and a Trumpet.

Can anyone help? Ideas? :help:

Need to show a range of skills e.g. DOF, Shutter Speeds, Composition, Good use of Camera Functions, Lighting - so Skies the limit for ideas.
 
Here is a shot I done a couple of weeks ago which was a "painting with light" experiment.....

Laid the guitar on a chenile blanket, turned the lights out for complete darkness, fired the camera away on a 30 second exposure at f16 and ran round the bed waiving a mini-maglite. I adjusted the colours in Photoshop but they looked fine without it to be honest.

4317506382_096beea176.jpg
 
I love challenges like these :)

Ok the first one I'd do would be the acoustic. Two shots I have in mind already. One would be of the hole in the body. I would not shoot the whole thing but either a half or even a quarter of it. Try to get the lovely colour of the wood, it's a thing of beauty so look for the colours and angles. The second would be the tuning keys shallow DOF on one and shoot down the neck. There's two for a start!

The electric, I'd shoot straight down the strings as flat as you can. Be interesting of you could light them from one side and then change the colour of each one in PS!

The drums could be a shutter speed experiment. Set the camera on a tripod and focusing on one pad, fire it while hitting the pad. Different shutter speeds giving more or less blur to the drumstick.
 
Try photographing the instruments right out of context - in a field leaning against a tree - on a rubbish dump, building site etc. Should work well with the guitars and the clarinet?
 
Wow,

I love you guys & gals, some absolutely excellent ideas, like'em all - Keep'em coming peeps, definitely going to try them.

Waiting for a niceish day to get outside to avoid the horrible defined shadows i'm getting indoors!!, but should have a go at some of this the weekend all being well.

Thanks all again. :clap:
 
Guitar fretboard near the sound hole - slow shutter with strings vibrating.
Cymbal = same
Bass drum pedal = very slow shutter, rear sync flash.
Guitar, hung by the neck and swung pendolum style on slow shutter/rear lighting.
 
for keyed instruments i think the mechanism is of great interest
for guitar and bass close ups of bridge, pickups and tuners
soft side lighting works well

flikr clarinet
 
Mercedes,

Bass drum pedal = very slow shutter, rear sync flash
Click to expand...

Do you mean "Second Curtain" ? Is that the same thing? :thinking:

Sorry for my ignorance!
 
jcoutts said:
Mercedes,



Do you mean "Second Curtain" ? Is that the same thing? :thinking:

Sorry for my ignorance!
Click to expand...

Oops yes.
Meant to say = very fast drumbeat too. :)
 
fenderstrat said:
Here is a shot I done a couple of weeks ago which was a "painting with light" experiment.....

Laid the guitar on a chenile blanket, turned the lights out for complete darkness, fired the camera away on a 30 second exposure at f16 and ran round the bed waiving a mini-maglite. I adjusted the colours in Photoshop but they looked fine without it to be honest.

4317506382_096beea176.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, major inspiration there.... :love::cool:
 
painting with light would be great for this (love the guitar shot) - a close up shot taken in the dark with the shutter open - use a torch to light up certain bits, adds a bit of a mysterious feel to the shot

i saw this in a photo mag recently and now love this method!

Rob
 
Hi all,

Thanks to all of your tips I have managed to get quite a few bashed off now. Too many to show! :clap:

Anyway thought I'd post some just show how things turned out.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Some more images in Part 2......
 
No 1 might be a bit of a cliche' but I really like it. I'd have preferred 7 and 8 with a wider view of the surroundings to really accentuate the 'out of context' feeling.

You've obviously put some thiught and effort into it - well done! :thumbs:
 
Excellent interpretation, glad to see it has triggered a few more ideas too, keep up the good work :)
 
Why not try instruments with their players? Loads of amateur and pro players around and I'm sure for a free pic, most people/groups would give some time up to do a bit of posing....
 
Try something different, take a piece of music by said instrument in your head and try put it into context.

Morcheeba - The Sea
acoustic_landscape_with_guitar_22.jpg


Planxty - Lonesome Boatman
violinBoat.jpg
 
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