I'm new here so let's have a look

[GDub]

This is the image I posted on my blog today (9/12/2011). I call it, "Still life with tuba." Let me know what you think.

http://mediarare.com/GWimages/images/instrumentswithredchair_blog.jpg

Sláinte.

--GDub

[Greg_R]

I like the idea of what you are tying to do here, but something is missing for me. I know from your title that the tuba is the main subject, but my eye keeps moving around to the guitar, chair and amp as well.

[Matt K.]

Sláinte. ??? Hmmm, Irish? I quite like this shot, nice tones, nice composition, nice light. By the looks of it you have been doing this for a while, cause there is not much I would change in this image. Maybe the green cord is a bit distracting, but then again, this is what most "jammin" facilities look like. Welcome to the forum, have a blast, and when ya have time, then bring over a pint or two ...

[GDub]

...Maybe the green cord is a bit distracting, but then again, this is what most "jammin" facilities look like.

Exactly, cords/spaghetti. If you look by the red chair leg you'll see a twist of white power cord. That cord extended under the tuba and across the stage directly toward the camera view. I painted it out because I liked how most of the rest of the frame looked. Now if I was the set designer... ;^)

[GDub]

I like the idea of what you are tying to do here, but something is missing for me. I know from your title that the tuba is the main subject, but my eye keeps moving around to the guitar, chair and amp as well.

The "tuba" in the title is an inside "joke"--the player of that tuba plays in my band. BTW, I've done quite a few tuba photos because they're so photogenic. ;^)

[mellowinman]

This is the image I posted on my blog today (9/12/2011). I call it, "Still life with tuba." Let me know what you think.

http://mediarare.com/GWimages/images/instrumentswithredchair_blog.jpg

Sláinte.



--GDub

This is quite excellent.

It looks like a painting.

I have no critique to offer.

Perfect.

[Iguanasan]

I really like the feeling here. Kinda gritty which, for some reason, makes me think Jazz. I like it just the way it is... don't change a thing. Just print it and hang it on the wall.

[theantiquetiger]

Great image!!! If I was to change anything, I would darken the blue light on the amp and the reflection of the blue light on the head of the guitar, I find it distracting. Now I am a novice, so take it with a grain of salt. The cords don't bother me. I didn't really even notice it until someone mentioned it. The image reminds me of an album cover (I mean that in a good way).

[mellowinman]

Great image!!! If I was to change anything, I would darken the blue light on the amp and the reflection of the blue light on the head of the guitar, I find it distracting. Now I am a novice, so take it with a grain of salt. The cords don't bother me. I didn't really even notice it until someone mentioned it. The image reminds me of an album cover (I mean that in a good way).

I have to shout my disagreement with this.

Ready?

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Whew! I'm glad I got that off my chest.

That blue light is the amp's LIFE SIGN! OH MY GOD, DO NOT EXTINGUISH THE AMP'S LIFE!

Of course, in all fairness, I have to disclose that I am a musician, and find gear to be about the most beautiful thing in the world.

You wouldn't believe the time I spent getting THIS right:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g123/mellowinman1/001g.jpg

I had to bring down the room light, and enhance all the displays; it had to be just right.

This, my friends, is a 600 watt per channel home stereo system with four fifteen inch woofers.

It is my PA, and with just this, I can entertain a bar full of people. I'm not kidding, just the two JBL's, some monitors, the 600 watt per channel amp, and another 200 watt per channel amp to drive monitors is enough to blast your head off.

I just LOVE equipment photos, and think there's a real art to it.

Gdub's photo isn't all clinical like mine; it's got real warmth and feeling to it. It's my favorite picture I've seen in a long time.

No joke!

[theantiquetiger]

The guitar behind the tuba, is that an 8 string guitar or bass (like a 12 string guitar)? I notice it is short, so maybe something else.

As for the blue light, I don't mean extinguish it, just maybe not as bright. There are other lights on the amp, just not as bright.

[mellowinman]

The guitar behind the tuba, is that an 8 string guitar or bass (like a 12 string guitar)? I notice it is short, so maybe something else.

As for the blue light, I don't mean extinguish it, just maybe not as bright. There are other lights on the amp, just not as bright.

It's a mandolin.

And again I say the blue light is beautiful.

[Bambi]

It's a mandolin.

And again I say the blue light is beautiful.


ah but Tiger said what I would say as well- not being a musician. :) that's the problem with knowledge. I am typically refraining myself on horse shots because my knowledge prevents me from being objective.

all that said, I quite like the angle and comp of this shot. It seems to capture a moment in which the instruments have been put down briefly. I like the grittiness too but I might play with the colour a bit to make it a bit less saturated and see if that enhances it at all. But that's me, it's your shot and you have to be happy with it. And the suggestion may not work anyway.

[Marko]

I quite like the image as a whole, my gripe is with the title - lol.
For me the tuba is not the star of the show, all the instruments are sharing the light so I might have called it Studio Break Time :)
This is a fab setup though and many cool variations are possible!

[GDub]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to critique the image! The theme of the show was the "depression era" or rather the journey from that one to this one (by rail). All the music was original and my friend (and band mate) the tuba player wrote the lyrics--hence the "inside joke" using "with tuba" in the title. The backdrop set design was the side of an old boxcar with a window that had various landscapes rear projected onto it. The theater space was very small and we were sitting in the front row so many of my shots were taken from stage level. Also, the front person (singer and acoustic guitarist) had a music stand with a large white binder that I was constantly trying to work around. The photographic exercise for me was to find interesting frames from one position. I was shooting with my Canon G11. It's a very unobtrusive camera because of its size, but especially so because of the articulated LCD screen. The "Still life..." image was not my favorite from that night (http://mediarare.com/GWimages/2011/09/10/friday-night-music/), but I liked it enough to post it on my blog several days after the show.

Sláinte! (FTR, my Mom was Irish, so, as they say, "I've got a little Irish on me.")

[asnow]

Love the mood and composition. I have to admit I too thought that the blue light was a bit distracting and that it could be toned down just a touch, Mind you if you like it as is then go with it. You are the one who counts. As Iggy said "Just print it and hang it on the wall"

[theantiquetiger]

Love the mood and composition. I have to admit I too thought that the blue light was a bit distracting and that it could be toned down just a touch, Mind you if you like it as is then go with it. You are the one who counts. As Iggy said "Just print it and hang it on the wall"

The human eye is naturally attracted to light. That is why I think the blue light is robbing the rest of the image.

[NorthStone]

I agree with theantiquetiger about the blue light. Once you notice it it has a magnetic distraction that takes your eye away from the other elements.

[mellowinman]

ah but Tiger said what I would say as well- not being a musician. :) that's the problem with knowledge. I am typically refraining myself on horse shots because my knowledge prevents me from being objective.

all that said, I quite like the angle and comp of this shot. It seems to capture a moment in which the instruments have been put down briefly. I like the grittiness too but I might play with the colour a bit to make it a bit less saturated and see if that enhances it at all. But that's me, it's your shot and you have to be happy with it. And the suggestion may not work anyway.

But it's not my shot.

[Bambi]

But it's not my shot.

yes I know- I was responding to you and the OP.