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Ive mostly shot landscape but find myself interested in portraiture more and more so ive brought some cheap lighting set ups and have been playing with some still life stuff for practice as i cant find a model

These are Great. I can see you are well on your way.

You can always use yourself as a model.

The best reference I have found on learning light is Light Science and Magic

Here is one link. There are lots. I have even seen it in Dymocks in Sydney.
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-In ... 0240802756

I like the first best. The light is more vibrant and the shallow depth of focus makes it more interesting than the second, which appears somewhat flat.

I see you have mastered the horizon-less background. Not sure I like the blue colour though. Neutrals, such as grey,white or black usually more complimentary to the eye. Nice work!

i disagree Matt.
I think the blue works really well against the wood of the knife. The first in particular.

Hi Greg!
I feel the blue dominates the image and slight overpowers the main subject. That should not be the role of the background.
Just my opinion.

Just for fun i whipped up a couple more.

Much prefer that last version. The subject pops off the background and demands ore attention.

I suspect that a part of the issue that Matt is highlighting might be related to the texture of the background, which appears to me to be some sort of a felt style of fabric.

In the first of the blue background images, and again in the last (grey) one, the texture of the felt can be seen.

While having the texture in clear focus shows that the image is in correct focus, as Matt has said, that is not the background's purpose. In cases such as this, where the subject is sitting directly upon the background, a flatter, less textured background surface might be the order of the day.

Otherwise, perhaps finding some way to elevate the subject off the surface and provide some separation between to the two items (how are your levitation skills, Dave ?) might help things along.

Its on black cardboard, how would one go about levetating it, im sure that would call for some fancy photoshop skills that i dont have. I have some shiny black plastic i might try that tonight just for fun.

Dave-D40 wrote:Its on black cardboard, how would one go about levetating it, im sure that would call for some fancy photoshop skills that i dont have. I have some shiny black plastic i might try that tonight just for fun.

Ok, yes .... cardboard? I can see that now; thanks.

Levitate? Not easy, but there's a few different ways, but the actual method depends upon the subject.

Often you can support the subject with something small and unobtrusive, towards the rear of the subject. But I don't think that would work with this subject.

What about some sort of support at the rear, coming from the back "wall" of your background? I'm thinking a couple of bamboo skewers, attached to the rear of the subject using blue tack, and attached to the back wall of your background? This could be set so that the subject is an inch or two above the floor of your field of view.

You could use Photoshop to extract the image and make a new background. I've done it a few time, but it might not work.

zafra52 wrote:You could use Photoshop to extract the image and make a new background. I've done it a few time, but it might not work.

yes but im not real good with photoshop.

Heres another effort, shiney base and up on old film canister.

Before




After

edited in Lightroom.

See how easy levitation can be?

The last of these is just right. IMHO, of course.

Well done.