Dragons, a still life

[darkdragon]

I'm taking a photo class a the local college. The most recent assignment/project is called "Two Light Tabletop" where we are suppose to take a photo of a product, something that perhaps could go in magazine.

I posted this in Whipping post a few days ago (Friday) but nothing from anyone yet. I am hoping to get some comments before I go to class this week. I still have to print and mount it before turning it in.

C&C please.

http://darkdragon.smugmug.com/photos/390998510_K82ps-L.jpg

[Greensquared]

Hi Lisa,

I think you've done well here for the assignment. Details of the item are crisp, it's presented well and the light is interesting while not obscuring your product.

The only thing really throwing it is the table it's on. If it were just the dark blue background, that would make it cleaner for me.

Hope this helps a little!

Emily

[Scott_Quier]

:agree with all above. To fix the table issue, move the entire set to the far edge of the table and re-shoot. I think you have a winner!

[darkdragon]

Thanks Emily and Scott!

[DonRicklin]

Is that really the table top, blue with speckles, or a cloth 'back drop' under and behind the items? If the later, replace it with a monotone cloth.

Don

[Scott_Quier]

Is that really the table top, blue with speckles, or a cloth 'back drop' under and behind the items? If the later, replace it with a monotone cloth.

Don
The blue is some sort of backdrop. The table top is a brown something. You can see it best on the left and right edges of the photo, about 1/3 from the bottom.

[DonRicklin]

The blue is some sort of backdrop. The table top is a brown something. You can see it best on the left and right edges of the photo, about 1/3 from the bottom.Yeah, speckled table and backgroiund cloth. Still think a simpler, smother background would serve better.

Don

[Scott_Quier]

Yeah, speckled table and backgroiund cloth. Still think a simpler, smother background would serve better.

Don
This background gives a look like the dragon is against a night sky - just a little bit - and I kinda like it - FWIW

[DonRicklin]

This background gives a look like the dragon is against a night sky - just a little bit - and I kinda like it - FWIWI got that, but a few less stars or a bit more blur might be in order. Too busy for me.

Don

[darkdragon]

Don,

Thank you for the reply.

There is actually a cloth backdrop (starfield) and a table cover which is sopose to look sorta like dirt.

The tabletop itself is a shiny white thing (it is a phototraphy table of some sort) and would work great for product shots where they want to cut the product out of a white background. That isn't what I wanted to do though, I was thinking more of a "scene" stle shot - which is why I have all the gems and everything too.

I did try it without the brown table top cover but I couldn't get the DOF I wanted and blur the background without showing the white tabletop.

Thank you again everyone for your tips and ideas.