#18 how low can you go?

[Benjer]

Hey guys! Jumping back in the fray and taking "low key" somewhat literally. Here's two versions of the same shot.

The Low Keys
http://benjer.smugmug.com/photos/464141616_XtTpM-L.jpg

This low key thing is a compositional challenge! With so much darkness, what draws you into the photograph? Here I'm going for a zig-zag motion, where the eyes are drawn first to the white(ish) piano keys, then (i'm hoping) they're directed up into the shot from the bottom right corner along the diagonal keys to the left, up the brim of the hat and back along the top. At least that was my intention. Does it work???

The shot above is cropped to 5x7 ratio, below is original frame size (2x3 i guess)

The Low Keys b/w
http://benjer.smugmug.com/photos/464141489_d84Aj-L.jpg

Which one works better?

[heatherfeather]

Ha ha! I had actually thought of this same idea... I bet others did too.

I am not really sure what the hat adds- and actually distracts from the idea of the low key.

Also I think you need to raise your light source up a bit. It is casting some interesting shadows between the keys that I really don't prefer.

But I think this has potential to be a great idea! Keep working on it!

(I am doing something else, so no worries!)

[Karrie McD]

Hi.
I actually kind of like the hat in there. It makes me look at the photo longer and wonder about it more. I like to wonder though. I like the top version better.

[Benjer]

Ha ha! I had actually thought of this same idea... I bet others did too.

I am not really sure what the hat adds- and actually distracts from the idea of the low key.

Also I think you need to raise your light source up a bit. It is casting some interesting shadows between the keys that I really don't prefer.

But I think this has potential to be a great idea! Keep working on it!

(I am doing something else, so no worries!)

LOL yeah, this was pretty obvious, but living in Music City I had to go there. I included the hat mainly to add, well, character I suppose... as well as what I thought was "visual interest." When I tried shooting just the piano in earlier attempts, I couldn't get a handle on the composition. The light source was the fading afternoon sun through the dining room windows...and I was concerned about those shadows too but just went with it. Guess I'll have to quit being lazy about lighting!!!

Similarly (or perhaps conversely) this is what I had in mind for
The High Keys
http://benjer.smugmug.com/photos/464234715_9dm8y-M.jpg

I'll have to reshoot since this was taken before the challenge but it's my first attempt at high key (thanks to Nikolai).

[Benjer]

Hi.
I actually kind of like the hat in there. It makes me look at the photo longer and wonder about it more. I like to wonder though. I like the top version better.

Hi Karrie, and thanks. I've been reading about composition and design in photography and trying to pay attention to how one "looks" at photographs, eye movement within the frame and all that stuff. It's hard to be objective with one's own photos though, so I can't always tell when something works or not. Maybe there's a way to make the hat make more sense...:dunno

[KurtPreston]

I agree with Heather about the hat, it detracts a bit ... or rather, either the hat or the keys by themselves are strong enough but do not reinforce one another. The more I look at the first one, I realy like the hat in that lighting as a low key. The reason being is that it is has wonderful lines brought out by minimal light.

[divamum]

I agree with Heather about the hat, it detracts a bit ... or rather, either the hat or the keys by themselves are strong enough but do not reinforce one another. The more I look at the first one, I realy like the hat in that lighting as a low key. The reason being is that it is has wonderful lines brought out by minimal light.

Actually, rather than removing the hat, what about adding something else to the comp? An ashtray, perhaps... with a smoking cigarette as the perfect film noir addition? :scratch

[Benjer]

I agree with Heather about the hat, it detracts a bit ... or rather, either the hat or the keys by themselves are strong enough but do not reinforce one another. The more I look at the first one, I realy like the hat in that lighting as a low key. The reason being is that it is has wonderful lines brought out by minimal light.

Hi Kurt, thanks for the insight. Funny thing is, I originally thought of shooting the hat by itself, as well as the piano by itself, but couldn't make either work alone. So I did what any frustrated photographer would do, and just put them together! LOL. Well, guess it's time to get busy with some lights and see what happens. Thanks for the encouragement to keep trying, y'all. :D

[KurtPreston]

Actually, rather than removing the hat, what about adding something else to the comp? An ashtray, perhaps... with a smoking cigarette as the perfect film noir addition? :scratch

That's a wonderful idea!

[Benjer]

Actually, rather than removing the hat, what about adding something else to the comp? An ashtray, perhaps... with a smoking cigarette as the perfect film noir addition? :scratch

ooooh, i like it! ummmm, can you spare a smoke?

[Karrie McD]

Actually, rather than removing the hat, what about adding something else to the comp? An ashtray, perhaps... with a smoking cigarette as the perfect film noir addition? :scratch


:clap yes, that would be pretty cool!

[richtersl]

I totally agree!!!! :agree

[JAG]

Actually, rather than removing the hat, what about adding something else to the comp? An ashtray, perhaps... with a smoking cigarette as the perfect film noir addition? :scratch
:agree I was thinking the very same thing! Or if you remove the hat and put a half glass of brandy in its place with the ciggi idea.

[Velvet-Art]

I have to say that I prefer the B&W version, but the idea of having a quarter full glass of some amber nectar sounds really good.

Great idea,


Tim