The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I went to Merlefest Bluegrass Festival. Lots of walking and looking and enjoying the music. I came across the gentleman who makes fretless banjos. I took a few shots and thought I would post this one. I feels its a warm image and shows the art of this banjo…
Specific Feedback
I do like my composition and tone on this image. Maybe frame it a little different… Maybe a little brighter …
Technical Details
ISO 1200 shutter 500 f18 edit in photoshop. Thanks to the members of the NPN I am shooting everything in RAW now. Big learning Curve.
Nice portrait, Gill. I might be inclined to move it to non-nature. I love the texture and the color palette. The kind of tribal sense of the banjo’s body and the right arm of the player. I wish the player’s hand position felt more natural, but if it did, it might distract from the instrument, so I’m not sure that “nit pick” there is really valid.
EDIT; Looks like someone tagged it, so you’re all set, Thw site isn’t organized by category anymore, but notifications might be impacted. I get notifications for some categories.
Wonderful image with a very nice tonal range! My only suggestion would be to darken the front of his shirt – that bright edge pulls my eye away from the subject.
I can’t imagine a fretless banjo, or one without the tonal quality of the traditional drumhead – this one looks very muted. But there is a wonderful world of people who craft instruments and it’s wonderful to get a peek into that world.
And more wonderful to see you shooting in raw and using ACR (I assume) and PS!!! Just stick with the traditional basic stuff – the simplest use of layers and masks, and cloning or removal of stray objects. It’s easier to master than any instrument!
Thanks for showing interest in my image of the Banjo. I have joined Black and White Profusion … Image video presentations of B&W artist. They do a challenge every month and Featured Artists every week. I have met some really great people there and some great photography. That is my goal… To be a part of the photography world and meet photographers like yourself. I combine my music with my images and put them on youtube. Not for the Likes or comments but to show my work and say Hello.
Hi. The banjo is very muted naturally. I actually brighten it up by dodging in PS. I’ll look at darkening the shirt. The neck of the banjo has no frets. Play it claw hammer style. Thanks for showing interest. Peace to our Planet.
Gil: This caught my eye immediately. I rarely do this kind of photography but I do think I know a good one when I see it and this is excellent IMO. Top notch. >=))>
Thanks. Always looking for something different. I have gone B&W totally now. My passion is for B&W Photography and Telecaster/ Dobro music. Just walk and shoot and keep it fun… Thanks again Gill
Gill, I am really late to the party, but I saw your image pop up with the editors picks. Congratulations on a fabulous image.
Some good comments and suggestions above. There’s a lovely earthy, home grown feel about this one, Gill. I love hands in portraits. I only wish that the top hand wasn’t chopped off.
Coming up from the bottom paddocks, I’d always listen for my husband playing the banjo on the back deck. Old clawhammer tunes rolling ove the grass. Not polished or fancy. He played for years. Arthritis is a cruel thief.
Thanks for showing interest. I had to shoot fast and try to capture the banjo. He put his right hand on the banjo in a great position and I got a good shot. Wish the left hand was better but that’s the way it goes. The banjo had no frets. Pretty cool instrument. I got a quick shot of the neck. And the luthier.
Hi. I read your comment again. I am so glad this image put a smile on your face. Brought back memories. Photography is for fun. It was fun capturing this handmade instrument and knowing how you enjoyed and related to the image is really cool.
First off: terrific mood with the tones and light. I’m a fan. The right hand with its jewelry and ink is intriguing. The strong diagonal of the strings/neck is great.
I’m not sure about the crop. There’s a philosophy that certain body joints should not be cut, and hands as a whole are one of those. I subscribe to this idea. The partial left hand, for me, is problematic and uncomfortable. I find the distance from the instrument to the bottom of the frame to be a bit snug, as well. IMO some margin at the bottom, and some additional subject in the upper right corner, would help the frame feel more complete. The strings are a strong diagonal, but they are also leading lines that head toward the hand, which is cropped out, and feels awkward. I want that whole hand, even without the headstock (although that might be nice, too).
For me, this crop makes it unclear what the viewer should focus on: the right hand, or the instrument? They seem to have equal compositional weight, but the title suggests the banjo maker as the subject. Leaves me a smidge confused.
I’ll end with appreciation of the light in the left corners and the right side background. Really well done.
Thanks for showing interest. I agree about the left hand cropping but the banjo was my main focus. He put his right hand on the instrument spontaneous and I clicked the shutter. I’m really into luthiers and the instruments they make.
Thanks again.
This is the luthier that made the fretless banjo. Nice guy and I had to work fast and grab what I could. He was going on stage as I was shooting. Thanks for the editor’s pick on my image. Peace to our Planet !!!
Gil!! This is a top-notch portrait! It deserves a new topic all to itself.
For me, your composition is spot on…apart from wanting a little more on the left hand side to incorporate that glorious head of hair. His expression is gorgeous and friendly,
There are some very minor tweeks that could push this image a little further. The blown out hand is a bigger fix, and I don’t think it is recoverable. The hand on the neck is a bit easier to tame.
This image is worth a bit more play. I hope to see it with a spot of it’s own.
Thanks. My editing skills are pretty limited. I just leave things as they are. If I try to fix certain areas I make things worse. Glad you liked it.
Thanks again.
