Critique Welcomed Continuation of Fabric Photographs

[Paul Lange]

I had some time and space to get my studio flashes out on Sunday and photographed different fabrics in various ways to see what different effects were possible. Not having a lot of experience with this sort of thing it was certainly a learning curve. It was also rewarding as each time I do it I learn a little bit more about metering and what works and maybe doesn't work so well. Also paying more attention to where different areas are tonally.

I' not sure if this is a bit OTT. People keep saying that it reminds them of roses, something I am not sure I like the idea of. See if you can guess what the background is?

_DSC1316 by Paul R Lange, on Flickr

Again quite a vivid image and I am not 100% sure it works but I like looking at it for some reason so posted it.

_DSC1300-Edit by Paul R Lange, on Flickr

I have 2 versions of this. This one is more like previous photographs I posted a while ago.

_DSC1281-Edit by Paul R Lange, on Flickr

This is the alternative softer version I like the almost jellyfish feel to it.

_DSC1277 by Paul R Lange, on Flickr

 

[Pete Askew]

Very interesting again Paul and the last one is fabulous. Again it has real energy to it I think. At first I saw roses in the first but now it is the repeating coils that draw my attention. Is it a bath mat or similar they are arranged on?

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Paul, I like the composition, the contrast and the colors on the first one.

 

[Paul Lange]

Yes Pete, you guess correct it is a bath mat. I found it in the airing cupboard and just had to try it.

Thank Nihat, I', glad that you like it I have been struggling to work out if i like it or not.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

The last is the most successful, I think, although I do love the beautiful reds of the second. Interesting work, Paul.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Paul these are interesting and executed very well. A great way to study the use of materials in photos yet are phot's in their own right. Many ideas come to mind including perhaps introducing light within the material itself, so it is lit internally rather than externally? The last two are my favorites which take on a solid smoke like demeanor.

 

[Paul Lange]

Thank you Rob and Julien and a good idea about the lighting. I like the way the folds and shadows of the fabric look as well as the contrast but there is just something about those first two images that reminds me of red roses, stuffed satin love hearts, cuddly toys that have "I Love You" printed on them and all that other terrible stuff. That part of it I am not sure about.

Has anyone noticed that although it is the same fabric in pictures 1 & 2 the colour of it is different? This is not down to the PP but due to the image from the camera. Under different lighting intensities the hues and contrasts seem to shift. I have noticed this quite a bit lately. Is it a known issue?

 

[Brian Moore]

Beautiful, Paul. 1 and 4 are crackers in my opinion. (I would never try this sort of thing--its quite beyond my ability to conceive and light. Excellent stuff.)

 

[Pete Askew]

Paul, are you lighting with flash or just the modelling lights? If it is the latter, as you turn them down the colour temperature will be become warmer which the auto white balance may not be getting quite right due to the dominance of one colour. It could also be that, if you are using flash, that at lower outputs any ambient light, especially if it is tungsten, will affect the colour balance. So, for example, if the first show was done with lower output (as it looks) then any tungsten light in the room would give a warmer red whereas in the second, using a higher output, would have a more daylight balance (and a cooler red).

 

[Glenn Clabo]

"People keep saying that it reminds them of roses, something I am not sure I like the idea of."
Embrace the love Paul...this is all wonderful to watch no matter what people see.

 

[Paul Lange]

Thanks Brian, kind of you to say so and thank you to Glen as well. I will try to embrace the love and maybe I might get round to doing something special on that over commercialised rip-off day they call valentines next year. This year I was away travelling for work so had a good excuse!

Cheers Pete. I didn't have the room light on as there was enough daylight but not enough to effect the exposure. I guess I have to pay more attention to the white balance in PP. When I lit the fabric with an LED torch on some long exposures I got very saturated colours so I thought it was something to do with light intensity and odd behavior of the sensor.

 

[Vic Shaw]

I think I like the second (but without the plate) it just has some nice tones and colours.

 

[Beth Carter]

love the first one. it took me a minute to see the roses, but now that i see them they don't go away.. either way, great photos.

 

[Paul Lange]

Fair dooz Vic. People not keen on the plate? I have a set of 3 and love them. I bought then in Iran, they are painted by hand which takes many days. The pattern is amazingly detailed and the level of skill required is just mind boggling. Perhaps not good photography subjects however.

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Thanks Beth. That's OK you're allowed to see roses being a woman n' all .