Face Mower Porn

[pjgh]

… a month of proper shaving and I'm embarrassed to say … I'm a geek! I've amassed an astounding array of vintage metal and have really enjoyed photographing these beautiful items.

I hope you enjoy these couple of pictures I am really quite happy with …

Comments? On the photography, that is …

I'm using a Canon 300D (Digital Rebel) with the stock 18-55 lens whipped up to 55 mm for the "macro" setting, custom white balance and ISO 400.

 

[Fido]

Nice composition. But focusing could be sharper or were you trying to create a softer image?

 

[pjgh]

Perhaps a wider DOF, I agree.

What I was going for here was to pick something particularly interesting on the razor (the comb and the cogs) and absolutely focus attention on it, leaving the rest to be suggested at ... imagined. Lighting behind compounds this as you almost need a squint, which focusses closer.

 

[Fido]

Good idea but personally I'd like to see a bit more in focus - it's such an interesting little object. The composition is just fine, nicely cropped.

 

[pjgh]

Okay … I'll take some more with a wider focus. The Ever Ready, I think was pretty good … yes, agreed, the Wilko could do with more in focus showing more of that lovely mechanism.

Actually, that lovely mechanism flaps around like … well, you can imagine … once a real blade is put in there. Not for face shaving. The Ever Ready is rock solid and a really fly shaver.

 

[fancontroller]

Agreed on a little more depth of field to see more features. This'd also show more of the texture of the leather surface.

I think the second picture is too washed-out in the top right quarter. Maybe slightly over exposed in general, although I find it difficult to judge photos on a monitor as they can look different when using different screens etc.

You didn't give any specs about shutter speed/aperture. Are you using a tripod? Maybe use lower than ISO 400 and increase exposure time.

Very interesting models and nice angles. Reminds me of industrial revolution type equipment. Could you find something like that to to show the razors against?

Hope you don't mind my comments, trying to be constructive. Keep it up and hope to see some more.

 

[pjgh]

I don't mind comments at all - thank you for saying what you think.

I used a Canon 300D ISO 400 with the standard 18-55 lens. No tripod. It was on A priority, but can get the shutter speed from the meta data. Harsh backlighting was part of the theme - I thought it might work. Fast shutter was the key here. I have some lovely vintage Carl Zeiss glass, but it's manual focus on this camera - I think I'll go with that lens for the re-runs. It's a 55mm 1.8f, so I'll get a lot of control over the aperture.

I'll run a few more through gaining more depth of focus … that seems to be the key. Yes, fancontroller, I can find a plethora of equipment to capture in the background - just over there has a lovely set of agrarian field mowers from an era now bygone, and I can find some looms in a factory setting to put it up against. It'll take a little time, but I like your thinking.

The Ever Ready is a nice razor, but the Wilkinson Sword (cogged) is a work of engineering, deserving of such a setting.

Cheers!

 

[fancontroller]

I'd definitely recommend using a tripod, it makes you put more consideration into your composition and frees you up to use long exposures and low ISOs. I think you've done really well using hand-held, so on a tripod should get you even crisper focus.
With exposures of a second or so you can even use a hand-held torch to add highlights etc.

That 55mm fixed lens sounds like just the ticket and manual focus is much better anyway with close ups, so that's not a problem. Also manual focus lets you play around with ease.

I bet looms would set them off nicely, too.

 

[pjgh]

… time to play some more. Thanks for the feedback, folks.

 

[Lose the beard]

Definitely use a tripod, it lets you close down the aperture to get more in focus and cope with a 1/4 sec or slower shutter speed, while keeping the ISO under 400 to keep the noise to a minimum.
To reduce camera shake either use a remote shutter release, or, if you don't have one use the self timer function.

 

[Deegee]

Don't forget, noise can be effective if used well...

Edit : For the record, that was handheld with natural light, using a Canon 50D and a Sigma 105mm macro lens. The shot was underexposed by one stop deliberately, so I could get the higher shutter speeds. The photo was then rectified using Adobe RAW.

 

[pjgh]

… neat idea. I'll get some more play time this weekend, I reckon.