bassethound
Executive Member
Lovely pens those are mate, nice photos too! 
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Laburnnum Streamlines
- Thread starter Ivort
- Start date
I'm not going to keep on, this is my last post about this and will give you the last word. I said nothing negative about the pens at all but how did I know you would start slagging my photography
You really do need to take a look at yourself you don't give advice just negative comments.
May I apologise for the state that this thread has gotten into and just say that the pens are good and the comments I made about the pens and the change I made stands. I didn't ever say that this is exactly what it should be but gave a pointer as to how to improve the pictures by making a quick change which you asked for knowing that only one or two people would help one of which wouldn't be the so called professional.
chas_41_uk
Registered
Irrespective of the before and after photos, which there will always be differing opinions on. The pens look great, lovely wood well turned and finished
Ivor the pens are well turned & finished. Keep it up.
Firstly,
Thanks for the kind comments on the pens.
I find with the Streamline kits that it is quite easy to get things wrong.
If anyone else uses them do you glue the centre band in place or leave it loose ?
The finish is one coat of sanding sealer, then about 6 or 7 coats of CA, (medium applied 2 drops at a time at 500 rpm)
and finally micro crystalline wax.
I am using my phone to take the pictures and forgot to use the macro setting.
Thanks for the tips on the light source ( the sun ) and the comments about the background.
This is really helpful and hopefully the next photos will be a little better.
I am really sorry that the thread has ended up causing some friction between two forum members
who were both trying to help me.
Not sure if there were some attempts at humor that were picked up as something else...
Maybe switch to the de-caff. ( Joke )
Thank you.
Best Regards
Ivor
Thanks for the kind comments on the pens.
I find with the Streamline kits that it is quite easy to get things wrong.
If anyone else uses them do you glue the centre band in place or leave it loose ?
The finish is one coat of sanding sealer, then about 6 or 7 coats of CA, (medium applied 2 drops at a time at 500 rpm)
and finally micro crystalline wax.
I am using my phone to take the pictures and forgot to use the macro setting.
Thanks for the tips on the light source ( the sun ) and the comments about the background.
This is really helpful and hopefully the next photos will be a little better.
I am really sorry that the thread has ended up causing some friction between two forum members
who were both trying to help me.
Not sure if there were some attempts at humor that were picked up as something else...
Maybe switch to the de-caff. ( Joke )
Thank you.
Best Regards
Ivor
Walter
Fellow
Hi Ivor
I never glue any components unless there is a problem with the fit that makes them loose. For one thing it makes the pen much more difficult to dismantle should you ever need to do so.
As for the photography, in my opinion the biggest improvement you could make would be to use a plain background. It looks much more professional.
As Walter says there isn't any need to glue the components and I guess its left loose although a snug fit it to allow the two halves to move with ease.
I also apologise for allowing your thread to be sabotaged.
I also apologise for allowing your thread to be sabotaged.
wm460
Grand Master
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Posts
- 23,128
- First Name
- Mark
A beautiful set of pens, love the colours in them.
This is the image you posted today using flash of some sort
This is what I could do with it on the laptop and using iPhoto not photoshop. I think you will see that it is not as good a tweak as the tweak from you original photo.
Your original photo
My adjustment
I can't do as much with your latest image as with the first. With your original I have lightened the image, lightened the shadow, slightly increased contrast and tried for a neutral white balance, it may be better if I darkened it slightly but I think overall it is a more pleasing picture.
Direct sunlight is not the best as it will increase the shadow and contrast, but if that is all you have then you need to put some sort of diffuser between the Sun and the pen, something like tracing paper, kitchen paper or something similar, it will reduce the intensity of the shadows and contrast. An overcast sky is better as the diffuser is built in. Also if you can lift one end of the pen off the background it allows the light to spread and reflect more upwards also reducing shadows.
These are generalities as I can't see the exact conditions. If you put it on top of a blue bin the blue bin may be influencing the white balance, so put a piece of kitchen foil between the bin and the paper that will ensure the blue is not seeping through the paper.
Anyway, have a look, try another shot in daylight and let us know what you think.
Peter
This is what I could do with it on the laptop and using iPhoto not photoshop. I think you will see that it is not as good a tweak as the tweak from you original photo.
Your original photo
My adjustment
I can't do as much with your latest image as with the first. With your original I have lightened the image, lightened the shadow, slightly increased contrast and tried for a neutral white balance, it may be better if I darkened it slightly but I think overall it is a more pleasing picture.
Direct sunlight is not the best as it will increase the shadow and contrast, but if that is all you have then you need to put some sort of diffuser between the Sun and the pen, something like tracing paper, kitchen paper or something similar, it will reduce the intensity of the shadows and contrast. An overcast sky is better as the diffuser is built in. Also if you can lift one end of the pen off the background it allows the light to spread and reflect more upwards also reducing shadows.
These are generalities as I can't see the exact conditions. If you put it on top of a blue bin the blue bin may be influencing the white balance, so put a piece of kitchen foil between the bin and the paper that will ensure the blue is not seeping through the paper.
Anyway, have a look, try another shot in daylight and let us know what you think.
Peter
Thanks you Peter,
that is very kind of you to go to all that trouble.
I can see that today's picture is not lit very well.
I thought the flash on the camera phone would have sorted that out !
Would a big torch , 10 million candle power, shone through tracing paper work as a better light source ?
Would a small cardboard box lined with white paper reflect the light ?
Regards
Ivor
that is very kind of you to go to all that trouble.
I can see that today's picture is not lit very well.
I thought the flash on the camera phone would have sorted that out !
Would a big torch , 10 million candle power, shone through tracing paper work as a better light source ?
Would a small cardboard box lined with white paper reflect the light ?
Regards
Ivor
Flash on camera is almost always the wrong thing.
It depends how thick your tracing paper is and how far away your big torch will be. The box may be an idea, but it depend what you do with it. You can get almost anything to work if you think about what is happening and adjust.
Peter