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Gibson Les Paul - advice needed on photos/lens

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IncaRoads

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Well, Ive only gone and taken some more photos of another of my guitars. This is of My Gibson Les Paul Studio. It is a nice guitar.

There are a few problems I have been having when taking these photos - they often seem to lack sharpness, and sometimes lack a little focus. Being in better lit rooms, as well as increasing shutter speed and the f-stop has helped a little in improving sharpness but I guess what I would really like is a lens that would:

a) take very sharp pictures and;
b) work well in low-light situations







And one Telecaster shot thrown in for good measure



I used the 1.8 50mm lens for these shots.

Let me know how what you think and what I could do to improve on them. Thanks
 
I just think your Les Paul needs strings! It looks naked. I love the tele pic! I plan on owning one in butterscotch blonde some day! I just finished a rebuild of a strat copy this weekend.
 
Interesting, why did you remove them for the photo? Were you in the process of putting on a new set of D'Addario's and got side tracked with the camera?

The 50 1.8 is my sharpest lens and performs very well other than missing exact focus because of the stepper motor from time to time.

What kind of lighting are you using? It looks like you have more than one light source but from similar angles. Are you using a tripod? That would help a lot if your not. Further I think I would use a different backdrop other than a hard wood floor.

Even tho this is a photo forum, I have a side bar question for you. Have you ever tried any of the Nano coated strings? I'm considering them for my bass but hesitant because of the price. They sound good on paper but.......
 
Teles are indeed fantastic guitars - I rarely play my Les Paul or Strat these days. Buttersoctch with the black scratchplate is a stunner. Will also plan on owning one at some point, not that I 'need' another guitar ...

You should definitely take some shots of the Strat you've just built and post em.
 
sparkey2 said:
Interesting, why did you remove them for the photo? Were you in the
process of putting on a new set of D'Addario's and got side tracked
with the camera?

The 50 1.8 is my sharpest lens and performs very well other than
missing exact focus because of the stepper motor from time to time.

What kind of lighting are you using? It looks like you have more than
one light source but from similar angles. Are you using a tripod?
That would help a lot if your not. Further I think I would use a
different backdrop other than a hard wood floor.

Even tho this is a photo forum, I have a side bar question for you.
Have you ever tried any of the Nano coated strings? I'm considering
them for my bass but hesitant because of the price. They sound good
on paper but.......
Click to expand...
Howdy - the Les Paul actually needed a good cleaning so I took all the strings off and gave the guitar a thorough wipe down. It wasn't done especially for me shooting it! It has now been re-strung.

For most shots there was only one source of light. No tripod was used. I think the main issue, with the photos that didnt quite make it, was the focussing, but also the low light/low f-stop/slow shutter speed. I have to say that in well lit environments the 1.8 50mm and the 400D take very sharp photos.

I'll definitely have to invest in a tripod and maybe some lighting equipment too eventually. At some point I want to get another lens that will work well for these kind of shots - looking to spend between £250-£300.

As for the strings, nope, never tried them. I tend to stick to Ernie Ball Regulars. These nano strings supposed to be any good?
 
I have some snapshots from my wife's Canon sd750. I am waiting on my xsi then I will put together some guitar family shots.
 
Others have made the necessary comments about the pictures and about the guitars. My question is about your username: IncaRoads. I have lived in Peru and visited there a time or two since, and love the Inca city of Cusco. Does you name have anything to do with the Inca Empire of the high Andes?

My picture of Machu Picchu:



--
Do not take counsel of your fears.
 
Nice shot! Unfortunately I have never been to Peru, although I would love to some day. The alias Inca Roads is a reference to a Frank Zappa tune from the mid 70s also called Inca Roads. It has one of my favourite Zappa guitar solos in it. The song does make reference to the Andes, although it also makes reference to Python Boots, and Vehicles from outer-space ...
ScottFromUtah said:
Others have made the necessary comments about the pictures and about
the guitars. My question is about your username: IncaRoads. I have
lived in Peru and visited there a time or two since, and love the
Inca city of Cusco. Does you name have anything to do with the Inca
Empire of the high Andes?

My picture of Machu Picchu:



--
Do not take counsel of your fears.
Click to expand...
 
This is the first time I can claim to be a professional on this site, although not as a photographer! I teach and play for a living (mainly classical guitar).

I have the 50mm 1.8, 70-200 L plus the kit lens and will take some guitar shots with each... maybe to post.

I know my 50mm front-focuses on the 400D, having tested it with a chart. Many posters say the same. Maybe this contributes to any softness. I have to allow a lot of extra DoF from the aperture with close subjects like this. Other than that, tripod, mirror lock up, remote or timer release etc...

I'll probably try some narrow DoF shots with the 70-200. It's dark and gloomy at the moment in most of the UK, so I'll try bouncing ths flash around too!

I really should have taken some guitar pics before. The last ones were for insurance only!

Cheers
Graham
 
I'm looking foward to the future guitars gallery!!

Once I've had some lessons in photography and learnt how to use my 400D I hope to be able to post a pic of my baby..the Jackson PC1 !!
 
Here is what I started with.



Here is my end product. My best crowd listening to me rock!

 
I had a quick go this morning, while my wife was having a lie in and my son had gone back to bed! I find that's usually the best time.

My Yamaha Compass seemed the most photogenic and I was lucky to get some spots of light through the blinds. This is the 70-200L at f32, tripod, timer, mirror locked:



Same lens here, f4. I was about to dust the guitar, but changed my mind as I liked the specks in the sunlight.



And one with the 50mm 1.8 at f22, just out of interest



I didn't have a great background, so went for details instead

C&C always welcome. If anyone starts a gallery, do let us know on this thread!

Regards
Graham
 


not the greatest shot technically, but it was for the fellas at Harmony Central, shot with my newly departed G7.

you got the right lens, just keep practicing.

i bought nano strings on a whim at guitar center (expensive!) but haven't tried them yet, still waiting for my current set to completely rust out or break.
 
Nice pictures of all your guitars!! I will love to see more pictures in the future. Photograpgy and music are my biggest hobbies! I loved them. It's the find the time to do it!!! :( Now that the winter is leaving us and the vintage snowmobile races are done until next year, I should probably put down the guitar hero guitar and get the real ones out! he,he. I have a Jackson Dinky electric guitar, and the Ovation Applause electric/acoustic. I'm not a performer so both guitars are great for me.

Silmarie
 
Some great pics here!

I've only just this week got a 400D and have never ever learnt how to take photos so I'm just playing around at the moment and teaching myself :)

Here's some pics I took of my guitar today after I restrung it (and snapped the E!) taken using standard settings and the Canon Kit lens that came with the camera.







and just a normal pic to see my baby in all it's glory



Any tips / helpful advice would be gratefully received!!

Greetings from Sunny Germany!

Mark
 
Love the Ibanez SR500 bass. Had a little natural lite to work a few quick shots.

That's not a real EB3 in the background but rather a cheap imitation. It does has a very nice usable sound to it. Has single coil pups rather than humbuckers.







 
Cloudy and cold weather today so I decided to stay home and find something to do! Winter doesn't want to give in yet! So, here are some pictures of my guitars.

C&C are always welcome. I used my XTi (400D) and the nifty fifty, plus Photoshop and Lightroom for some post-processing.

Silmarie























 
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