Thread: Pen Photography-Comments invited (wanted)

Originally Posted by ciscokid

Beautiful photographs - all of them. Very nice camera too. What lens are you using for those shots if I might ask? Nice to see you are using f22 as well - it's what I've found works best too. I think you will be very happy when you get your light tent.

Using the kit lens (1 of 2) that came with the camera, 18-55 IS. So far very impressed with the 2 lenses, as well as the camera.
Was reading through a very long thread on the Canon Digital Photography Forum (24 pages!) whee people were showing photos taken with this lens, and they were all of exceptional quality.

I don't know that model of camera ... did you end up getting live view?

I bought a Pentax K200. Very happy with the camera, except for that one feature which it doesn't have.

Originally Posted by Ron Dunn

I don't know that model of camera ... did you end up getting live view?

I bought a Pentax K200. Very happy with the camera, except for that one feature which it doesn't have.

Yes Ron, the 450D has a very usable Live View function, it is also a 3" LCD screen which is very bright and easy to view. The other feature it has is that you can switch on grid lines on the screen, at the thirds. I have been using that quite a bit.

I think all the pics look great but must admit I didnt really go for the one with the coloured stone bit I guess thats just personal opinion.

Here's my 10 cents worth of art direction....

I'm not a fan of high key backgrounds for highly reflective/glossy subjects when they are an 'olde worldy' style of item; a hi-tech, clinical, exact approach isn't what I associate with a fountain pen - fountain pens are a more relaxed, dignified, statesman like writing implement. It's got to speak of leather bound books, the smell of old paper and snifters of brandy (the ink blobs are just added enjoyment).

I would go more for something like a sheet of that nice old-fashioned parchment like paper; something with a bit of texture and warmth; I'd want the potential buyer to be imagining that deep scratching sound that a fountain pen makes (at least in hollywood movies); a possible extra option would be to include the pen material or description written by fountain pen in a nice hand either the top left or bottom right corner of the pic - to further remind the buyer why they want one. (or copy out some Shakespeare or Yeats onto the parchment as background detail.)

The pic with the brown stone has the most detail in the pen and is my favorite...except for the stone, as stones don't go with pens. Try an old wooden ruler, or ornate compass or just a plain old invisible support (bluetack and paper clips).

And...what material is that pen? Is it wood? Plastic? It's hard to see what it is; it might be better to take the photo before finishing to make the grain more visible (people would buy a pen for its tactile qualities, so anything you can do to make the pen 'speak' to a person's hand is good.)

You could also try taking two exposures (one stop over and one stop under) and merging the two so that you get detail in the highlights and detail in the shadow.

Remember - you're not selling a pen; you are selling a lifestyle statement and all that that statement implies!