Scrimshaw Shots for eBay . . .

[xpatUSA]

. . . a faux whale tooth, extremely not rare. This one is for the good ship Brandenburg, possibly English, judging by the Brit stuff on the other side.





I quite like the impression of depth in the second shot.

Taken with the Panasonic DMC-G1 plus 14-45mm kit lens. One of my rare printing episodes in the background for atmosphere, image plundered from the net. Two LED 3500K floods, a couple of home-made diffusers and the overhead TL950 fluorescent - left on to make sure that the lighting is thoroughly mixed

[RandyRFJP]

If I were trying to sell the faux schrimshaw piece on e-bay, I wouldn't use the background you chose. That said, I am by no means an expert on product advertising. When I viewed your images, however, my eyes quickly focused on the background, which you are not selling, rather than on the schrimshaw, which you are. Your background is certainly pertinent in that it is whaling-related, but I think it distracts from the the schrimshaw. Changing to a solid-colored background, like the blue material the schrimshaw is resting on, is something you might consider. The lighting and DOF on the schrimshaw are all first-rate.

[Wavelength]

Nice ones

[IzzieK]

I have no problem with the background as it is relevant to the scrimshaw. My problem is the fabric it is laying itself on. At least tidy it up, straightened, no crease? Also if you put a little piece of something at the back to roll over your goody (think chewing gum or similar textured gum), the carvings would have been better presented. Just a suggestion...

[Dave Humphries]

I'd suggest that only what you are selling should be in a shot for e-Bay (or similar) Ted.

If you include any extraneous things, sooner or later, someone is going to complain that it wasn't included when you shipped their item.

Remember you are producing an advertising shot, not a "nice photo" (with contextual background), so stick to the purpose of the shot, would be my advice.

Dave

[Shadowman]

Nicely exposed, agree with comments on presentation.

[xpatUSA]

Thanks for the comments, All.

I admit to following presentations by others for whale's tooth scrimshaw on eBay USA - since I am quite lacking in originality. I will be keeping the print in the shot though, for ambience. I did print the background pre-blurred and somewhat de-saturated - perhaps even more so? Or darkened and made sepia to complement the tooth?

I also have some black velvet which might segue better from the bottom of the print and bring out the tooth more. As to the quality of the fabric, I'm not too concerned although I usually clone out obvious bits of crud.

Might also reduce the DOF to lessen the foreground and background detail so as to make the tooth 'float' more . . .

[xpatUSA]

Might also reduce the DOF to lessen the foreground and background detail so as to make the tooth 'float' more . . .

Tried that in another whale tooth image that I'm working on by reducing the f-number quite a bit and by backing of from the subject a bit:



Tooth seems to have bit of depth with lesser sharpness and contrast at the left and right edges.

[xpatUSA]

I have no problem with the background as it is relevant to the scrimshaw. My problem is the fabric it is laying itself on. At least tidy it up, straightened, no crease? Also if you put a little piece of something at the back to roll over your goody (think chewing gum or similar textured gum), the carvings would have been better presented. Just a suggestion...

Sorry, Izzie, missed the bit about gum. Yes, like all good Englishmen, I keep some stuff called Blu-tack handy and did use some in later shots. Watchmakers here (USA) also use something called "Rodico" which is similar but not quite as sticky.

OK, I tidied up the fabric . . . for which purpose, I keep a lint-remover . . .

[IzzieK]

Sorry, Izzie, missed the bit about gum. Yes, like all good Englishmen, I keep some stuff called Blu-tack handy and did use some in later shots. Watchmakers here (USA) also use something called "Rodico" which is similar but not quite as sticky.

OK, I tidied up the fabric . . . for which purpose, I keep a lint-remover . . .

OK, here's my take....I tidied up the corner that was exposed, filled it up via Content Aware. Then loaded it in Color Efex and used Brightened/Darken Center and Glamour Glow (thanks Janis...) Then crop to 1200px on the longest side, finished it with Unsharp Mask. How do you like this one...???



I will take it down if you do not want the edit or if it offends you...My original though when I saw your edit is that you could had moved the scrimshaw to show a bit of the boat even though it is a bit blur to have made the connection to the picture in a little way...so this is the best I can do in a jiffy.

Yes I could have said Blue Tack but Bill doesn't know what it is...I just go to the store, Office Depot/Office Max if I need some...same with 'Texta'...
Cheers...