SPECTOR® Club - Part 61

[5string_phunk]

Patrick you are the MAN! I've been looking for something like this since I got my camera in Dec!

I have officially copy/pasted this to a word doc that I have entitled "All Things Spector...Photography" and I plan on using it this weekend!

 

[johnsonabq]

It's tricky.
And I'd love to say that the $100,000 3-year experience I had in film school didn't make the difference between not knowing and being confident that I can shoot just about anything and shoot it well. But it was exactly what made the difference.

The good thing is that you don't have to go to film school or spend that sort of money on a college degree because I don't mind sharing what I've learned...

This is great! Very well explained Patrick. Thank you.
What about image editing software? I have Photoshop CS5 but not everyone can get that.

 

[Trailight]

Invalid Link Removed something im working on. Not mixed yet. Bass is direct no effects except for the pre chorus. MXR delay and analogman chorus. White brooklyn.

There's nothing there....?

 

[grendle]

Invalid Link Removed something im working on. Not mixed yet. Bass is direct no effects except for the pre chorus. MXR delay and analogman chorus. White brooklyn.

Sick! Sounding mean! Love the clank n edge to that one! Classic Spector! Love me some doom/ sludge metal!

 

[Fat240]

There's nothing there....?

Yeah, I'm having issues. Have to wait till I get home tonight to put it up. Mobile stuff is a PTA.

 

[JPSBassist]

This is great! Very well explained Patrick. Thank you.
What about image editing software? I have Photoshop CS5 but not everyone can get that.

I recommend Photoshop. Basically because of being able to work in Layers.

To do the composite images you have to layer the images one on top of another. Then you blend the layers together.

So PS is the best. Doesn't have to be CS5.

I know that you can do this with 15 year old versions of the software.

I started using Photoshop in 1995.

 

[Fat240]

Sick! Sounding mean! Love the clank n edge to that one! Classic Spector! Love me some doom/ sludge metal!

Must be working now. If your following my Soundcloud Undermein Studios you can find it there. This is the Brooklyn I picked up from Dluxe. Straight into Monique to the audiobox. Drums still need work and vocals and lead is on the way so I can start mixing.

Tuned C#,F#,B,E 130 circle K set and fingers.

 

[Fat240]

I recommend Photoshop. Basically because of being able to work in Layers.

To do the composite images you have to layer the images one on top of another. Then you blend the layers together.

So PS is the best. Doesn't have to be CS5.

I know that you can do this with 15 year old versions of the software.

I started using Photoshop in 1995.

I've been using GIMP on the Mac. Not as great as PS but it's free and lets you work with layers. For us cheapies lol

 

[johnsonabq]

I recommend Photoshop. Basically because of being able to work in Layers.

To do the composite images you have to layer the images one on top of another. Then you blend the layers together.

So PS is the best. Doesn't have to be CS5.

I know that you can do this with 15 year old versions of the software.

I started using Photoshop in 1995.

Yeah, I think my first copy was PS4. Not a PS expert by any means but I love the program. Plus just about anything you need to learn how to do just Google it.

 

[LimaGuy]

Regarding the information Patrick posted.

Two months back I asked Patrick a bunch of questions on how to take some decent looking photos.

Using his advice and staying within my limited budget.

I picked up a black poster board, Ultimate Guitar Stand. I used my Spector shirts as the bottom black.

Put everything up on my Kitchen Island. Set up 2 spot lights with Florescent blubs.

I didn't use any black sheets in the back, which I regret now since I see the reflections coming from my upstairs living room lights.

(If you look close on the photos, on the left side of each bass it is lighter because of this.
If you look at the NS-2J right above the upper J Pickup on the E string side you will clearly see how it is lighter as that is the reflection of my computer monitor reflecting down from the living room. )

But it is defiantly a learning process.

I used a Nikon COOLPIX P300 camera
(4.2 x x Zoom lens - 4.3 mm - 17.9 mm - F/1.8-4.9
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 100 mm)

on a Tripod and took a bunch of photos at different exposures.

I cheated and used the auto white balance.

On the Left is a scaled down quick shot before running through Photoshop Elements9 (The cheap version of Photoshop) On the Right are the photos after I did some adjusting with Photoshop Elements9

 

[johnsonabq]

At one point in the recording sessions Jeff Pilson yelled "Jam!" into the mic and for about 2 minutes Rex, Vinny and Mark just did a completely unrehearsed jam...

Funny... I just finished watching Foreigner on Palladia with Jeff Pilson on bass and also he was the Executive Music Producer. Very talented guy.

 

[brotherbassj]

Regarding the information Patrick posted.

Two months back I asked Patrick a bunch of questions on how to take some decent looking photos.

Using his advice and staying within my limited budget.

I picked up a black poster board, Ultimate Guitar Stand. I used my Spector shirts as the bottom black.

Put everything up on my Kitchen Island. Set up 2 spot lights with Florescent blubs.

I didn't use any black sheets in the back, which I regret now since I see the reflections coming from my upstairs living room lights.

(If you look close on the photos, on the left side of each bass it is lighter because of this.
If you look at the NS-2J right above the upper J Pickup on the E string side you will clearly see how it is lighter as that is the reflection of my computer monitor reflecting down from the living room. )

But it is defiantly a learning process.

I used a Nikon COOLPIX P300 camera
(4.2 x x Zoom lens - 4.3 mm - 17.9 mm - F/1.8-4.9
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 100 mm)

on a Tripod and took a bunch of photos at different exposures.

I cheated and used the auto white balance.

On the Left is a scaled down quick shot before running through Photoshop Elements9 (The cheap version of Photoshop) On the Right are the photos after I did some adjusting with Photoshop Elements9

Sam, don't sell yourself short, for what you are using I think the pictures came out great! I think Patrick gave you good advice and a nice starting point! Now you get to play with things and make it "perfect by you". I know that we are all our own worst critics. I say good job and you got good advice from Patrick! Nice....better than anything I've ever taken bass wise!

 

[johnsonabq]

I think that looks pretty good! Better than anything I've ever done. (I still love that #800. That thing is gorgeous.)

Too bad the JJ tends to disappear into the background. What can be done about that Patrick? Better lighting?

 

[brotherbassj]

I have a friend that has the bass pictured. It is the five string version of my four. Nice bass currently has Spector 18 volt and killswitch. He also has a tone pot trim version. He is looking to do a trade for a Wimbish or Euro 435. Trade can involve cash some way...yours or his way. I am posting for him as he has difficulty but he is a club member "Sethro" and you can PM him or me directly if anyone wants to do a trade of some sorts.....thanks

 

[Fat240]

Regarding the information Patrick posted.

Two months back I asked Patrick a bunch of questions on how to take some decent looking photos.

Using his advice and staying within my limited budget.

I picked up a black poster board, Ultimate Guitar Stand. I used my Spector shirts as the bottom black.

Put everything up on my Kitchen Island. Set up 2 spot lights with Florescent blubs.

I didn't use any black sheets in the back, which I regret now since I see the reflections coming from my upstairs living room lights.

(If you look close on the photos, on the left side of each bass it is lighter because of this.
If you look at the NS-2J right above the upper J Pickup on the E string side you will clearly see how it is lighter as that is the reflection of my computer monitor reflecting down from the living room. )

But it is defiantly a learning process.

I used a Nikon COOLPIX P300 camera
(4.2 x x Zoom lens - 4.3 mm - 17.9 mm - F/1.8-4.9
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 100 mm)

on a Tripod and took a bunch of photos at different exposures.

I cheated and used the auto white balance.

On the Left is a scaled down quick shot before running through Photoshop Elements9 (The cheap version of Photoshop) On the Right are the photos after I did some adjusting with Photoshop Elements9

Looks great Sam! A little reflection but not enough to take away from the image.

 

[JPSBassist]

Too bad the JJ tends to disappear into the background. What can be done about that Patrick? Better lighting?

That is the curse of Water Cured Redwood. LOL.

I've shot so many bad photos of that sort of wood.

You have to LIGHT THE HOLY CRUD out of it.
And really the composite thing is about all you can do to get it to turn out with the grain showing the way it should.

Here are two different attempts... two, almost three years apart. You'll see a big difference.

And I've gone through everything from making a "tent" in my studio to covering everything with black sheets to what I do now, which is always shoot at night with NO lights on other than the two I use to light the bass. And they have barn-doors on them so I can control the light better.

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[johnsonabq]

That is the curse of Water Cured Redwood. LOL.
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That's the same bass? Wow.

 

[e.rich]

That is the curse of Water Cured Redwood. LOL.

I've shot so many bad photos of that sort of wood.

You have to LIGHT THE HOLY CRUD out of it.
And really the composite thing is about all you can do to get it to turn out with the grain showing the way it should.

Here are two different attempts... two, almost three years apart. You'll see a big difference.

And I've gone through everything from making a "tent" in my studio to covering everything with black sheets to what I do now, which is always shoot at night with NO lights on other than the two I use to light the bass. And they have barn-doors on them so I can control the light better.

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Thanks for all of the info! I'm looking forward to fooling around with the lights this weekend. (It's like having a homework assignment...the difference being now that I actually /want/ to work on it!). I hear this professor is tough.

 

[JPSBassist]

That's the same bass? Wow.

Yeah. The light changes the way the grain looks.

Here's a series of different attempts I've made over the past 3 years to truly capture how this bass looks.

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[JPSBassist]

The first image with the light really, really close was shot in the Spector NY Workshop at Stuart's bench. The space was tight so the lights ended up being closer than I normally prefer.

The second is the space I have at my studio (20ft by 30ft.) Plenty of room to spread out.