Kevin Sherman wrote:
I like this one a lot. The lighting is very compelling. I love the wood shavings flying off the lathe. Great capture!
Thanks, Kevin! This was a woodturning demo that was being recorded, so no flash photography was allowed. There was a light just outside of the frame lighting up his work piece, and luckily his face as well.
Andrew Welsh wrote:
Glasses? We dont need no stinkin' glasses!. He's a pro...he can direct the shavings away from his eyes.
I like the harsh contrast and vignetting in this photo, as well as the action capture with the wood chips.
Thanks! I used a "gritty" technique described in a recent Photoshop User magazine. Due to the poor lighting and high ISO, I felt the need to give it a different look.
Yep.. I love the feel of the photo too.... the high ISO obviously worked nicely as the shutter speed was sufficient to catch those shavings nicely... would like to see that tutorial too!
Bren ODonohue wrote:
would like to see that tutorial too!
Here you go Bren:
1) Duplicate the background layer.
2) Under Filter, choose Other > High Pass and enter 5 pixels.
3) Change the new layer's blend mode to Overlay.
4) Duplicate the original background layer again and move it to the top of the layer stack.
5) Under Image > Adjustments, select Desaturate.
6) Change the blend mode to Hard Light.
7) Flatten the image.
8) Duplicate the flattened layer.
9) Under Filter, choose Other > High Pass and enter 5 pixels again just like in step 2.
10) Change the blend mode to Overlay.
That's pretty much it. I also added a Curves adjustment layer and adjusted to taste. I hope that helps.
Art,
I appreciate your passion for the art of woodturning, but let me clarify a couple of things. First, my response to Andrew regarding the woodturner's safety glasses and ability to direct shavings was in jest, thus the smileys on both ends of the sentence. I was not condoning it, nor do I practice it. I'm a woodturner myself and wear a full faceshield with dust protection everytime I turn on the lathe.
Secondly, the turner in the photograph was testing a new pair of bifocal safety glasses and was having a difficult time seeing clearly for some of the cuts. As a result, he was moving his glasses on, off, and around quite frequently, and I just happened to snap this candid shot when they were off. It certainly wasn't an expression of vanity. He didn't even know I was taking the shot. I showed him some of my pictures after the demonstration, and he was a little embarrassed about being caught with his glasses on top of his head.
Jeff, I think you have a very good enviromental portrait here. I have turned for years, Nobody used eye protection years ago. Occassionally you can lose a piece off the lathe, and to me that was for more dangerous. Usually if using two centers it just loses its spin. On a faceplate or chuck...it usually is even less safe...it can fling the piece anywhere. I know it can happen, but usually flying chips present no hazard at all. Well, that is a tangent to what I wanted to say...I really like your photo...good luck!
Jim,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I always enjoy seeing your work, so your comments mean a lot. You're right about losing a piece off the lathe being more dangerous. Just ask my dog. Ever since I had a baseball bat come flying off, he no longer likes to join me in the workshop. :worried:
Mark, the photo is perfect, no matter what the PC police say. The flying wood gives it the feel of action that makes a success of the environmental portrait. And somehow, goggles just wouldn't have provided the same sense of intimacy with an artisan that your photo captures so well. Congratulations on a wonderful contribution to the MA.
He's a pro...he can direct the shavings away from his eyes. 
