Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey all.....

I need a guitar stand that will work well when I am photographing my guitars.

I want it to be as invisible as possible - but don't want to risk any tipping of the guitar.

I don't want the type of stand that has the open horseshoe shaped neck support as it will show up too much and I don't want to have to spend a lot of time in photoshop.

I saw this one and thought it might be nice - but I'm sure the tips will wrap around the bottom of the guitar.

http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/ ... xlarge.jpg

Looking for suggestions.

Thanks

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Black fishing line and Photo shop.


blessings

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Photography definately isn't one of my strong suits, but I believe this stand may work for you.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Acoustic-Guitar-Folding-Stand-?sku=454511
I use one on stage. You can see it, with a guitar in this picture. I suppose the stand you have linked would be similar.
http://brackettinstruments.com/Sitka%20Walnut2.JPG

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Wonder if you can take the little feet off this one



Or how bout this one



And I'm sure it would take next to nothing to make one like Esteban's

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Hey Paul, what I notice about most git photos I've seen have a distracting backround.
Get some dark, rich color fuzzy cloth for the backround.
Black or burgundy, etc.
Focus the eye on the guitar, not the backround.
Fishing line sounds good.

Alan - thanks for the suggestion - you probably haven't seen my photography.

I have a LARGE piece of black velvet I use. I totally agree with you - make the background disappear.

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

One step easier, and more invisible. Use a .250 dowel. I'll fit in a pickup jack, and if you just pull the end pin where no pickup was installed it fits there too. make a 1/4 hole in your background paper/cloth/whatever and you've got a holder that is invisible, sturdy, and cheap. Underneath is just a piece of plywood with a hole drilled to accept the dowel as well.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I'm with the Padma on this one...Photoshop, (Okay, GIMP actually, since my PS software was wiped by a computer "tech" a while back along with everything else on the machine )...with a little time in the manual it'll do wonders for removing the stand...I tried fishing line but it made me nervous! My setup now is a roll of paper hung about 6' high, and then smoothly draped out over one of my benches and down to the floor...unseen beneath the paper over the benchtop is a 5/8" or so hole that the endpin of the guitar (if installed) sits in...a small "pad" of modeling clay on either side of the endpin keeps the guitar from moving on the paper...my "safety" is then the fishing line from the D and G tuners up to an eyehook in the ceiling....

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Sorry John if I sound like a parrot! I was posting while you were and you beat me to the draw! Did you take that shot? Beautiful guitar and beautiful photo! How've you been?

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Ok for those of you who don't have faith in fishing line...use pig iron wire, bailing wire or rebar wire...same difference, and suspend the instrument.

Use a 35 mm and rack focus to fuzz out the back ground, or use photo shop or stretch cloth or paper behind the instrument.

I have a big bolt of indigo fabric that I stetch out along celing, down wall and accross floor, suspend the instrument by wire or fishing line. this permits all sorts of shots from really unique view points.

Remember to photo shop out the pig wire.


blessings

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Or be a real man and use this

_________________
Build log

Hope those are safety shoes that Popeye is wearing while he's working in the chain locker......!!!

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I just don't use one. I prefer more of a still life look with furniture, nik-naks, dried flowers and the instrument leaning or supported by something behind it rather than the "elvis on velvet" look.

My pro, who also happens to be my cousin, uses a backgroound that is about ten feet behind the guitar, and then suspend with clear fishing line from a bar in front of that. Then photoshop it out as required ....More important (IMO) is the right lighting and its angles for the shots we get - he has all the required stuff at his studio.

For peghead and other closeups we hold the guitars as required.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I'm with Haans and Filippo. Same with furniture shots. I like things in their natural settings.

Frank Ford has some photo tips on his site I seem to remember. He suspends with fishing line as the Padma has suggested.

L.

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

I'm a background man, (or "lack" thereof)...what I mean is, I want the observer's attention to be on the guitar and not what's behind it...I was using a white background with just the faint shadow of the guitar visible...lately, I've gone to a more traditional but understated "portrait" type of background...

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

That's the way I approach it. I built Franks "light box" & use heavy (20lb) monofilament in front of a monochrome background, which I then erase & replace with black. (I too like the idea of the guitar being the "focus"....no background noise.)
Very much an amateur, but reasonably happy with the results.

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON

I'd like to know more about this light box please.

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Thanks.

I did take the photo. My setup is very amatuer. Aside from my camera (which can be had for like $350 or so these days) I've got about $40 invested in my setup. It's for sure not the best in the world, but it does an adequate job.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I've often considered something like this, but my wife doesn't approve.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Check out frets.com photo studio page
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/General ... tudio.html
The only difference is that I use (10) 100w "natural light" incandescents rather than twistys. (Better white balance & colour rendition, but it can get hot!)

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON

Hi John! Well, the results sure aren't amateur! Is that a natural shadow or photoshop? I think the lighting is just right there...

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Many thanks.

The light is bounced off a reflective umbrella. The light source is a Craftsman halogen stand light. The background is just photo paper.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Sweet!

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Here's an example of a disappearing background that I'm experimenting with...

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com