[SI] Behind the Dice
Al Denelsbeck
Okay, I figure it's been long enough to 'fess up. So now the story
behind my dice shot, one of the few meticulous studio setups I've done (and
I hear people saying, "meticulous?"). Like Vic's, it has several levels to
it.
Easy enough to see is the effort not only to put the sixes up front,
but like Simon Lee did, getting the 'two' and 'four' faces as well. Then of
course, the 'one' and 'five' faces for the back sides.
And I say 'back sides' for a reason, since there are only three dice
in my shot. It was, I'm happy to say, all done with mirrors, or at least
*a* mirror. This is evident in the ghosting that appears alongside some of
the dice, reflections from the front surface of the glass, and in the very
faint color shift. The idea came when I started thinking about the known
property of six-sided dice faces - opposite sides add up to seven. So how
many sixes could I show?
Much care was taken in getting the proper angle so that the dice
appeared as randomly positioned as possible, and not obviously reflections.
Hardest was keeping the support material from getting up against the mirror
in such a way as to reveal the secret, especially since I had to shoot from
a downward angle. So the mirror is also leaned back, keeping the top face
out of view (those stray grains on top would have given it away, not to
mention messed up the 'sixes') and angled obliquely slightly. The
background is actually at my right shoulder, a black bedsheet that I even
needed to iron to keep the folds from showing. I am a confirmed bachelor,
so you should recognize the effort expended in getting out the iron and
reading the operating instructions...
But the final aspect is, as Annika touched on, the support material
is salt. Which is, of course, a six-sided crystal, and this was perfectly
intentional. I *had* to use it, once the concept started dropping into
place.
I feel your pain, and I revel smugly in it. I happen to like the way
this shot turned out ;-)
- Al.
--
To reply, insert dash in address to match domain below
Online photo gallery at www.wading-in.net
Doug Payne
> The
> background is actually at my right shoulder, a black bedsheet that I even
> needed to iron to keep the folds from showing.
Yikes, an iron! Now that's what I call extreme preparation for a shot. I
once started to iron a background and gave up when the iron fell off the
ironing board and broke. Now it only has one power level so I use it for
waxing my skis. Never bothered to replace it.
I had this vague idea for a crystal shot as well (a.la. salt, only much
bigger). An ex is one of those new-age crystal types and I have a legacy
of really big crystals lying around the house; I never was into the
new-age stuff, but I do like rocks. Anyhow, I was otherwise occupied and
time drifted past the deadline. And I never did quite figure how to get
a good shot anyway, not being a studio kinda photographer.
Neat stuff.
Alan Browne
Revel in nothing, Al !! I called it Monday!!! (e-mail).
Cheers,
Alan
Al Denelsbeck wrote:
> I feel your pain, and I revel smugly in it. I happen to like the way
> this shot turned out ;-)
>
>
> - Al.
>
--
e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.
Charlie Dilks
Al Denelsbeck <ne...@wadingin.net> wrote:
re. http://www.pbase.com/image/23084600
> It was, I'm happy to say, all done with mirrors, or at least
> *a* mirror.
>
> Much care was taken in getting the proper angle so that the dice
> appeared as randomly positioned as possible, and not obviously reflections.
> Hardest was keeping the support material from getting up against the mirror
> in such a way as to reveal the secret, especially since I had to shoot from
> a downward angle. So the mirror is also leaned back, keeping the top face
> out of view (those stray grains on top would have given it away, not to
> mention messed up the 'sixes') and angled obliquely slightly. The
> background is actually at my right shoulder, a black bedsheet that I even
> needed to iron to keep the folds from showing. I am a confirmed bachelor,
> so you should recognize the effort expended in getting out the iron and
> reading the operating instructions...
>
> But the final aspect is, as Annika touched on, the support material
> is salt. Which is, of course, a six-sided crystal, and this was perfectly
> intentional. I *had* to use it, once the concept started dropping into
> place.
Wow Al, I'm glad you explained all that. I had no idea!
That is really cool.
That's about as many sixes as possible and a lot of work.
I know what you mean about being a bachelor. I was married for four
years way back when, but not now.
I guess you can tell by my kitchen/dining rooom/ hobby table with a
cockroach living on it. ;)
<http://mysite.verizon.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?link
edwidth=actual&linkpath=http://mysite.verizon.net/cdilks/sitebuilderconte
nt/sitebuilderpictures/fullsetup.jpg&target=tlx_new>
I have an iron but no ironing board. I bought the iron many years ago
for mounting prints before I got a real print mounting machine.
--
Charlie Dilks
Newark, DE USA
Andrew (Mr Blobby)
It makes my LATE NIGHT fuzzy dice comment sound pretty shity now!
I can't believe I looked at it that long and didn't see it...The back dice
ONLY were fuzzy!
Well done it put my setup time to shame.
Andrew
"Al Denelsbeck" <ne...@wadingin.net> wrote in message
news:Xns94317D4D7731sa...@216.168.3.44...