The Accurate Reloading Forums
Rifle Photography background poll (700K file)
22 August 2010, 00:07
gunmakerRifle Photography background poll (700K file)
Here's a gif with a rotating background. I'd like some input from readers here on what background is their favorite. Or any suggestions they may have.<BR>Thanks for your input.<BR><IMG class="inline_image" SRC="http://members.sdplains.com/chico/cover.gif"> Favorite backgroundblackwhitegreenredpurplebluestorm cloud blue/gray
22 August 2010, 00:15
SevensI voted green, but the "storm cloud gray" is also very nice. I think they highlight the rifle's lines better than solid black or solid white.
22 August 2010, 00:18
WoodhitsI like the simple black or white. Can you tell us a bit about your lighting setup?
22 August 2010, 00:19
J.D.SteeleBlack, storm-cloud gray, white; in that order.
Regards, Joe
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22 August 2010, 00:27
D HumbargerBlack, Green , storm clouds. The one that i like the least is the white.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
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22 August 2010, 00:51
gunmakerquote:
Originally posted by Woodhits:
I like the simple black or white. Can you tell us a bit about your lighting setup?
I ordered a video through the Guild about firearms pictures. Built some diffusion screens out of white fabric and use 4 clamp on 100 watt bulbs. Long exposures need a very good tripod.
22 August 2010, 02:41
WoodhitsThanks!
22 August 2010, 02:48
Von GruffFor my eye the storm cloud grey followed by the green and black made the rifle stand out and excentuated the grain and colouring of the wood and metal detail.Mind you that little Mauser is a treat for the eye with any and every background.
Von Gruff.
22 August 2010, 09:28
richjblack, white and red are out. I voted green but the gray is good, third is blue then purple.
Rich
22 August 2010, 20:36
bwanamrmI voted green... but I thought the purple really made that particular gun "pop". Maybe the 60's were good to me...
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25 August 2010, 00:47
MJinesI voted green too and never would have guessed that would have been the color I would have picked. Interesting the significant diffence the background makes in terms of bringing out the color in the wood.
If you do not mind me asking, how do create the different background effects? Is that a feature based on a setting on the camera or done with something like Photoshop?
Mike
25 August 2010, 01:01
Gerryquote:
I voted green, but the "storm cloud gray" is also very nice.
+1!
Excellent photo of the rifle.
Cheers,
Number 10
25 August 2010, 01:56
PatagonHunterHi,
I voted white, of course! For mi is the best
background to enance 100 % the rifle and nothing else! It stand alone and NOTHING distract the view and the details and contours shows themselves in the best way!
Regards
PH
25 August 2010, 07:06
gunmakerquote:
Originally posted by MJines:
If you do not mind me asking, how do create the different background effects? Is that a feature based on a setting on the camera or done with something like Photoshop?
I bought a used digital SLR Canon 20D from a wedding photog that upgraded to a 50D. The lens I used for these pictures was a Canon 50mm 1.4 my brother sent me. It captures better color than my 18-55 IS. The 18-55 takes a little better resolution though. I thought this rifle was a good candidate to showcase the color that Duane W's alkanet tinted finishing recipe helped produce. Most of the pics were taken at F8 with over a second shutter speed. The exposure I ended up using was underexposed by 2/3 stop. All the pics were taken in RAW format and downloaded to Canon's Digital Post Processing software that came with the camera. Using a piece of the blank that went through the same finishing schedule, I lightly tweaked the pictures to try and duplicate on my monitor the color & contrast I had in my hand. Contrast set to 0, sharpen to 5, highlight & shadow to -1 and color saturation to 1. I haven't calibrated my monitor, but it looks good to me, and Terry agrees that the processed pics look very much like the rifle. Unlike the washed out photo he took of the trap buttplate. I'm not pickin on Terry here, we all know how difficult it is to take pics that do justice to the rifles we have.
After I massaged the RAW files, I exported a TIF file. This was opened in Adobe Photoshop Essentials. Another program that was bundled with the camera. Here I cut out the rifle from the gray background. I was able to put any background I wanted behind the rifle. On average, I've got 1-1/2 hour post-processing each picture.
I am surprised to see the current results of the poll and appreciate all the input. I like the gray storm best and am surprised that the blue and red drew few fans.
Since green and gray seem to compliment this rifle, I may do another rotating background poll with a variety of these. I don't have any room left on my server at the moment.
Thanks again for all the input.
25 August 2010, 07:15
MJinesThanks for the explanation. I found this entire thread very interesting.
Mike
25 August 2010, 07:44
ted thornI was waiting on the sexy lady background.....didn't see it
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28 August 2010, 07:51
BrandoGreen and the storm cloud looks the best...
28 August 2010, 08:56
Idaho Sharpshooterhard to argue with basic black...
For me, the colors were a distraction.
Rich
DRSS
28 August 2010, 18:12
GeorgeSI voted for storm cloud blue/gray, but the black and red also worked well to highligh the grain of the stock.
George
28 August 2010, 18:40
Rub LineI hardly noticed the background with that beautiful rifle in front. However the red made me want to hurl, other than that they all look fine, black-white-greystorm are my favs.
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National Rifle Association Life Member
White.
I want to see a rifle for what it really is, not enhanced by a colorful background.
I kinda liked the bedsheet in the 1st pictures

I've told James I think some of the backgrounds while neat, they take away from the the subject of the picture.
Terry
--------------------------------------------
Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
29 August 2010, 00:59
Michael RobinsonGreen and white, in that order.
But I noticed that, with the darkened border at the edge of the photos, the only color that affords a clear view of the fore end profile is white.
Maybe a solid, lighter shade of the green would be best?
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
29 August 2010, 02:12
Jim KobeThe only color background that I like is a good looking redheaded white lady about 28 years and about 5'10" with big "which-a-majiggers"
Anybody wanna argue that point?
Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild
30 August 2010, 04:36
TimanI voted for green.
Green and guns seem to work well together.
31 August 2010, 09:09
Dr. LouI voted for the gray storm clouds, but I also like the purple.
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31 August 2010, 22:38
buckeyeshootergreen then storm cloud grey
01 September 2010, 19:17
Jim KobeDoesn't anyone besides me like redheads?
Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild
01 September 2010, 20:06
Boss HossJim---My favorite is the Large Double Breasted Red Headed Mattress Thrasher!
05 September 2010, 06:36
Mike_DettorreWhy the ejection port carve out on the left side of the stock?
I have never seen that before. I have seen the lttle thumb cut but never the elongated ejection port like cut.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
05 September 2010, 19:48
Jim KobeIt is just another detail that can be done; it outlines the action nicely. It ain't ejection port detail.
Jim Kobe
10841 Oxborough Ave So
Bloomington MN 55437
952.884.6031
Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild
05 September 2010, 20:36
gunmakerquote:
Originally posted by Mike_Dettorre:
Why the ejection port carve out on the left side of the stock?
I have never seen that before. I have seen the little thumb cut but never the elongated ejection port like cut.
The action is detailed like a G33/40. The stock top line has to follow the bottom of the thumb cut between the rear of the receiver ring and the front of the bolt stop. The bevel that looks like an ejector port is just window dressing. The reason that you haven't seen this before is that G33/40s are fairly rare.
08 September 2010, 03:42
22WRFGunmaker
Congratulations on your new website!!
08 September 2010, 18:50
srtraxquote:
I kinda liked the bedsheet in the 1st pictures
I have to agree, I really like the original photos better than the others!
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08 September 2010, 23:28
Strut10I voted green. Black is in a near tie with it though. Those are the two that did not make me squint to adjust my eyes.
Founder....the OTPG
09 September 2010, 10:40
SR4759Just send me the rifle and I will send you back a photo with my favorite background....me with a big wide grin.