Bows

Hi all,

very much out of my picture-taking area but my brother asked me to take pictures of his selfe-made bows for his homepage - So I made a few test-shots but since this was my first attempt I would very much like to get honest good/bad advice from knowledgeable people.

ANY hints/advice would be very welcome :-)

Never realy used flash before - so getting the bow lit and the background nice and dark/black was very challenging.














Thank you all very much!

Hi Gerald,

Sorry, missed these which, for a 'lapsed archer' is disappointing to say the least!

First, I have to say that I think your brother has done a fine job here and the bow looks really lovely - the colours you show us and the details stand out as being custom made and that should appeal to many users I've met over the years.

A few comments - and the main one is please add numbers to the images as it makes people's task a little easier.. ! For the shots themselves, then I like the look you've given these with a mixture of high key, low key and detail images which help show off the best of the bow's construction and detailing. I think the first two show off the design and flow of the bow really well - a lovely sinuous curve which is very inviting. The details are pretty well handled, though I agree with Angora above in that you need to pay attention to the areas in and, especially, out of focus; if you want a diffused area then go for a really diffuse setting as then it looks like that was your intention all along? It also removes any unwanted distractions from the scene.

I think you have handled the colours and tone very well though - the change from black to white as a background do not seem to alter the colours dramatically so you have balanced the colours out well, though the shot of the handle area laying horizontally down against the white background could do with a little more contrast 'punch' to bring that lovely texture on the grip out? I also think that a better depth of filed on the shots detailing the specification of the bow - I am assuming this has the length and the draw weight? - would be useful for people to see exactly what specification the bow has been built to.

Otherwise, for a first go at this type of thing - and it is not an easy task as you have found out - then it's a fine effort and your brother should be pleased with these. If he is thinking of going 'commercial' in any way then it is a good set for him to use with local clubs etc. and I wish him well.

Oh - and perhaps a shot with an arrow already in place and ready to go might have been a nice finishing touch?

Take care and I hope the bow shoots as well as it looks!

Best regards, Neil.

Hello everyone!

Chaos weeks - sorry for my now very late reply!
Thank you all for your inputs, I really appreciate every one of them!

@Ine: yea, my brother is quite skilled in making them, I'm equally impressed by them every time.
He does plan/hope to sell them as his main income.

Thank you for hint regarding the details vs. beauty shots of the whole bow.
I also like the black background somewhat better, both of us are still finding out what we like best/looks better.

Planning on making shots with the arrows and in action (maybe in fitting ataire of the shooter).

And no, they are not meant for real hunting ^_^

@Neil: Thank you for your words about the votes - I'll relate them to my brother.

Great point regarding the numbers of the pictures in the post - should have thought about that...
I will try to give more time into the areas in focus vs. what is out of focus, as you and Ine both correctly point out!
I have to say, this being the very first time flash and product Photography I was very much out of my usual league 😂
But one gotta start somewhere I guess!
As long as we improve a little with each time.


@Lee: I really appreciate your point regarding striplight /snooted rim-light...i just started to try and find out more about these types of lighting. All so very new, so that's for the pointers!

I looked back over the pictures, and I agree the "blue" has a certain appeal for me to - "royal" is quite during description. To be honest that wasn't really planned, so I gotta educate myself as to how that happened/can be recreated.

The Idea/wish for the black background came from my brother, so I'll review this all with him to!


Thank you all very much, got so many pointers through you. 👍🏼