Cue Photos

thingie

thingie

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey all,

I would like your opinions on how good cue photos should be, currently my equipment is as follows:

Canon 300D DSLR
28-135mm, 50mm
Tripod

Will be looking to add some more equipment like a flash and a 24mm macro lens. Any other goodies to suggest?

some samples of my work are attached :) Please feel free to look at them and give me your honest opinions, would love to hear them. Thanks!

a pair of James Whites:
jmwkoaebony0004.jpg


a Runde, Omen and Bluegras:
joelcol0001.jpg


an Omen J/B:
bemomenjb0005.jpg


a fancy Tad:
tad.jpg


a Capone plain jane:
capone.jpg


a Bender hoppe:
bender.jpg


a Judd plain jane:
judd.jpg
 
i work in a photography studio and have to do small shots like these on occasion...i would suggest shooting them on a solid background like a pool table or that black countertop. it puts the focus on the cues rather than that 12$ bottle of whatever it is under your counter or that red chalk holder. also if you prefer something going on in the pics rather than a solid background than to put your logo in a non noisy area. and never overlap your cue with anything (ex. the logo in pics 4 6 and 7). you want people to see as much of the cue as you can..even if its a plain shaft. i always put the logo in either bottom corner about an inch or half inch away from the side and bottom. again, constructive critisism...cues look good...
 
JayBates said:
i work in a photography studio and have to do small shots like these on occasion...i would suggest shooting them on a solid background like a pool table or that black countertop. it puts the focus on the cues rather than that 12$ bottle of whatever it is under your counter or that red chalk holder. also if you prefer something going on in the pics rather than a solid background than to put your logo in a non noisy area. and never overlap your cue with anything (ex. the logo in pics 4 6 and 7). you want people to see as much of the cue as you can..even if its a plain shaft. i always put the logo in either bottom corner about an inch or half inch away from the side and bottom. again, constructive critisism...cues look good...
Click to expand...
alright thanks. I'll take note of that and do it next time i do a shoot :)
 
also, u notice how well the cue in pic 4 looks...it is a beautifull cue of course but there is a lot of contrast involved..a lighter cue with a darker background really highlites the cue...darker cues on a blue cloth really stand out IMO
 
thingie said:
Hey all,

I would like your opinions on how good cue photos should be, currently my equipment is as follows:

Canon 300D DSLR
28-135mm, 50mm
Tripod

Will be looking to add some more equipment like a flash and a 24mm macro lens. Any other goodies to suggest?

some samples of my work are attached :) Please feel free to look at them and give me your honest opinions, would love to hear them. Thanks!

]
Click to expand...

The first pic of the whites seems out of fucus, the pic of the TAD is great!!! You need to use better backgrounds and the key to great cue pics is lighting, lighting, lighting, don't worry about a macro lens, if you have good lighting you don't need to be that close to the cue.

Jim
 
JayBates said:
also, u notice how well the cue in pic 4 looks...it is a beautifull cue of course but there is a lot of contrast involved..a lighter cue with a darker background really highlites the cue...darker cues on a blue cloth really stand out IMO
Click to expand...


JimBo said:
The first pic of the whites seems out of fucus, the pic of the TAD is great!!! You need to use better backgrounds and the key to great cue pics is lighting, lighting, lighting, don't worry about a macro lens, if you have good lighting you don't need to be that close to the cue.

Jim
Click to expand...


jaybates & jimbo: alright thanks for the suggestion, will try to find something for a background, currently its the countertop at my friend's shop. I will try to find something similiar to use. was thinking of a matt black hard cardboard or acrylic sheet.

jimbo: as for lighting, you mean ambient or flash lighting?
 
Using a light tent would really be a boon in taking pics of cues as there would be no glare off the finish...
________
 
Last edited:
Your basic photos are excellent. Here are some ideas to experiment with.

- a couple cheap light stands from each side of the cue and behind you. You can use 250 watt bulbs - but flourescents are easier to work with because they don't burn out. Use these instead of flash or with flash, whatever works best.

- A non-reflective background. I've had best luck with these faux suedes available in material stores. Darker backgriound for light color cues, and light background for dark color cues.

- set the camera on the tripod at an angle that reduces visible reflection. The less reflection, the better the pic.

- I like to take photos in a room that lets in ambiant sunlight - this helps reduce shadows and reflections even more.

- use a tripod and zoom for the close ups.

- Most of the time, forearm shots look best when cue is angled slightly away from the camera - with the joint being further away. This reduces glare.

- For butt shots, I suspend the butt in the air, by placing the cue on a chair cushion, with material on the floor as background, using padding and weights to hold the cue steady. Then I shoot the shot down at the butt using tripod and zoom. (see below) - this makes the background fade and softens the cue edges.

Below are some photo's including the forearms shot at a slight angle and a suspended butt shot. One of the forearm shots (the fancy one) has the background removed with software and replaced with a fill. The others both have background - the tad butt shot with blue photo paper and the Titlist forearm with a gray flannel. Both forearms were suspended from these shots with soft lighting down the cue from the wrap side.

My friend, Iconcue (Jeff)- the best cue photographer I've ever seen - said it the best: the picture is 50% of the photo and the software (developing) is the other 50%.

Chris

Tad_Butt.jpg


Model_D_forearm800-OPT.jpg


ModelK_Forearm_-800_OPT.jpg
 
Last edited:
wow those are beautiful. will be experimenting with some of your techniques as soon as i can walk.

thanks guys!
 
You could ask Mister Bryan Mordt from BCM custom cues.

He really makes amazing pictures of his wonderfull cues.

Tom
 
The 50MM prime would probably be your best bet. I would recommend blanketing any outside sources of light and using a couple of reflectors with your light source to eliminate shadows. Keep the exact same light setup every time so you can later batch-process the photos and get the color exactly right every time. This is very important. Your color isn't consistent. Also looks like your a tad under-exposed on all the photos. Focus on the subject of interest in the cue and make sure it's crisp.
 
thingie said:
Did a lil 'revision' today since i could walk.
Tell me what you think. :)


BGKingwoodBem-0001.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice shots, no glare good focus, I'd still say a bit more lighting, the white balance seems a tiny bit off, you may be able to change it in photoshop?

Jim
 
hey thingie-
i see you still have my old bluegrass, huh? I've been looking to get a wrapless one ever since I let go of that thing. It was one of my favorites and i wish i still had it. But nowadays, i'm on a wrapless kick. I've sold every cue i have. I'm waiting on two from different makers, and I'm still on the hunt for a wrapless Bluegrass.

In the meantime, keep up the good work. the photos keep getting better.
 
pharaoh68 said:
hey thingie-
i see you still have my old bluegrass, huh? I've been looking to get a wrapless one ever since I let go of that thing. It was one of my favorites and i wish i still had it. But nowadays, i'm on a wrapless kick. I've sold every cue i have. I'm waiting on two from different makers, and I'm still on the hunt for a wrapless Bluegrass.

In the meantime, keep up the good work. the photos keep getting better.
Click to expand...
I had a wrapless bluegrass but i traded it for the 6pter you see in the pictures above.

if you like i can hook you up for one. :) let me know.
 
thingie - Also a good photo edit program like Adobe Photoshop does wonders cleaning up focus, color, and brightness issues :)

Using something a little darker for the background would be better. Flat White is a higher reflector than alum foil and will create more unwanted glare.

I wish you well :)
 

Attachments

  • bender.jpg
    bender.jpg
    84.2 KB · Views: 248
  • bender2.jpg
    bender2.jpg
    79.7 KB · Views: 184
  • tad.jpg
    tad.jpg
    77.9 KB · Views: 198
  • tad2.jpg
    tad2.jpg
    90.3 KB · Views: 165
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top