Musical Instruments

[austin granger]

I couldn't find a thread for musical instruments, so I started this one.
Here are some pianos:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51118795672_04517136e9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15)Piano, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108553305_b4981e14c4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix)Piano, Beaverton (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129382642_6ae9f4325a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93)Pianos, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

[Tin Can]

Pianot :cool:

[Tin Can]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129446962_0cb07cda2f_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8Mg1)Polaroid Piano Lady (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8Mg1) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[Eric Woodbury]

No pictures, but I keep a clarinet in my darkroom and run scales while I wait for prints to wash, etc.

[John Kasaian]

No pictures, but I keep a clarinet in my darkroom and run scales while I wait for prints to wash, etc.

Cool idea!
I need to spend more time blowin' the ol' sax :cool:

[John Kasaian]

I couldn't find a thread for musical instruments, so I started this one.
Here are some pianos:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51118795672_04517136e9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15)Piano, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108553305_b4981e14c4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix)Piano, Beaverton (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129382642_6ae9f4325a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93)Pianos, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

Powerful photos!
Nothing captures potentiality quite like a musical instrument and nothing transmits impotentiality (is that a word:confused:) quite like a ruined musical instrument

[Ulophot]

Austin, you beat me to it -- I have just been thinking about our old pump organ as a subject. Anyway, here's one from long, long ago.

4x5, Poloroid 55 neg. Scan from silver gelatin print made at the time.

215152

[JeRuFo]

https://live.staticflickr.com/3770/9800729605_88ee174298_o.jpg

This one is in slightly better condition (but still well used with 2 sisters who had over 20 years of piano lessons between them).

Taken as a test of schwarzschild effect on Fomapan 100. 100 minutes long.. As I already guessed it tops out at 4 stops.

[tgtaylor]

Many years back while still in the home town (New Orleans) I bought a beautiful black ebony Everette studio upright while self teaching myself to play Scott Joplin's Ragtime piano music. If memory serves me well I paid $250 for it and it was a jewel to play. One practice session I'll never forget: I probably started around 8pm, which was the usual starting time, and the next thing I knew the black ebony of the upright started turning shades of grey. Dawn was beginning to beak and unknowingly I had played throughout the entire night! Perhaps even more surprising was that there was not one complaint from the neighbors. I lived in a single residence at the time with a front yard but without air conditioning so the front door was undoubtedly open. The piano was in the room at the front door.

Thomas

[rorye]

A nice Gibson...215212

[Corran]

Shot this in 2012, on 4x5 but I don't remember anything else. This is my Powell Custom Piccolo, made out of grenadilla wood. I performed in dozens of symphony and solo concerts with it.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-0Y2klJXOs/YIIJDtKuKuI/AAAAAAAANgg/GdTeO6PRuf8WYtQlpIizhCeSOMBLi_0FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/0196s.jpg

Currently it needs some work as my intense performance schedule back when I was finishing my Master's kind of wore out the pads.

PS: in case you are wondering, the dark patches on the silver is tarnish. Both my flute and piccolo tarnish super easily because I apparently have highly acidic skin/sweat.

[Joe O'Hara]

I couldn't find a thread for musical instruments, so I started this one.
Here are some pianos:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51118795672_04517136e9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15)Piano, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kTcc15) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108553305_b4981e14c4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix)Piano, Beaverton (https://flic.kr/p/2kShGix) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129382642_6ae9f4325a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93)Pianos, Beaverton, Oregon (https://flic.kr/p/2kU8s93) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

That second one looks like Richter had been playing it.

[grat]

That second one looks like Richter had been playing it.

Playing the Richter scale?

[Merg Ross]

215257

Saxophone, 1984

[Barry Kirsten]

215257

Saxophone, 1984

Stunning, Merg. Beautifully seen and executed.

[Merg Ross]

Stunning, Merg. Beautifully seen and executed.

Thank you, Barry. Window light, 4x5 Plus-X.

[DanteALG]

The instrument looks nice! I really like the wood material, I think it makes it look more classy and fancy. I’ve been playing the guitar for some years now, more specifically the acoustic one. I also chose one made out of high-quality wood. However, I recently changed to a ukulele. I think it’s more special and has a unique vibe to it. In the beginning I didn’t know which one to buy, so I made some research on what are the best ukulele brands (https://www.junumusic.com/what-is-the-best-ukulele-brand/). Again, I ended up buying one made out of dark wood, very aesthetically pleasing. I’m still mastering my skills, but overall I think I’m doing a pretty good job at it.

[Dugan]

Merg,
That is a gorgeous image...
I am drawn to the top of the image, where there is a strong resemblance to an eagle's head.
Great tonal scale.

[cuypers1807]

Gibson Mandolin
5x7 tintype on aluminum.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51148010214_8cea38288a_z.jpg

[Merg Ross]

Merg,
That is a gorgeous image...
I am drawn to the top of the image, where there is a strong resemblance to an eagle's head.
Great tonal scale.

Thank you, Dugan.
Yes, that is what I also saw, and was able to capture.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I shot this 1952 Fender Telecaster in the backyard of a music producers home when I lived in the L.A. area. Shot this on my 4x5 and printed them in 11x14 for the owner and myself. The guitar is famous! It is Stevie Ray Vaughn's first guitar given to him by his brother Jimmie. I even got to play it! The guitar is known as " Jimbo" and if you google it you should still see my image of it online. It was eventually sold to a collector.

[David Schaller]

I shot this 1952 Fender Telecaster in the backyard of a music producers home when I lived in the L.A. area. Shot this on my 4x5 and printed them in 11x14 for the owner and myself. The guitar is famous! It is Stevie Ray Vaughn's first guitar given to him by his brother Jimmie. I even got to play it! The guitar is known as " Jimbo" and if you google it you should still see my image of it online. It was eventually sold to a collector.
That's quite some guitar Jim! Thanks for sharing.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

That's quite some guitar Jim! Thanks for sharing.

David, it was quite an experience knowing its history. I played the guitar unplugged and I could tell how it would sound electrified. I'm glad I was able to photograph it.

[David Schaller]

I read that SRV traded that guitar for an Epiphone Riviera hollow body. Everybody makes mistakes like that when they're young. I'm glad the guitar survived and you had the chance to play it and take some nice photographs!

[Jim Noel]

You are a man of many talents Jim. This one doesn't surprise me.

[Ironage]

Inspired by the topic, I took this of the fiddle I inherited from my grandfather. Been playing it since I was 12 years old. 5x7 Panchro 400.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51155514432_a6523189eb_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kWrod9)Back of Violin (https://flic.kr/p/2kWrod9) by Timothy Gordish (https://www.flickr.com/photos/125171332@N02/), on Flickr

[Jim Fitzgerald]

You are a man of many talents Jim. This one doesn't surprise me.

Jim, I collected some fine guitars back in the late 60's and early 70's. A '62 Strat, 70's white Strat, '57 reissue black Strat (I still have this one) a 68' Martin D-28. Guild 12 string and several others. Many are gone or passed down to my son's who are the real musicians. I was not one to practice much or take lessons. Kind of lazy back then and not driven like I am now.

[John Layton]

Would love to do a few licks on that D-28!

I started playing in 1970...and purchased a Martin D12-20 at House of Guitars in Rochester, NY, in 1972, after spending a day there playing a bunch of other 12's. Played this every day for about thirty years...then a bit less frequently with other life changes. Long story short...the Martin's (non adjustable) neck began to bend, cracks appeared, and eventually I could only play it effectively with a slide - loved this actually! Should have sent it to Martin as at that point their "lifetime, no fault warranty" would have allowed a complete overhaul...but they are no longer quite this generous from what I gather.

At any rate, about eight years ago I began to look at Martin's again, but this time a six string...having in mind a D-28 "Marquis" re-issue, but also looked at the large dreadnaught from Collings. What a nice guitar! But could not justify something that pricy. I ended up with a really nice dreadnaught six from a Chinese company called Eastman. They've actually been creating wooden stringed instruments for over 100 years, and really know their stuff! The Eastman model I purchased is based roughly on the D-28, with rosewood body and adirondack spruce top - which gives a really brilliant (if a bit "punchy") sound. Very nice instrument...wonderful to play - for about a quarter the price of the equivalent Martin...and to my aging ears sounds just fine!

Sadly, I put the Eastman down about a year ago. Not sure why...but I know that I'll pick it up again soon. And the old Martin? There's a guy south of me who is certified to do Martin warranty repairs - and I just may pay him a visit!

Ha! This should probably be going in the "lounge" section...but then again, the creating of photographs is truly a holistic pursuit, and music remains one of my cherished sources of inspiration, as I know it does for many on this forum. I do think of Ansel and his piano...and Paul Caponigro - also with a piano...a Bosendorfer, to which he devoted himself fully for a year while taking a hiatus from photographing. I think he'll turn 88 or 89 this year (December)...and when I saw him last, just over six years ago - I think he mentioned that he still played his piano at that time...and my guess is that he plays it still.

Back for an edit...after all of the above, I'm starting to think that I may never have photographed my guitar! How could this be? Gotta do something about this!

[austin granger]

It makes me happy to see this thread sprouting with so many good photos. Nice work, everybody!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51183085903_55730a9907_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kYSGfk)Piano, Beaverton (https://flic.kr/p/2kYSGfk) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

[Corran]

Stretching this thread a bit admittedly, but here's some musical instruments...in performance. Was at the limit of my Speed Graphic shutter, 1/30:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_fENhYxO2coZMfGFnsio-Ejnujz7ubvTnKgilULIzfQRgrrdmTORM7DngY3BcT86ptY86R2MXA3Bn5z07YQEuB0Utp-J2XQ5du_Mtmt_0sRBLcyBcg995b1YgGgFL9UAl7thsFKlorHVPvC8jKKhRP7nviEtb7OfnuBRy9B95qoMoNLMz7jA89b1/s800/starlight-0329s.jpg

[austin granger]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52411626119_4f3dde1061_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2nRrhsc)On the Altar, Cordelia Lutheran Church, Idaho (https://flic.kr/p/2nRrhsc) by Austin Granger (https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/), on Flickr

[Don Dudenbostel]

I’ve been lazy and haven’t done any collodion in a few years and have posted these in another thread but I think they qualify as instruments.

These are posted from my phone and not sure if the files are large enough.

[Ulophot]

Paul Ulanowsky's (my father's) violin. A little self-assignment, as it were, done in my study a few nights ago. 4x5, 135mm, HP5+

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52635246481_8c4562da85_h.jpg

[John Layton]

Philip that's a wonderful and thoughtful image - with a bit of meaningful tension also...in the bow, the strings - and how that page just wants to flip! Almost like you'd been practicing and noticed something about the light...put your intsrument, bow, and score down briefly to pull off an image that was perfect, and then resumed practicing!

[Iga]

Beautifully composed and masterfully executed, Philip ! Congrats !

[Kerosene Hat]

Philip, that is a great image. Did you do anything special with the plane of focus?

Very good, looks like fair front tilt to get the musical composition, instrument and other items sharp in the plane.

Well-arranged, good perspective, and perfectly lit. Very, very nice.

[h2oman]

Yes, beautiful, Philip.

[Ulophot]

Thank you all.

Nothing "special" with the plane of focus; a healthy front tilt, essentially along the top of the violin, and an aperture (22, I think) to bring the score in front into sharpness up to about the fourth staff from bottom.

I can add two notes that might be of interest to some. I used a single light source and got everything pretty much set up, but the sharpness of some of the shadows and the arrangement of light and dark wasn't quite what I wanted, even after hanging some sheets of diffusion gel to create some additional shadows. I took a large piece of patterned lace fabric and hung it in front of the light to break it up, which, with a little adjustment, made all the difference in that respect. Nice to have a powerful LED light for constant viewing ability, sharp shadows when wanted, and without the heat of halogens.

I'll post in The Setup ad Shot for anyone interested.

The second factor came in printing. I got to a print that pleased me pretty well on my standard paper, Ilford WTF, but I had brought my Fomatone to the darkroom also. Although in earlier testing the two papers had seemed to be very close in most of the scale, my first print of this image on the Foma immediately showed a significant difference in the rendering of the lower middle tones that I felt improved the composition. Back in the days of many papers, serious printers often tried various ones to see which best suited a given image. The choices are fewer now, of course, but this experience reaffirmed my decision to keep the two papers on hand.

[Joe O'Hara]

You get an "A" in this assignment.

Did (or does) your Father love Schubert? I do.

[Ulophot]

You get an "A" in this assignment.

Did (or does) your Father love Schubert? I do.

Thank you for asking. My father (1908-1968) did indeed love Schubert. Dad was one of the leading accompanists of the mid-20th C., perhaps most widely associated with Lotte Lehmann, but much in demand by singers and instrumentalists alike. He and his siblings all learned string instruments early on, and he continued playing the violin or viola in informal chamber music get-togethers with friends. I fondly remember getting to stay up as a very young child to listen to a bit of Eine Kleine Nacht Musik before being packed off to bed. I keep a web site for him here, if you're interested: www.paul-ulanowsky.org.

Schubert is one of my muses as well; would that i could make the piano sing as he did.

[Ben Calwell]

Thank you all.

Nothing "special" with the plane of focus; a healthy front tilt, essentially along the top of the violin, and an aperture (22, I think) to bring the score in front into sharpness up to about the fourth staff from bottom.

I can add two notes that might be of interest to some. I used a single light source and got everything pretty much set up, but the sharpness of some of the shadows and the arrangement of light and dark wasn't quite what I wanted, even after hanging some sheets of diffusion gel to create some additional shadows. I took a large piece of patterned lace fabric and hung it in front of the light to break it up, which, with a little adjustment, made all the difference in that respect. Nice to have a powerful LED light for constant viewing ability, sharp shadows when wanted, and without the heat of halogens.

I'll post in The Setup ad Shot for anyone interested.

The second factor came in printing. I got to a print that pleased me pretty well on my standard paper, Ilford WTF, but I had brought my Fomatone to the darkroom also. Although in earlier testing the two papers had seemed to be very close in most of the scale, my first print of this image on the Foma immediately showed a significant difference in the rendering of the lower middle tones that I felt improved the composition. Back in the days of many papers, serious printers often tried various ones to see which best suited a given image. The choices are fewer now, of course, but this experience reaffirmed my decision to keep the two papers on hand.

That's beautiful, Philip. I sometimes use some sheer, lace curtains from our dining room to diffuse light and cast pleasing dapples of light on still life photos. I bought a Godox focusing LED light, but it's not very powerful for large format. My exposures, factoring in bellows draw and reciprocity, often run for multiple minutes. I don't really mind that though, as I like sitting there as the seconds count down, staring at my setup and wondering if the resulting image will look good or be a total disaster.
Anyway, nice work.

[Ulophot]

Thank you, Ben.

I purchased the SmallRig white-light unit when it was on sale. It's quite powerful. I'll probably sell my Lowell lights eventually, but the Tota-light is so compact it's an easy carry, and the price of the LED line is not in the budget now. I got the SmallRig primarily as a fill in natural light settings for portrait work on location.

[darr]

Very beautiful, Philip! Thank you for sharing such a lovely image and your words about it.

[phillipcarroll]

Even though my response is a bit belated, I wanted to thank you for starting this thread for musical instruments! Those pianos look awesome! Feel free to share more or chat about any other instruments. Speaking of instruments, I've always had this dream of learning to play the guitar. So, I've been on the lookout for good lessons and resources. That’s when I stumbled upon the Stay Tuned Guitar Blog (https://staytunedguitar.com/) and it's been a game-changer! They've got a ton of useful information, lessons, and tips on mastering guitar-playing skills. If you're as passionate about this instrument as I am, it’d be helpful for you, too!

[Kerosene Hat]

Slight crop from full-frame.
Wista VX, Caltar II-N 150, Tri-X, D-76 1:1, single light

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53131009266_c6df710254_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oX1iZU)

2023 01 Washburn 355 4x5 TMY 40020230821_0001 (https://flic.kr/p/2oX1iZU)

[cgratham]

Practicing trying to learn studio lighting I pulled out the old banjo/uke.

Here's both headstock and soundboard (?) end.

Chris


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51665207373_ab4c173707_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mHtGat)_D718493.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mHtGat) by cgratham (https://www.flickr.com/photos/cgratham/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51664999111_3623c247b4_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mHsCfK)_D718492.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mHsCfK) by cgratham (https://www.flickr.com/photos/cgratham/), on Flickr

[Merg Ross]

Slight crop from full-frame.
Wista VX, Caltar II-N 150, Tri-X, D-76 1:1, single light

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53131009266_c6df710254_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oX1iZU)

2023 01 Washburn 355 4x5 TMY 40020230821_0001 (https://flic.kr/p/2oX1iZU)

A superb composition of form and function. Well done!

[Ulophot]

Chris, one of the best books on lighting I have ever read is Light: Science and Magic, now in 4th or 5th edition. You may find it useful for your self-education. Consider interlibrary loan if funds are an issue, or a used earlier edition.

[cgratham]

Chris, one of the best books on lighting I have ever read is Light: Science and Magic, now in 4th or 5th edition. You may find it useful for your self-education. Consider interlibrary loan if funds are an issue, or a used earlier edition.

Hi Philip,
Thanks for that recommendation. I'll search that book out. I like it just the title already.

Chris