Chuck Carstensen  


 Tool Box 125 Years Old by Chuck Carstensen

September 2021 - Tool Box 125 Years Old

September 2021 - Chuck Carstensen

Original

About the Image(s)

My grandfathers toolbox is hand made by him using most of the tools contained in the box. Skills that are gone today. He was born in 1861. Both images made with a Fujifilm XPro2 and the 23mm kit lens. The original image was created using a Velvia film simulation and the Monochrome with Acros Black and White ISO 250. Original is SOOTC while the final submission has some minor adjustments in Luminar AI. Which is best, Color or BW? Would Sepia add or subtract?


My grandfathers toolbox is hand made by him using most of the tools contained in the box. Skills that are gone today. He was born in 1861. Both images made with a Fujifilm XPro2 and the 23mm kit lens. The original image was created using a Velvia film simulation and the Monochrome with Acros Black and White ISO 250. Original is SOOTC while the final submission has some minor adjustments in Luminar AI. Which is best, Color or BW? Would Sepia add or subtract?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
4 comments posted




Cindy Lynch   Cindy Lynch
I like both the color and monochrome versions, although the colors might be nice muted since you may want to make it look nostalgic. I really like the reason behind your photo. I have several heirloom pieces from grandparents and great-grandparents that I cannot display them all, so I have also been making still life photos of them and displaying those instead. As for the composition, it bothers me some that there are so many partial tools around the borders. I tried a tighter crop and darkened the bright area in the right side that kept drawing my eye there. The tools in the foreground are in focus and sharp but the ones in the back are soft. For me, this works, giving it depth. It might be fun to keep playing around with different compositions.   Posted: 09/06/2021 11:10:16
Comment Image
Chuck Carstensen   Chuck Carstensen
Yes, it is pretty busy. I got carried away.   Posted: 09/06/2021 15:59:18



Lorna Zaback   Lorna Zaback
I understand your desire to include all these beautiful tools in the frame (I remember a similar planer from my grandfather's toolbox as well), but I do like Cindy's suggestion for a crop. I prefer the monochrome to the colour, although, as Cindy also said, a slightly more "antique" colour palette might work. I can imagine a triptych, each image showing a different combination of your subjects, so nothing gets left out.   Posted: 09/10/2021 15:20:02



I love the sentiment behind your photograph and really like how much subtlety of detail you captured in each and every tool. I also prefer your black and white interpretation but also agree that a color version with more muted tones would be just as beautiful. There is so much to see here. You could concentrate on any one area or even category of tool and create more unique and interesting photos.   Posted: 09/15/2021 16:54:48