Photographing Maple Flame

[Ray 911S]

It's really tough to get a good photo that really shows the depth of a nice flame top. I've been trying for a while to capture the beauty of this guitar, and have only partially succeeded today by shooting outdoors in the late evening sun.

This is my Gibson ES-137. Hand selected right at Gibson in Memphis from among all the gorgeous guitars from the factory - this was the best of the best. These pics still don't do justice to the wood and finish.

 

[larry_emder]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

oh yeah!!! i just wanna play that thing so bad


Whats sortsa music ya play?

 

[Ray 911S]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

I struggle mightily to play something reasonably like Blues. Not Texas - Chicago.

 

[metlking]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Thats very sweet, nice top! Yes it's hard to photograph flames but I think you've captured it pretty well. I'm searching for a Les Paul with just the right flame, it's my "holy grail" guitar. I'm searching ebay quite a bit but it's hard to tell what the top might really look like in person unless the photographer knows what they're doing.........most just say the pictures don't do the top justice! Maybe you could "school" those guys!

 

[BTMN]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

These two do it the best. Direct light bounced at about 45 degrees and composing the shot with as few glare spots as you can is the best method.

 

[Ray 911S]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Thanks. Accidental discovery on my part, but you are right - those shots at an angle look best. How did you get the photos into your reply? Mine just show up as links. I tried "insert image" and "insert link," but both just showed links rather than the actual photo.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

When you do the img thing eliminate the ?v=0 thing.

I took this shot from about 4ft away indoors with a point and shoot type camera. Used the angle thing with Flash on. I think I had a 60 wat lamp on that was throwing light from the rightside of the shot on the guitar.

This flash on shot was a straight on shot with a lamp on above it too. The greenish spots are shadows from that light.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

ya with flame maple it's all about light and angle.... my Chandler/Warmoth partsocaster guitar has a nice top yet in some photos it looks like it is a plan top....

i have a rare MIM Fender Standard with a highly flamed maple neck and the photos i managed to get of it do not do the flame justice....

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

The flame really comes out in this one! Looks killer!
Sweet axe dude!

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

You know I've never really cared for hollow bodies or semi hollows but that guitar is just :smokin: I blame you if I end up buying one of those. This forum is horrible, I always get the worst GAS, Taco Bell aint got nothin on SDUGF.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

You know I've never really cared for hollow bodies or semi hollows but that guitar is just :smokin: I blame you if I end up buying one of those. This forum is horrible, I always get the worst GAS, Taco Bell aint got nothin on SDUGF.

+1

Yep... that sure is a beauty!! Never been to hollow bodies at all... not even 330's,335's or PRS's take on them... but I REALLY like that one. Nice......

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

You really have to move around, and watch which angles make the flame pop out. Pay attention to how the light's hitting it. Find the angles that work before putting your camera up to your eye.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Dang, that guitar is beautiful! Photographing it on a stone floor adds to it, I think.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

ya with flame maple it's all about light and angle.... my Chandler/Warmoth partsocaster guitar has a nice top yet in some photos it looks like it is a plan top....

i have a rare MIM Fender Standard with a highly flamed maple neck and the photos i managed to get of it do not do the flame justice....

Yep it's all about the angle you hit it from. I have owned some INSANE Flame and Quilt tops over the years and it's next to impossable to really capture them in a photo. IMO the best I have ever seen in person is this one my 2004 AR 200 Prestige Ibanez Artist. This one has the most depth to the 3d effect that I have ever seen. From certain angles the area in between the ribbons of the flame looks like it is a foot deep AMAZING!!

Here are a couple of nice Washburn USA Quilt tops I also have
A one off Prototype from 1994

A 1995 MG 120

 

[BTMN]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Here is a shot that I almost always get a cool look in.

The Angled Incase shot w/ Flash..

 

[Ray 911S]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

BTMN - thanks for the tip on the ?v=0.

That pointy bass is awesome.

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Flash + light are the best way, like BTMN is doing

Using only flash really shows the flame, but it can show some nasty reflections too, especialy from chrome parts.

Like it did here:

btw, i really love the flame on that Gibson!

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Nice Guitar Ray! The last 2 pics are amazing!

 

[GuitarSandwich]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Some guitar companies like Dean and PRS paint in the flames with dark stain so those are easier to photograph than the ones that are genuine. I've found that natural sunlight in the early morning or late afternoon really is best. That's when the light is the right color and angle to make the figured wood look best.

I was told that pro photographers also use special filters to enhance the grain in photos. I don't know how you'd go about getting one though.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Photographing Maple Flame

Don't ask me, I still can't get the flame to dance when I want it to.