Chess Photography

I try to spend some of my free time as a shutterbug, and am currently trying to work on a type of photography called HDR (high dynamic range).  If anyone's seen this type of photography, you probably either love it or hate it.  I happen to love it, my girlfriend happens to hate it.  Basically, if done right, it can make a picture seem "more real" than real life.

Without getting into too much of the technique, there is computer work involved, so if you are into more ansel adams conservative photography, you probably have a mind similar to my girlfriends.  Anyways, I thought it would be neat to try and combine both chess and photography this time around, and was wondering if anyone had any particular positions or pieces they thought might look great.  Unfortunately I have little creativity, which tends to hamper me both behind the camera and on the chess board.

So, in a nutshell, are there any pieces, positions, or any type of photography involving a chessboard or pieces that you think would look great?  Let me know (whether description or notation, or whatever) and I'll get to work.  If anyone wants, I may be able to share the photos (but only if they turn out good...a quick review of my games played is embarassing enough, let alone shoddy camera work).

Thanks all,

Max

As far as pieces go, I am partial to THE DARK KNIGHT. 

Well now, I would love some chess photos. If I remember correctly HDR photography is high contrast, so lighting is important.  I think that busy looking photos also look the best in HDR.  Chess is probably not colorful or busy enough to be able to make it the main part of the photo.

Maybe try the archetypical smoking while playing, a kid playing, or someone violently wiping the pieces off the board (can you adjust shutter speed? fast and slow might be neat).  More imaginatively (but predictably), try photos of chess in odd and random places so the background is colorful enough (busses, bathtubs and bakeries, whatever).  

Hope one of these will strike you.  Post whatever pictures you take.

We do product photography and such as part of our services, so am familiar with HDR.  For the most part, I'm not a fan because most examples have such extreme levels of color saturation that I don't see it as 'more real than real'.  I am an Ansel Adams guy.  However, have also seen some really brilliant work with tone mapping used with HDR.

A photographer with "little creativity"?  I don't believe it.  It will come to you.  Would think that position would be less important than camera angle, shadows, and background technique.  Perhaps a fading focus with crisp focus on one or two pieces with focus fading or wisping away from the central point.

And it's official.  I'm out of my leauge!  :)  Just to clarify, I'm a mere enthusiast, and by no means a pro.  As far as shutter speed and what not, I've got a pretty nifty digital SLR nikon to work with, so the basics are not a problem.

The following historically important position is a favourite of mine, and will be recognisable to many chess players around the world. Hasting's Chess Club even has a large oil painting of the position, Spassky bent in concentration, Fischer walking away from the board, hand in pocket.

I have been searching for some good macro photography of chess pieces and have not had much success. Probably my favorite piece is the Knight, therefore, I would like to see an upclose picture of one (either color) but so it would have a little surrealistic look. It's hard to explain but if you could experiment it out I would love to see the results. Best of luck to you, hope to see some great work. Thanks!

The set I have is a relatively cheap grandmaster from House of Staunton.  The details are fairly good in person (I think), but for some reason, especially with the black pieces, I am getting a lot of wash out in the color.  If anyone knows how to fix this, I'd very much appreciate the help.  I'm using a Nikon D80 for the shots.

On the note of the knights, I'm certainly a fan as well, primarily for the intricate design in most sets.  I'd often thought about trying to put a "Dark Knight" photo together, but am lacking on inspiration.

Thanks for the comments so far!