[junkman_01]

Could someone please explain to me why some folks are so paranoid that they think they have to hide some or all of the serial number on a gun picture? Also why do 3/4 of the gun photos I see have something stuck through the trigger guard to elevate the gun? Cameras WILL work in the vertical position you know! :confused:

Here's a case in point....

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7128493&postcount=283

[Animal Mother]

Some people are a little sensitive about having their serial numbers out there, there are various reason people give, but the generally fall into two categories:

1. I don't want a visual record of what gun I own floating out on the internet.
2. I don't want someone who wishes to create mischief to report my gun as stolen using the serial number they got from my picture.

The validity of these arguments are quite debatable, but I've gone through a phase where I blanked out my serial numbers, and now I don't worry about it anymore.

As far as the thing through the trigger guard trick, I'm not a photographer, but my gun photos look better when I do that, it adds depth or something to the picture that I just don't get out of straight up and down shot. My gun photos when taken from directly above just seem clinical. For some reason they just look better when the gun is at an angle, I think its because of how the ambient light reflects off the angled surface. But on the plus side, I do not add a wad of cash, a watch, or a knife to my gun photos, but know its popular to do that too. :rolleyes:

[Acorn Mush]

Well stated, Animal Mother.

[nalioth]

Why do we need another "Why do some hide serial numbers in their pix?" thread? On average, they spawn here at least once a month.

I mean, here's just a few from a perfunctory search:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=512136&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=490440&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=417496&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=295357&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=259215&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=65829&highlight=hide+serial+number

There are many, many more, with permutations of search terms.

[Tommygunn]

The pencil through the TG is just to elevate the gun. It may be done for compositional reasons or for lighting (to avoid light reflections directly back from a light, flat surface).
As for blocking the serial number, some people fear (rightly or wrongly) that some unsavory goons will report a gun missing and use that serial number to "prove" it was theirs. I'm not sure this is a realistic fear in most casses .... I've always felt it might be more likely if someone had a grudge against a person who they found on the 'net and used this to harass them.
I've never heard of being done .... but that doesn't mean it has never been done, and stories tend to multiply once they go viral on the net, and thus we see hidden serial nos. all over the place.

[junkman_01]

Why do we need another "Why do some hide serial numbers in their pix?" thread? On average, they spawn here at least once a month.

I mean, here's just a few from a perfunctory search:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=512136&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=490440&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=417496&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=295357&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=259215&highlight=hide+serial+number
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=65829&highlight=hide+serial+number

There are many, many more, with permutations of search terms.
I think we need it talked about in the Black powder shooting section. NONE of your references is here where I dwell ( I hardly ever go to the other sections, so I could care less what is posted there). I do believe it is an unfounded fear. Almost everyone uses an alias on this forum, so there is a modicum of anonymity.
I think sticking something in the trigger guard actually detracts from an otherwise good photo.

[nalioth]

I think we need it talked about in the Black powder shooting section.I disagree.

The vast majority of black powder guns are not regulated¹ in this country. No serial numbers are required by federal law for these.


[1] Some modern designed black powder guns that can accept a barrel chambered in a modern cartridge are regulated.

[arcticap]

I think sticking something in the trigger guard actually detracts from an otherwise good photo...Cameras WILL work in the vertical position you know!

When taking photos of a gun with the action open, it becomes necessary to prop the gun up somehow. The barrel can be propped up on a box, or a pistol stand or a gun rest can be used too. But nothing is quite as easy to present an attractive and useful photo angle as putting a safe non-marring item in the trigger guard to prop it up.
For instance, photos of the back of a DA revolver's swing out cylinder, the feed ramp, chamber, ejection port and bolt face of a semi-auto pistol, the nipple area and top side of a BP rifle, the comb of a stock, the stamping on the barrel, the muzzle crown, butt plate etc... Propping it up simply allows for a better angle and view to be taken of the entire length of the rifle so that it can fit and be seen in the photo. Photos of some features just aren't possible unless the gun can be made to stand up somehow.
Photos are much like any work of art and their beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The angles of the photos can really enhance the beauty and qualities of the gun, and they usually do need some help to stand up.

[junkman_01]

Articap,

In my opinion, propping up this ROA does nothing to enhance this photo....

http://jjusczyk.smugmug.com/Guns/roa/IMG5360DxO2/1200461142_U6HXX-L.jpg

[junkman_01]

I disagree.

The vast majority of black powder guns are not regulated¹ in this country. No serial numbers are required by federal law for these.


[1] Some modern designed black powder guns that can accept a barrel chambered in a modern cartridge are regulated.
I know all the federal regulations concerning BP guns, that's why I find it paranoid and it needs to by discussed in the BLACK POWDER SHOOTING section and why I posted it here.

[mykeal]

The fear of having your gun's serial number reported as stolen is real. I'm aware of two incidents like that happening in the past several years (don't recall exactly when they happened). In both cases the owners were unaware their guns had been reported stolen until they attempted to sell them and a LEIN check was done, and in both cases their guns were confiscated. One was returned fairly quickly as the owner had kept a receipt from his original purchase showing it was a new gun when he bought it. As far as I know the other gun was never returned as the owner could not produce proof of ownership; he'd bought it at a show from a dealer he couldn't specify. Both were black powder revolvers.

As far as the other issue - one doesn't want a record of what guns he owns on the internet - that's only as irrational as your fears that the anti-gun forces will someday prevail.

I don't post my gun serial numbers for a completely different reason, however: it's nobody's business. No paranoia, or fear of the government or unscrupulous characters, just the simple fact that there's no good reason why anyone else needs to know that information. Period.

[arcticap]

Articap,

In my opinion, propping up this ROA does nothing to enhance this photo....

The propping up might not be necessary, but I find the photo that you used as an example to be much enhanced by propping it up. The angle allows the target results and the entire gun to be presented in the same frame in a much more "artful" and space saving way.
Again that's a matter of personal taste. I don't find the shotgun shell being used to prop it up to be a distraction or in poor taste. Nor the sepia tone which looks very good.

[junkman_01]

Oh, I like the sepia tone, but the picture would look very good with the gun flat and the entire thing could still be photographed well (if the photographer can keep his feet out of the photo). Some people use pens, magic markers and what not and that looks ridiculous.

[nalioth]

Some people use pens, magic markers and what not and that looks ridiculous.Art is highly subjective.
Thematically, the shotgun shell is more pleasing than a Sharpie.

Were the target annotated with a Sharpie, yeah, that'd make a Sharpie more acceptable, but this target isn't marked at all.

[arcticap]

I use markers because they're plastic and safer than metal, especially when in contact with wood.
I don't particularly care how the props look as long as they're functional.
If I have a black one handy I'll use it.
But what's not to like if it works?
It's not a photo contest.
I know that I would rather buy a gun that was not marked up by using a metal prop than one that was. :neener:

[junkman_01]

You'll do it just to be obstinate. :neener:

[rdstrain49]

It really has been a long winter

[ClemBert]

It's a nice photo but one could ask: What's a shotshell have to do with a ROA and the target results?

For subject matter it makes no logical sense and I would concede that point to junkman_01.

[ClemBert]

It is obvious from this photo that the gentleman loaded a shotshell into his ROA and fired it at the paper target. This is evidenced by the shotshell pattern made in said target. :neener:

[RaiderANV]

The shotshell fits the trigger guard better and the angle does ad depth to the picture. Some folks only have taste in their mouth. Guessin' it has been a long long winter in Florida.

[DoubleDeuce 1]

I have to agree with Animal and Mykeal. The possibilty of someone making your life just a bit more miserable by using your information is very real. There is no sense in hanging out some of your sensitive laundry for some clown to fool with.

As for something to prop up the piece for a better angle, I like the photo of the Ruger. At first I thought it was going to be something like a Rugerized LeMat with the shotgun cartridge:scrutiny:

It is Art, and Art evokes emotion:cool:

[K-Rod]

Why do you care? If you don't like it or think it's not needed, you don't have to do it. As stated already, there's A LOT of threads about these two things already. I don't think it's that important of an issue to start yet another thread about it.

[CajunBass]

I don't think it's that important of an issue to start yet another thread about it.

Nor did you have to read it. The title clearly tells what it's about so it would have been easy to avoid.

[Friendly, Don't Fire!]

Personally, I also find it kind of corny to have something through the trigger guard to photograph the gun.

"Different strokes for different folks" I guess.

[Geneseo1911]

The shadow created by propping the gun up adds a lot of depth to this photo. It also adds "life" to the gun.

[Foto Joe]

The serial number thing is personal preference, just like Crisco vs. lube wads, cornmeal vs. cream of wheat. Personally, a little paranoia can be a good thing, ergo carry guns would be obsolete if we weren't just a little paranoid wouldn't they?

As far as elevating the gun: As might be evidenced from my user name, I took pictures for over two decades, believe it or not I even used real film! I was also in the commercial photo processing business. Part of my business was to help my customers take better images. The happier they were with their pictures, the more pictures they took and the more money I could remove from their checking accounts.

Basic composition rules apply here. If you are taking a picture of your dog or a child, get down on the same level as your subject. People are famous for standing over the top of said dog or child and shooting straight down, in the case of these subjects, it makes the image look unnatural. When taking an image of an inanimate object, what is more important is the background. Shooting vertically down on a gun isn't a bad thing but try not using the kitchen table as a backdrop. Try a tree stump or a piece of fine wood furniture for example.

If you are going to elevate the gun for reasons of lighting for instance, try using something that blends into the theme of the gun. A shotgun shell wouldn't be fired out of an ROA, but maybe using a holster or a box of paper cartridges to lean it up against would provide a better eye appeal. As arcticap said "It's not a photo contest", but if you are interested in photography, why not try to maximize the effect of the image you are taking.

Personally, after spending twenty plus years as a commercial photographer, I don't have much patience with setting up my own shots anymore. I take the picture using whatever I have available to me and get the thing on the server so I can post it. Gone are the days of spending a couple of hours in the studio adjusting lights and taking readings just to get that perfect shot.

Ten years ago, I was doing everything that I could to convince my customers that these new fangled "Digital" cameras just weren't capable of giving the image quality of film. At the time it was true, but I also knew that my days were numbered. Thank God I got out when I did!!

Take the picture that satisfies you and you alone. If we were to actually have a photo contest on the forum, I can assure you we have some outstanding photographers residing here, and I'm not one of them.

[BHP FAN]

I just lay them on the hardwood floor, and my son shoots 'em with the digi.

[BHP FAN]

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af11/hut-man/remingtonset6.jpg

[junkman_01]

Good for you BHP Fan. I like your shots!

[straight-shooter]

How about some playing cards in the shot ?

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd56/straightshooter44/3dd9a086.jpg

[junkman_01]

A pleasing photo. At least there isn't a Sharpie artificially propping up the guns!

[straight-shooter]

I've used any small object that I can "hide" behind/under the gun to prop it up for a nice photo. Much more appealing IMO.

[Shoot The Moon]

It is obvious from this photo that the gentleman loaded a shotshell into his ROA and fired it at the paper target. This is evidenced by the shotshell pattern made in said target. :neener:

ClemBert and rdstrain49 too....

... you made me laugh out loud! :D

Thanks gents, it's been a long day with precious little to laugh about but you two fixed that for me!