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Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits & Vegetables
choltmeier


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Still Life IV (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical(IF)Macro
Location: Minneapolis, MN USA
Date: Jul 25, 2008
Aperture: f/8 -1
ISO: 100
Shutter: 15 s
Galleries: Still Life, Food and Drink
Date Uploaded: Jul 26, 2008

 Fruits and vegetables on my dining room table. I can't believe how bad the dust is on my table! I dusted it multiple times and didn't see it while shooting but it really shows up in the image. I'm sure I'll get ripped on for it by voters. Oh well.

This was a fun one for me because it really forced me to experiment with light. The table sits next to a window, so I had nice natural light coming from the side. I realized it was too strong and needed to be more subtle. I ended up pulling down the white shade, then using big black panels to block out more light, then using more black panels to create a box for the scene so light could only come from a narrow path from the right. This created very diffuse light that brought out the contours of the scene without too much contrast.

Another fun thing I did was to create a vignette (visible mostly on the bottom of the frame). I took a square of construction paper and cut a small hole in the middle. I then held this in front of the lens while the shutter was open to get a vignette so I wouldn't break the basic editing rules. I also tried variations with wax paper to get soft focus but ultimately liked this vignetted shot the best.

I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of still life composition. I've never taken any art history or composition classes. I just arranged the objects to give balance of color, size and shape in a way that seemed pleasing to me. I don't like that there are two cherries front and center... probably should have used three and moved them over to one side a bit.

Post Processing:
(remember... vignette was manual, not in post processing)
Camera raw - exposure, recovery, fill light, blacks, vibrancy, noise reduction, hue adjustments
Color Balance
Photo Filter - Warm
Curves
Levels
Tried B&W and desaturated versions but like full color best
Selective color
Black border
Save for web

Statistics
Place: 37 out of 228
Avg (all users): 5.9091
Avg (commenters): 6.7500
Avg (participants): 5.6607
Avg (non-participants): 6.0250
Views since voting: 1117
Views during voting: 311
Votes: 176
Comments: 7
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Ricoh GR III
Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC
 08/07/2008 11:32:34 PM
Lovely arrangement and light. No mean accomplishment considering the number of fruits/vegetables which have significant tops/stems and bottoms AND having the light do justice to both these features and the textures overall. (Enjoyed your description of getting the natural light right - I prefer natural light and have done a few similar things but not with your thoroughness nor indeed your result). It is just possible that a slight shift in hue from blue to yellow would give this the classic feel that your assemblage suggests. Oh, and I don't notice the dust, but that might be my own survival tactic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM III
 08/04/2008 08:42:29 AM
Wonderful shot, great colours!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm x100
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 07/31/2008 12:28:49 AM
I like the color and composition. Reflection adds interest. Tilt really lowers the impact in my opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
 07/30/2008 07:35:39 PM
I really like having the reflection with this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Leica M Monochrom
Leica 50mm f/2.8 Elmarit M MF - Black
 07/30/2008 02:09:25 PM
Great Still life.. Im not voting just wanted to comment on the select few that got it right IMHO, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-60D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III
 07/30/2008 09:01:55 AM
good sharp image,,, and good colours,, welldone
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 07/30/2008 08:24:14 AM
It is a litle bit to dark
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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