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Homage
Homage
vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Single Light Source IV (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2012 Challenge shots
Date: Jan 19, 2012
Date Uploaded: Jan 19, 2012
[Jan. 26th, 2012 10:17:36 AM]

The reason this is titled homage is that it is a homage to AJHopp.

She is the queen of still lifes, and does truly incredible work.

I saw her picture of pears on a chair on 1x.com, and thought it was spectacular, and I wanted to use it to learn lighting.

If I get an idea from somewhere, I really try to change it up and come up with my own twist. I didn't on this one, because I wanted to study the light.

It was a fascinating experience!!

I used a single 430 exII flash with a honeycomb grid (that I got for Christmas and really don't quite know how to use :) off to the right (as looking at the picture), controlled by the 580 EXII on the camera. Boy did I learn a lot!

1. Even though I turned the 580 off in the menu so that it wasn't contributing to the light -- it did. It added a small amount of light to the front of the scene.

2. So I adjusted the head so that it was pointing away from the scene, but that the other flash still saw it. This time the extra light bounced off the wall and added light to the scene.

3. Then I adjusted the head so that it pointed at the floor, and put a black blanket on the floor so that it wouldn't reflect. That worked!

(do I need radio triggers to be able to really use just one light source?)

4. There still was too much light on the left side (as looking at the picture), so I held up a black blanket when taking the shot. Sure enough, the flash has been reflecting off the wall and adding more light on the left. Black blanket fixed it.

5. Even with the grid, there was still too much light hitting the background, so I held up a piece of cardboard behind the flash, that made a difference, as well.

Notes: I was too close to the pears -- it would have been much better to have a wider scene.

I think I learned more on this challenge than I have for a long time. What a great opportunity to study light from a master! (Although, if I remember correctly, she uses natural lighting. But what an extraordinary talent!)

Statistics
Place: 9 out of 86
Avg (all users): 6.4375
Avg (commenters): 7.1429
Avg (participants): 6.2174
Avg (non-participants): 6.5610
Views since voting: 1639
Views during voting: 257
Votes: 128
Comments: 14
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 01/28/2012 12:15:36 PM
Beautifully low key. Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR
 01/27/2012 01:16:42 PM
After reading your comments (and thank you for those) I was surprised to see that wasn't natural light... to me it has the feel of evening light kissing a window near by.. GREAT JOB and congrats on the Top 10!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 01/27/2012 11:22:59 AM
This was my fave of the challenge, Wendy. Congrats on Top Ten!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED
 01/27/2012 11:16:50 AM
I really like this Wendy and thanks for sharing your lighting information.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 01/27/2012 12:29:10 AM
Wonderful homage, Wendy. Don't you just love it when a challenge makes you learn so much!?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS R6
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 01/26/2012 04:08:40 PM
Excellent textures in this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 01/26/2012 08:36:10 AM
There really is no better fruit for a still life is there? maybe grapes, but still, you have achieved perfect lighting here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 01/24/2012 12:28:13 PM
Nice composition and color choice. In my top 3 picks!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 01/23/2012 01:10:27 PM
Cool still life.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 01/20/2012 08:50:31 PM
Classic
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Leica SL
Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black
 01/20/2012 02:55:21 PM
As an AJHopp fan - I appreciate the effort.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 01/20/2012 02:12:08 PM
love the simplicity
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 01/20/2012 12:02:24 PM
I love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 01/20/2012 09:39:59 AM
I really do love this shot, and it's texture is just edible. Well done! 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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