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This is the same goblet that I uploaded prior to Christmas day.
Subject to the comment and advice I received then, I have retaken shots of the goblet, hopefully having learned something from the critique and advice provided.
The shots taken again in the workshop, but with a different background
Each version is the result of varying exposure compensation & backlighting the background.
V1 has been placed upon a new white canvas & framed and is a fairly accurate colour of the finished article.
The cut & paste and crop of V1, and the crop of V2&3, is the only alteration work done in PC CS4.
In all other respects each one is 'straight out of the camera'.
| Brand: | NIKON |
| Camera: | Nikon D300  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | Nikkor 18-200mm VR  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Title: | Tudor goblet in English Oak |
| Username: | 
strokebloke |
| Uploaded: | 26 Dec 2011 - 5:35 PM |
| Tags: | Flash / lighting, General, Learning Lighting, Oak Tudor Goblet, Specialist / abstract |
| VS Mode Rating |
99 (0% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
 | Variant - Before and After |
Comments
I don't know what has happened to the EXIF. I did complete it and intended it to be available.
Here it is 
Nikon D300 with 18-200 3.5-5.6 VR AF-D lens
On a tripod this time Paul 
Exp Comps -1.3 & -1.7
Better composition this time and both 1 and 2 are quite good. There seems to be a motif of something on the top left of the goblet in V1 - not sure what that is. V3 is too dark. As you say, most EXIF missing - I'm not sure why, but none of these are actually crisp in sharpness? Is it movement even with a tripod - you are using delayed action or remote release I assume - and the depth of field is very tight suggesting a wide aperture
This type of shot, for me, needs biting sharpness, and for some reason it is just off.
Paul.
Hello Paul,
yes on a tripod, with a weight attached to prevent any movement.
A 6 second delay on the shutter. Admittedly not taken 'mirror-up', but I'd have thought with 6 seconds that wouldn't be adverse. Would it?
Inside the workshop, so no air movement that I was aware of.
So I'm afraid I've no answer to that Paul.
To me, they look tack-sharp; but I'll gladly take your word [and experience] for the assertion that they're not.
However, I have no idea how to improve on them now.
The 'motif' is actually a small cluster of knotted grain.
Quote: V3 is too dark
V3 is exactly the 'glassy semi-silhouette' that I said in the original upload I really love. (it floats my boat ~ obviously sinks yours 
)
None of them are yet as good as Pamela's mod on the last upload
Hi Jack,
I've had a go at some adjustments to these and I really don't think that I can do any better than you have.
I have, however uploaded a couple of mods. of V3. I tried adjusting it using the "fill light" tool in Lightroom but it just made it, well, lighter! Just like using levels.
So, using the same tool, I went in the opposite direction.
Not quite what you were after, I'm sure but certainly an alternative.
Bren.
Thanks for looking at them in CS5. I will be delighted if someone comes along and says 'this is how you get them 'biting sharp'.'
Interesting Mod Bren. Almost abstract. It doesn't so much float my boat as make it hover
It'll be interesting to see what PamelaJean makes of it ~ she is the Queen of abstract.
V5 is PamelaJean's Mod from the 1st upload, which I have discarded, following this 2nd [hopefully improved] upload.
I couldn't possibly have discarded PJ's mod. It's far too good. So it becomes V5
You flatterer, Jack. It's just what I need at the moment, though (will PM you).
I like your montage, that's the one that floats MY boat.
Pamela.
I've done a mod and it is sharper. You seem to be doing everything right and I never use mirror lock up. I've sharpened in CS3. You are using your lens in it's sweet region? Close up and strong detail will test any lens to it's limit, even Nikon and Canon and you should be aiming at f8, f11 depending on your lens. I suspect there is the tiniest bit of lens blur and that is what I am seeing.
I needed to try as I was beginning to wonder if it was the finish on the goblet that made it look slightly out. I'm afraid I get a bit over critical on sharpness - a fault of mine due to years of using a Sinar 5x4 to photograph steel micro-structures.
There is nothing wrong with your lighting, although I'm not keen on the darker ones. Bit too dark for me.
Paul
You're absolutely right Paul. Your mod is sharper, isn't it?
Because the EXIF disappeared, I have just looked on PIE, and the shots were taken with a variety of stop settings, from f6.3 to f11
I did originally take a number of shots and eliminated them into 'possibles' and 'probables' folders, before making the final selection.
So without going back through every shot I'm uncertain what the f stop was for each selected shot.
So I think you may have hit the nail on the head with your statement :-
Quote: .... you should be aiming at f8, f11 depending on your lens
I suspect the lack of 'bite' is the result of me not using the correct stop setting. Thank you.
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