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This wasn't shot in a light box. Rather on a baseboard, then the background material draped over the surface. My second attempt, which initially I was fairly satisfied with. I appreciate that it's not going to set the 'Still-Life' world alight, but I learned a lot, simply arranging pieces and getting them to stay where I put them.
A mixture of natural light from a window, a strobe, reflectors and modifiers.
It may well be over-sharpened. I'm aware of that. An error on my part.
Whilst I've primarily achieved what I set out to do with the set-up, I would appreciate any advice, wisdom, direction.
Thanks
Shot on Manual settings
If I remember correctly, f10
| Brand: | NIKON CORPORATION |
| Camera: | Nikon D300  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | Nikon 28-85mm F3.5-4.5 AF-D |
| Recording media: | JPEG (digital) |
| Date Taken: | 6 Feb 2012 - 3:14 PM |
| Focal Length: | 38mm |
| Lens Max Aperture: | f/3.6 |
| Aperture: | f/10.0 |
| Shutter Speed: | 1.3sec |
| Exposure Comp: | 0.0 |
| ISO: | 200 |
| Exposure Mode: | Manual |
| Metering Mode: | Multi-segment |
| Flash: | No Flash |
| Title: | Veg Prep |
| Username: | 
strokebloke |
| Uploaded: | 8 Feb 2012 - 10:20 AM |
| Tags: | Flash / lighting, General, Humour / fun, Learning, Still life |
| VS Mode Rating |
102 (100% 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) |
Comments
It looks horrible on my PC at home.
Just goes to show how much images may loose sharpness due to uploading.
I made the mistake of putting it back into PS after I'd finished with it, just to check I'd done something & thought 'I'll just check it's still sharp before closing' & clicked the OK tab instead of Cancel at too high a setting. No going back I'm afraid - Merged Image. 
Thank you each, for your encouragement. Much appreciated 
great bright clean image full of true colours and IMHO not oversharpened at all
well worth the effort
Graham
Not much to moan about with this one. The sharpening looks ok on my monitor. Light wise, it looks like you have upped the saturation on a fairly colourless image, not too much of a problem, but it isn't easy to balance different light sources and this looks a little orange to me. Better to start with only one light source first and use reflectors, rather than over-complicate things.
My only real gripe is the onion bag with the label. I think it would have been better without it, and the bottle might be better upright, or not there and replaced with a carrot! Maybe lose the pestle and mortar as well, as it doesn't really fit with the theme. A work in progress again, really, but mainly a matter of opinion as to what works and what doesn't.
For still lifes, less is often more.
Nick
I do like a good arrangement of vegetables but this is certainly not a good one. The onion should be taken out of the bag, I do not see the need for having offensive knifes in the frame and the oil is not needed. Plus the image seems to lack any real mood, it is flat and boring. I am new to this game too and also have lots to learn so i suppose it is good to see other people on here just starting out.
Well, thank you for your observations Rupert, and welcome to ePz.
You are going to be a riot on the site, I'm sure.
Looks good to me Jack. It's nice and bright with a variety of colours and textures. I agree with Nick about losing the pestle and mortar though. It looks a bit out of place both compositionally and with the theme of veg prep. Plus the oversharpening is apparent in the grain of the wood.
On the oversharpening point I have finally managed to get my workflow sorted out after what seems like many years of not getting it quite right. I leave my raw file pretty much untouched, then save my main work as a photoshop file with all the layers. when I want to do an output version, either digital or print, I take the photoshop file flatten the layers and save it as either a tiff or jpeg then apply the sharpening. That way if you balls up the sharpening you can always go back to the photoshop file and have another go.
Best wishes
Catherine
Thank you Catherine.
Yes, you and Nick are right. The mortar and pestle are destined for another shot - certainly out of place here.
I think Nicks obs about the oil is equally valid.
I wanted some liquid included, to get some refracted lines. Should have been saved for a more appropriate shot. All part of the learning.
And well spotted with the oak end grain (and elm) - that's where over-sharpening always shows itself first.
I like the sound of your workflow. It does allow for necessary corrections, doesn't it?
I'll save that into a file and have a try with it.
The sharpening looks just right on my monitor, as you say, it does loose a bit on uploading. What a fabulous improvement you have made from the bottle and glasses, Well done. Ann
Thank you Anne.
In between the initial bottle/glasses and this, I re-shot the bottle/glasses for a second time, which Willie approved of It's in my Pf.
He did like your Grunge, didn't he?
An office theme tomorrow. Have had a go at back-lighting.
That'll make you chuckle
Well, Jack, at first glance I thought this was fine, you have round shapes echoed, different elements included with the wood and metal and glass, an arrangement that looks random and fairly unstaged, a variety of colours, and a good background. My only little niggle is the oil bottle, which I think needs to be upright. I also think the bottom knife is superfluous, and isn't immediately obvious. I hadn't thought about the onion net until it was mentioned above, and am torn here because the net adds that touch of red that I like. The pestle and mortar look good to me and, as said, another element with different texture.
Pamela.
The bottom knife is a potato peeler. I thought it was pertinent.
You know me Pamela.
Get the apparently offensive knife standing in clear view and the peeler hidden in amongst the sprouts
What is clear is that I have a very diverse body of opinion. All of it valued and noted. And I appreciate every piece of it.
You took the label off of the scotch then . . . ?
Seriously, As you know, I'm no expert in this field but to me layman's eyes, this looks really good.
As you also know, I'm an expert on sharpening and this really doesn't look desperately over-done. There is some evidence in the grain in the wood but you're probably seeing more of it than is really there. Certainly in the uploaded version anyway.
I don't have a problem with the inclusion of either the offensive knife or the spud peeler. We have a knife, very similar to that one, which lives on the kitchen work surface. It never sees the inside of a drawer so to me, it belongs there. We don't put the spud peeler away much either.
I tend to agree with Pamela re. the onion net. It looks OK as it is and it does add some more colour. Or as Nick says; perhaps lose the label.
The only thing that I would definitely change would be to position the oil somewhere so that it's standing up.
Hope this helps!
Bren.
Ok.
I'll be honest.
You'll probably all crease yourselves laughing, but ........ hey, it won't be the first time.
I included the bottle of oil because, as I've already said, I wanted some liquid included so that I could have some refraction.
I laid it down, in the manner that it is, because I wanted it to look as if the bottle had tipped over, into the colander, which had then spilled it's contents all over the table.
That was the scheme running through the, admittedly perverse and besotted, portion of grey matter between my ears that I euphemistically refer to as my mind.
As an excuse, I'm afraid that's the best I can do at this time in the evening. Sorry
I promise that I will try harder next time.
Tomorrow. ~ Office gear
Do you really think it would have that much amber liquid in it, if it was really Scotch?
C'mon Bren. You know me better than that.
Quote: admittedly perverse and besotted, portion of grey matter between my ears........
Remember?
Good recent Blogs, BTW
Quote: I wont say anymore until you comment on the mod, - just in case....
You've got me worried now Willie. In case I've done something horribly wrong.
But
Quote: And yes, - it will be fun...
suggests that I may not have done
Oh dear.
Second confession (first Bren, now you - I'll be a reformed character if I'm not careful)
There is a colour cast. It was shot on a white mountboard base with a white muslin background - the BG draped over the base.
When I put it in PS I was a bit worried about the stainless steel colander and the knife looking blown out in amongst all of the white.
So I did put some colour into it, based on the objects rather than the BG/base.
What have I missed?
What have I done or not done?
I can't stand the suspense I need to know Willie
I shan't go to bed now until you reply.
Please don't leave it to the morning
It looks best without the colour cast jack, as knife blades should not be toned, - looks strange. I just used a little of the highlight tool to tone down bright spots, - otherwise I think it looks better as modded.
What do you think?
If you were worried about the colander, use that highlight tool rather than toning.
Willie
I do like the white BG. Given a choice, I will often gravitate toward a white BG
I did when I first looked at the shot in PS.
But then I start to mentally try to balance what I think is right/looks good/looks right, with advice I've already received on other shots, whether of a similar content or composition, or not. That is the point where I cease to behave intuitively.
I was not, and still am not, if I'm honest, sure about the rim of the colander and the blade of the knife.
The jury (in my head) is still out at the moment Willie
I guess I'm learning as much about me as I am about photography, still life or anything else I'm attempting at the moment.
It's a bit unnerving. Sometimes I feel secure in what I'm doing, sometime I feel as if I'm floundering somewhat.
A bit like walking on thin ice, at times fun; but in a slightly insecure manner
I'm sure I'll get there. It's just that I've had 45 years of being at, or near, the top of my own professional 'tree'. Structural Engineering.
And now I'm right at the bottom of a 'tree' I know little or nothing about. Essentially artistic & often not remotely technological.
I do sincerely appreciate your patience and commitment to help me and advise, Willie.
Sometimes enjoyment comes spontaneously Willie, and sometimes you have to work hard for it.
I, like Ann and several others on this site, have had numerous years fighting back from virtually a mortal blow. But it's worth it.
If I can be as good a photographer as Ann, I'll be satisfied. Then, I'll see where I go from there: probably nowhere else.
I don't mind hard work, so long as I know that the results are going to be worth it.
And in this case I feel confident that they are. I'll never be a Bailey or a Litchfield, Willie, but that was never the target.
Friendship is infinitely more important than photography, and I appreciate it greatly on ePz.
Jack
This one has got everyone going! A very nice image in my opinion. The lighting is extremely even and well balanced, but warm. However, I think warm is good in general, giving a good feeling. What makes you notice is that Sprouts are rather greener than here unless they are old.
Paul
Quote: This one has got everyone going
It has, hasn't it Paul?
Thanks for your contribution. Much appreciated
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