Nice picture. To me, still lifes like this are a bit of a cliche---nonetheless, it is very well done ************************** Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif. Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
Nice, but the red background seems too much. The oranges in shadow are almost lost against that background - something to give more contrast may have helped?
Dunno about 'kind', but I'll give it a shot. Technically, the shot looks fine to me, but IMO, it has lots of artistic problems: (1) IMO, the red background clashes horribly with most of the fruit. (2) The sideboard or table is very distracting. Try putting it on something bigger, & perhaps use a nice tablecloth. (3) The lack of variety in the fruit makes for a fairly boring set of colours. How about adding some bananas & purple grapes, to give it some some colour? (4) The tray badly needs polishing. Bright silver & the resulting reflections would probably add interest to the picture as well.
-- W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
With apologies, I don't like this picture much, for the following reasons:
o The lighting is a bit bland. I think single light source images have to be stronger in order to be effective. I would have preferred an additional light source or reflector to provide some fill in the shadow areas to the left side of the image.
o The exposure isn't optimal -- the highlights on the fruit are a bit washed out, and there is no detail in the shadow areas.
o I'm not sure that the placement of the light source is optimal either.
o Unlike other viewers, I don't mind the red background, but it is flat & uninteresting. I would have preferred some more things going on, like some draped fabric or the corner of a picture or something.
o The composition is totally random and is not very interesting to me. I think a more careful arrangement of objects would have been called for. There's no "story" here, meaning that I get no sense of space or lifestyle or ambience.
o Your choice of lenses is a bit questionable: the top tier of the servicing piece is photographed edge on, but the bottom tier is a bit from above and appears more oval than the top tier. I would think that if you are going to photograph that serving dish edge on, I would have used a telephoto lens from a greater distance.
Still life studies look simple & easy but in reality are very difficult. It's difficult to arrange your objects in a meaningful manner. There is no excuse for not having precise lighting & composition.
I most definitely applaud your interest & willingness to try, and I encourage you to continue your explorations. Most especially, I congratulate you on your willingness to obtain feedback from strangers like me (who may or may not be qualified). Please continue. My suggestions:
o Take your time in arranging your composition. o Carefully craft your lighting. Light & shadows are important in suggesting a third dimension to your objects, but every shadow should be complimented with a highlight or an edge.
Carry on.
On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 15:38:49 -0500, "Vindrew" <some...@microsoft.com> wrote:
I feel that the image has been over-sharpened (as can be seen around the very top of the tray) and I'm finding it very difficult to see where it's actually in focus? Just my viewpoint, but you did ask for comments! Richard
"Vindrew" <some...@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> o The lighting is a bit bland. I think single light source images > have to be stronger in order to be effective. I would have > preferred an additional light source or reflector to provide > some fill in the shadow areas to the left side of the image.
> o The exposure isn't optimal -- the highlights on the fruit are > a bit washed out, and there is no detail in the shadow > areas.
> o I'm not sure that the placement of the light source is > optimal either.
> o Unlike other viewers, I don't mind the red background, > but it is flat & uninteresting. I would have preferred some > more things going on, like some draped fabric or the > corner of a picture or something.
> o The composition is totally random and is not very interesting > to me. I think a more careful arrangement of objects would > have been called for. There's no "story" here, meaning that > I get no sense of space or lifestyle or ambience.
> o Your choice of lenses is a bit questionable: the top tier of > the servicing piece is photographed edge on, but the > bottom tier is a bit from above and appears more oval than > the top tier. I would think that if you are going to photograph > that serving dish edge on, I would have used a telephoto > lens from a greater distance.
> Still life studies look simple & easy but in reality are very > difficult. It's difficult to arrange your objects in a meaningful > manner. There is no excuse for not having precise lighting & > composition.
> I most definitely applaud your interest & willingness to try, and I > encourage you to continue your explorations. Most especially, I > congratulate you on your willingness to obtain feedback from strangers > like me (who may or may not be qualified). Please continue. My > suggestions:
> o Take your time in arranging your composition. > o Carefully craft your lighting. Light & shadows are > important in suggesting a third dimension to your > objects, but every shadow should be complimented > with a highlight or an edge.
> Carry on.
> On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 15:38:49 -0500, "Vindrew" <some...@microsoft.com> > wrote:
> Dunno about 'kind', but I'll give it a shot. Technically, the shot looks > fine to me, but IMO, it has lots of artistic problems: > (1) IMO, the red background clashes horribly with most of the fruit. > (2) The sideboard or table is very distracting. Try putting it on > something bigger, & perhaps use a nice tablecloth. > (3) The lack of variety in the fruit makes for a fairly boring set of > colours. How about adding some bananas & purple grapes, to give it some > some colour? > (4) The tray badly needs polishing. Bright silver & the resulting > reflections would probably add interest to the picture as well.
> -- > W > . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because > \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est > ---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
Casey- Have you tried posting a picture? I took a chance and as a beginner, I welcome this wonderful feedback. It is like taking my own private course. Thanks again everyone! I will be taking this guidance and coming back with more if you can bare it! ;o)
> I wish I could get critiques like this on my nature pictures. > "This Guy Here" <lookn...@ixnetcom.com (put a "." between the "x" & the > "n")> wrote in message news:88d6uvs5tnojie1ntp6kn1n0h74htf09g1@4ax.com... > > With apologies, I don't like this picture much, for the following > > reasons:
> > o The lighting is a bit bland. I think single light source images > > have to be stronger in order to be effective. I would have > > preferred an additional light source or reflector to provide > > some fill in the shadow areas to the left side of the image.
> > o The exposure isn't optimal -- the highlights on the fruit are > > a bit washed out, and there is no detail in the shadow > > areas.
> > o I'm not sure that the placement of the light source is > > optimal either.
> > o Unlike other viewers, I don't mind the red background, > > but it is flat & uninteresting. I would have preferred some > > more things going on, like some draped fabric or the > > corner of a picture or something.
> > o The composition is totally random and is not very interesting > > to me. I think a more careful arrangement of objects would > > have been called for. There's no "story" here, meaning that > > I get no sense of space or lifestyle or ambience.
> > o Your choice of lenses is a bit questionable: the top tier of > > the servicing piece is photographed edge on, but the > > bottom tier is a bit from above and appears more oval than > > the top tier. I would think that if you are going to photograph > > that serving dish edge on, I would have used a telephoto > > lens from a greater distance.
> > Still life studies look simple & easy but in reality are very > > difficult. It's difficult to arrange your objects in a meaningful > > manner. There is no excuse for not having precise lighting & > > composition.
> > I most definitely applaud your interest & willingness to try, and I > > encourage you to continue your explorations. Most especially, I > > congratulate you on your willingness to obtain feedback from strangers > > like me (who may or may not be qualified). Please continue. My > > suggestions:
> > o Take your time in arranging your composition. > > o Carefully craft your lighting. Light & shadows are > > important in suggesting a third dimension to your > > objects, but every shadow should be complimented > > with a highlight or an edge.
> > Carry on.
> > On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 15:38:49 -0500, "Vindrew" <some...@microsoft.com> > > wrote:
