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baking, brownie, brownies, camera, coffee, depth of field, food, HDR, landscape mode, latte, orchids, photography, Photos, portrait mode, postaday, setting up, still life, symmetry, walnuts
I baked. Yes, I did. I made up a batch of Fiona’s brownies. They are good brownies, among some of the best I’ve ever had. They are so moist. I add walnuts to them, I like brownies with walnuts, if that’s OK!
So it doesn’t look that great on the plate, but it was great, or so my daughter tells me, who stole it when I was looking at what I had to taken to see if it was enough.
I wanted this image to be about the brownie and the other stuff, while it is there, not distract too much from brownie. I used a short depth of field to help ensure that everything else would be out of focus. I also had the camera on spot metering and spot focusing so I could put it on the brownie and make sure it was in focus and everything behind it, not.
i decided that the image needed something else, a third something. I tried moving the coffee over to the right and added a vase that was on the table with an orchid in that that was given to me on Valentines Day.
Again, the focus was on the brownie, and while the other things are out of focus you can still tell what they are. I think the symmetry works better, the triangle of the objects.
I put the camera into portrait mode because I wanted the flower to be in the image. It wouldn’t work in landscape mode, it would have comprised the brownie. This works a lot better.
I was concerned that the pink/purple of the orchid may be distracting, as it does seem the only real colour in the image, or rather the only different colour to the rest. However, I think the circular action you have of going up the vase over the orchid and then down to the coffee, which is out of focus and then you land on the brownie nicely in focus. The brownie has also been lightened more than the rest of the image, and that also makes it more attractive.
Can you tell the difference between this version and the previous one?
Well there isn’t much. I did notice that the other one is crooked. The camera was on an angle. I don’t mind the angle, but with the one above I thought I would straighten the camera up.
The other things in the image have changed a little, one of the things I’ve noticed also is that the flower in the vase doesn’t stand out as much, that is better.
I quite like these images. There is something about them that I find I really like and can’t stop looking at them. I do love it when you take some images and you are really attracted to them. I wonder what they would look like if they were blown up and printed?
Do I need to mention that all the images are HDR? I pushed it a lot more and tried to make them more exaggerated. I really do need to spend some more time looking at some tutorials and working out what else I can do. Back to study for me.
As an aside, I’ve used my camera for the last two days and there hasn’t been any problems with it. I wonder if it is something that will only happen occasionally, and inconveniently, or if it was a strange combination of the conditions, the time and what not and won’t happen again. I haven’t heard back from the camera place, so I still have no idea.
I like the last two ones for different reasons…. in the second to last, my eyes get guided from the brownie to the coffee to the orchid (which is gorgeous by the way!!!)… Also, because of the DOF in this photo everything is clear & probably takes the focus away from the brownie??
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In the last photo the focus is clearly on the brownie (&the brownie alone), the coffee and orchid helps with the shot, but does not take anything away from the brownie!!! So I can’t choose my favourite!! Great example of composition!!!
Sooo glad your camera hasn’t given any more troubles – fingers crossed that it stays this way!!!
Thanks Xandre, I know what you mean, I think the last two work for different reasons. I quite like the angle that the 3rd image was taken on, but I think as a composition the last works best.
I am sooo happy too, hopefully it will stay working.
You made me hungry for brownies, so I’d say the shots ‘worked’
I like the second-to-last shot best; I don’t think the color in the orchid detracts at all, and the composition is nice and tight.
Did you make yourself some? I love brownies, though they are relatively new to Australia. When I was growing up we saw people on tv eating them, but had no real idea what they were, of course we just use the internet now to find a recipe, mine came a friend, hers are the best.
I like the way the image isn’t straight in that one. The odd angle seems to work. Thanks.
The last one is the best of the lot, the depth of field works better in it. The HDR looks much better in these images than the previous attempts.
On a side note, can I have some?
Thank you, I really tried to push the HDR a lot more. I’ve been seeing some really interesting shots from other people and think some of the things they do could work with these.
Sure you can have some. There are still some left. Haha.
Hello Leanne,
It looks like you are using HDR as a sole editing option. Photomatix gives you a base to work from which then allows you to correct your image in CS5, lightroom or what ever you use.
Did you want that much yellow in your photos? Did you want the coffee to look grey ish or like dish washing water??
Still not using a tripod either on that one? Ghosting….
If I can allow myself a slight bit of a critical eye, not that I am worth much but, I am not sure what to look at when I look at your examples above. It looks like the composition is a bit out and the main item (Brownie) especially in the portrait scape does not stand out!!
Anyway, it is your vision as an artist and there is no much more to say about that.
Cheers,
A
I don’t use Photomatix, I have it but haven’t started using it yet. I convert in photoshop and then I edit in photoshop. All these images have some degree of editing. They are what I wanted to achieve at this point. I am after something particular, but am still working out what it is I want. Though what everyone else is doing with photoshop is not necessarily what I’m after either.
I did use a tripod, as I do with all my indoor shots.
I’m sorry you don’t see what you were looking for, though everyone else seems to have seen it. I was moderately happy with these. It is a work in progress.
Good stuff!
Where does the ghosting come from?
Are you using your finger to depress the shutter button? My advice is use the timer it will prevent any unwanted camera movements… Better again get a remote control.
Once again it is your vision as an artist and there is no much more to say about that.
You like it and it is the most important.
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