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Critiques [Translate]
- eyesthetix
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2212 W: 121 N: 1899]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(7883) - [2008-10-01 7:52]
- [+]
Hi Richard,
splendid still life composition.
The subdued light together with the chiaroscuro have given this a very appealing quality.
very good detail too.
Well done.
Best regards, Daniel
Hello Richard,
Nice 'Still Life composition', reminds of all great paintings, especially because of the lighting and...dark tones :)
There's only one thing - all those 'sparkles' on one of the tomatoes... In my opinion they're quite distracting here...
Anyway, I really like your idea and presentation.
Best,
Iza
a very fruitful experiment here, Richard. i like the outcome on the sliced tomatoes with the lighting effect. the composition is no less great; comparatively to the tomatoes, the garlic looks like a pumpkin. i agree with you on the switching from aperture priority to fully manual.
TFS
regards
Agoes
Such a tasty post :) Very nice still life! I would love to try this but I lack the imagination and ability to display. You've done a great job in both areas. I really like that the image is dark. I'm shocked that it was just ordinary lighting as it looks very professional! TFS
Hi Richard
The texture and the colours of the garlic are spot on, like a painting, you feel you can almost pick this from the screen.
There are a few white spots in the foreground but this is just in the marble. On my monitor there appears to be some black streaks on the front tomatoes, do not know if this has come from the reflection of the marble.
Keep on experimenting.
Regards Derek
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- rewshearer
(15887)
- [2008-10-01 11:26]
- [+]
Well it's dark. That was the first thing that struck me - and so for initial impact it was a little underwhelming.
Initial impact is only part of a photo's appeal, of course (although on TrekLens, with the sheer number of shots, it often weighs too heavily on the appraisal, so a lot of shots that deserve appreciation simply don't get it ... while sunsets and pretty reflections score so well.)
On longer examination there is a certain richness to the shot. The arrangement of the garlic, tomatoes etc, is nicely done, the backdrop works well and the lighting is overall pretty good.
I admit I don't think the 'sparkles' on that cut tomato work so well, a few dabs with a paper towele would've fixed that, and even after lengthy examination I still think, 'it's too dark.' It doesn't need to be cheerful daylight-bright, but definitely brighter than this!
Rew
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- toucan1967
(4573)
- [2008-10-01 12:09]
- [+]
Hi Richard,
This is certainly something different for you, I like the composition here, everything is perfectly positioned, the shot seems a little dark as there seems to be leaves or something infront of the sliced tomato that is hard to identify, I think maybe a slightly more open aperture or maybe another second or two on exposure might have sorted this, the cut tomato has some light reflections that maybe you could have removed in PP or by slightly changing the angle against the light.
A good experiment though well thought out.
Regards Andy
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- brunorsantana
(1131)
- [2008-10-01 12:16]
- [+]
Hello, Richard!
It´s different indeed, but it´s a beautiful
composition!! The dark BG is great!
Congratulations and TFS!
Abraços,
Bruno
HI K-A,
I'm sure there are several painters who would like to paint a still life of your photo. The dark tones, interesting shapes, make a nice composition.
I like your "hi-tech" studio. I do the same thing!
thanks for sharing... I'm hungry now. Lisa
Hello, Richard.
I am very impressed with this one. Tomatoes, garlic and, of course, basil! I'm not sure I can quite make out the peppercorns. It has a Rembrandt-like appearance to it - lovely and dark yet with exquisite detail and clarity. The exposure is spot-on and the colours are perfect.
Like Derek (Derona) I did notice some streaks on the two (whole) tomatoes and am not quite sure the reason for that. Do you think it might be anything to do with using such a small aperture as f/32? Although depth-of-field increases with decreasing aperture size, I believe other aberrations as well as reduced resolution come into play when apertures become very small. Just a thought.
In fact, what lighting did you use? Perhaps that has something to do with this apparent aberration.
Anyway, enough of criticism and smart remarks. This is a fine picture and well worth all the praise it has received thus far.
Kind Regards,
John.
Richard,
At the risk of you thinking I am attacking you, I have to say this is a bit dark for my taste. I know you intended it to be dark but don't see where it would be visible in a low-lit restaurant. I think the composition is well done and it had all the "ingredients" for a great photo but the lighting.
I know not every photo needs to be bright and cheery but even with my brightview monitor, it's dark. Usually it shows things really bright when they are not, but not in this case. I do like the black background. Did you invent it?
I guess the true test would be to spend a couple of bucks to have a small (full page, I don't know what you guys call an 8x10) printed by a commercial printer.
Either that or calibrate your monitor to commercial standards.
Really, this shot has some promise....but with "some" light it could be a prize!
Scott
- peterhanington
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 33 W: 133 N: 64]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/s-g-g.gif)
(406) - [2008-10-01 18:00]
- - [workshop] [compare] [+]
Hi Richard..
I echo Scott's comments - I find the image too dark to be fully appreciated. I have done a WS in which I have tried to improve the luminosity of the image without detracting from your work.
Peter
.....................................................................Lest anyone mistake my intentions, my WS is not intended to be a criticism of Richard's image, but is offered as an alternative only in respect of light levels and colour. In the latter regard (colour), I believe I made a mistake by reviving colours in PhotoFiltre as, in doing so, the Rembrandt-like tones and lighting of the original are debased.
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- HeadlessGuy
(1358)
- [2008-10-01 19:14]
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Thats it Richard. You can no longer claim to only do snap shot.
You used back drop, lighting, composition through model placement and a tripod. This is NOT just point and shoot :D
I'm just going to comment on a two things I think could be improved.
To me, on my monitor, there looks to be some colour noise in the shadows.
To me, on my monitor, it looks a bit on the yellow side.
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- machinelove
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1145 W: 46 N: 2924]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(12796) - [2008-10-01 19:24]
- - [workshop] [compare] [+]
I like the arrangement of items you composed here Richard.
My first impression wasn't so much that it was dark, but rather that the contrast levels were off. Meaning that a histogram of the image would reveal next to no high end.
So I imported the image into CS3 and that was indeed the case. So I played with the levels a bit.
Hope you don't mind Richard, I also tried to "heal" the OE sparkles you were getting. Boosetd the color too and added a blue Photo Filter. Probabaly would have come out better if I was using the original RAW or large JPG. Hope that's ok. I like the shot and you inspired me to play with it a bit.
- Vincent
I love the compo and the rich dark colors here but there are some ugly stripes/scratches (more visible on the tomatoes. The sparkles on the cutted tomatoe are a bit disturbing.
thnaks,
v
- magda_indigo
(31107)
- [2008-10-02 10:02]
- [Show CommentHide Comment] [+]
Richard,
Nice set up, and I appreciate that you were looking for dark tones, but even under my subdued lighting I'd have to say this was too dark. Mind you, you're well ahead of a couple of the workshop versions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Worth considering, as you've received a few "old master painting" remarks, that these paintings are generally dark because they're covered in 400 years of grime).
Regards
Colin
Richard , like many others my first impression was how dark it was, but then you have a reason for this as outlined in your notes.
That said and after seeing others attempts in the WS to brighten this, I must admit I come back to the original and like it more.
Your items are nicely arranged, and a lot of thought went into the your BG choice (based on your notes)
Only suggestion I would make was same as Rew the glistening cut tomato really stands out.
Wayne
Lots of comments and critiques of this one, not a bad thing at all for a photo to do. ;)
I'm looking at this on my Mac laptop, which has a bright, high gamma, screen--that is, things tend to look brighter on it and, yes, it's a little dark indeed, technically anyway.
Emotionally thought, there's just something about the mood it portrays as shot, and I find that the more I look, the more I find to like, even the light reflections on the little tomato; a little candy for the eye amidst the other somber tones.
So, I do like it; it works for me.
Nice experimentation Richard, pretty cool indeed.
TFS,
Wilt
Nice still-life, in the stile of the old masters.
Regards,
Tibi
Hi Richard,
I did not like the thumbnail at all, but I have learned to open pictures and then judge.
This kind of light works very good on still lives judging at what painters did in the 16th and 17th century, I think you could enhance it by bringing in 1 ray of light - not sure where exactly.
TFS
Els
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- FromElsewhere (34)
- [2008-10-03 14:48]
- [Show CommentHide Comment] [+]
Hi
It looks like a detail from a Dutch Masters painting. The glistening light on the sliced tomato is quite striking.
Cheers
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 295 W: 7 N: 538]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
nice compo, a well-done experiment, although, despite the fact that it is required to be a 'dark' photo, i still think it would look better with slightly more brightness..
i love 100mm macros... they offer a lot in a small and no-nonsense package...
kudos to you for going all-manual :) i appreciate such things a lot :)
looking forward to more innovative and unique photos from you :)
muhammad muhsin
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- shaukatmi
(868)
- [2008-10-05 18:03]
Excellent photograph of a still life. This reminds me like others have said that it is a still life reminiscent of the old Masters painting. The texture of the onions is especially striking with clarity. The depth of field acquired by having a dark background make the tomatoes almost real. I also like the reflections on the marble with their subtle effects. This is truly a masterpiece photograph. Thanks for posting. I have also learned from the description of the technique.
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- thiffany
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 20 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/s-n-n.gif)
(107) - [2008-11-06 9:47]
Belle compostion. Le fond noir donne une profondeur aux aliments.
Bravo
Diane
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this really makes me smile! I'm sure you know why? see http://www.treklens.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=425658
I agree that it is too dark, it might not be a bad idea to look up some course on how to do a 'still-life' well.
It is not easy, would take far to long to tell you here what all the options are, but one tip: MORE 'selected' light, and why to start with not try a different bg? Like a nice kitchen towel or rustic table-cloth?