Carrots - Minimalism

[dlaf]

Greetings,

I have a few questions on the photo I submitted for the Minimalism assignment.

While looking at other macro-type shots in the assignment, I noticed how blurry the other photo's shadows are. Are blurry shadows in this type of shot the "norm" or is it a matter of taste? Did I make a good choice?

I would also like any feed back on color of subject, background or anything you can think of that worked well or did not.

I have also included below the link to my "potato" pic that I could have submitted. Did I make the right choice? and why or why not.

Thank you verrrry much!


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daybeezho/2223523777/" title="Carrots by daybeezho, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2223523777_13c06c769b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Carrots" /></a>

EXIF
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 16.2 mm
Exposure Bias: 1 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire


Potato pic: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2224313734_7afb940135.jpg

[geotography]

dlaf,

Good work at trying out minimalism. I don't have a macro lens nor do I claim to know much about macro photography; however, I do like macro.

Carrots are tough to shoot because unless you really get on them they sort of lack detail for photographs (my opinion). Try turning those carrots on their side to get that crosscut of detail. That's one suggestion. Dab them with a paper towel to wick up some of the moisture that adds to glare. Try a dark background that contrasts nicely with the orange color. Last idea: break up the carrot further to reveal some of that "root" detail. Yes do some dissecting.

Have fun and keep shooting.

[dlaf]

dlaf,

Good work at trying out minimalism. I don't have a macro lens nor do I claim to know much about macro photography; however, I do like macro.

Carrots are tough to shoot because unless you really get on them they sort of lack detail for photographs (my opinion). Try turning those carrots on their side to get that crosscut of detail. That's one suggestion. Dab them with a paper towel to wick up some of the moisture that adds to glare. Try a dark background that contrasts nicely with the orange color. Last idea: break up the carrot further to reveal some of that "root" detail. Yes do some dissecting.

Have fun and keep shooting.

Thank you, geotography, for your feedback - I appreciate it! I feel like I'm exercising my eyes so they can "see" differently.

[RussHeath]

Debbie -- Were the shadows you noticed in others' photos blurry, or soft? It may sound like a fine distinction, but you achieve them in different ways.

You can pretty easily blur any part of a macro shot because depth of field tends to be very narrow. Put anything, including shadows, outside that focus plane and it will be blurry.

On the other hand, soft shadows have to do with the light source. The single most important aspect of determining "hard" versus "soft" light (at least in macro shooting) is the size of the light source as percieved by the subject. The concept is explained quite well here (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/lighting-102-unit-21-apparent-light.html).

Nice shot, by the way. A good take on minimalism. I agree with geotography that more detail in the carrots may be nice. This could be achieved as he states by getting in close and drying them off. You could also help things out by putting a light at a very hard angle to the surface of the carrots, which would help bring out detail by forming very fine shadows over the surface anywhere there are bumps.

Thanks for sharing your shot with us. :)

[summerbreezing]

Hi Dlaf
I am no expert either but really enjoy the challenge of macro. The only other suggestion I can add to those with more knowledge is that your carrots look like they may have been cooked? You may pick up more detail and texture if they were raw, I think.

[Jamesc359]

Do you have any colored paper handy? If so I'd suggest trying it with a sky blue or a bright green background. Those are two colors that compliment orange very well.

[peeperita]

i looked at your tater pick and yes, you made the right choice between the two.....

personally, i prefer the look of softer shadows on white backgrounds....shadows tend to compete with the subject more.....easily achieved by diffusing your light sources with bounce or translucent materiels in front of your light....

the carrot's placement could be improved by moving your framing so that they sit more left and low.....allowing your eye to read naturally left to right....

the carrot's detail is a bit lost in your image.....i would suggest both bracketing your exposures to read more of the carrots...and possibly moving your light sources lower so that some depth is added by modeling.....

thanks for sharing

peeper

[dlaf]

Debbie -- Were the shadows you noticed in others' photos blurry, or soft? It may sound like a fine distinction, but you achieve them in different ways.

You can pretty easily blur any part of a macro shot because depth of field tends to be very narrow. Put anything, including shadows, outside that focus plane and it will be blurry.

On the other hand, soft shadows have to do with the light source. The single most important aspect of determining "hard" versus "soft" light (at least in macro shooting) is the size of the light source as percieved by the subject. The concept is explained quite well here (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/07/lighting-102-unit-21-apparent-light.html).

Nice shot, by the way. A good take on minimalism. I agree with geotography that more detail in the carrots may be nice. This could be achieved as he states by getting in close and drying them off. You could also help things out by putting a light at a very hard angle to the surface of the carrots, which would help bring out detail by forming very fine shadows over the surface anywhere there are bumps.

Thanks for sharing your shot with us. :)

Thank you, newbie, for your input and compliment. The other shadows were soft, and for now I will probably need to achieve this in post processing until I get handier with utilizing light sources other than the kitchen window and my little p&s! The carrots were dry, I probably did too much trying to wipe out the contrast from my kitchen counter (off-white and a bit stained) in post-processing (among other errors!).

[dlaf]

Hi Dlaf
I am no expert either but really enjoy the challenge of macro. The only other suggestion I can add to those with more knowledge is that your carrots look like they may have been cooked? You may pick up more detail and texture if they were raw, I think.

Thank you, summerbreezing, for your comments. The carrots were not over-cooked, but rather over-processed! Better lighting and larger pieces would (and better photographer!), I think, help with the texture issue. Thanks again!

[dlaf]

Do you have any colored paper handy? If so I'd suggest trying it with a sky blue or a bright green background. Those are two colors that compliment orange very well.

You know, James, I wanted that white background for the minimalism look, however, in hindsight I might not have had to do so much post-processing if I had chosen a color that would have made the carrot color "pop" all on it's own. It could have made a much better photo. Thanks!

[dlaf]

i looked at your tater pick and yes, you made the right choice between the two.....

personally, i prefer the look of softer shadows on white backgrounds....shadows tend to compete with the subject more.....easily achieved by diffusing your light sources with bounce or translucent materiels in front of your light....

the carrot's placement could be improved by moving your framing so that they sit more left and low.....allowing your eye to read naturally left to right....

the carrot's detail is a bit lost in your image.....i would suggest both bracketing your exposures to read more of the carrots...and possibly moving your light sources lower so that some depth is added by modeling.....

thanks for sharing

peeper

Peeper, your comments about the hard shadows competing with the subject makes great sense and is something I can remember to look for!

My lighting options are limited as is my experience, so the two together put me at a disadvantage for now. I saw in the ghetto lighting assignment how excellent shots can be had with what's on hand. I probably lost a lot of the detail because of too much light coming in the kitchen window and too much processing to ramp up the color (beginner's "luck").

I'm curious about your comment on the placement of the carrots. You mention reading left to right. Is that something that strengthens a minimalist photo or certain type of photo, or is it subjective...a matter of taste? Did the fact that the carrots were were going left make the feel of the pic too edgy (or something)?

Thank you for your tips!

[peeperita]

Peeper, your comments about the hard shadows competing with the subject makes great sense and is something I can remember to look for!

My lighting options are limited as is my experience, so the two together put me at a disadvantage for now. I saw in the ghetto lighting assignment how excellent shots can be had with what's on hand. I probably lost a lot of the detail because of too much light coming in the kitchen window and too much processing to ramp up the color (beginner's "luck").

I'm curious about your comment on the placement of the carrots. You mention reading left to right. Is that something that strengthens a minimalist photo or certain type of photo, or is it subjective...a matter of taste? Did the fact that the carrots were were going left make the feel of the pic too edgy (or something)?

Thank you for your tips!

you should see my lighting gear.....it's mostly comprised of items found at the hardware store...transluscent drop cloths.....windshield reflectors and old t-shirts..some large wattage bulbs in clamp type reflectors.....if i remember correctly, they cost me about ten bucks a piece...i also use ambient light....my kitchen window and ceiling spots are my best friends when i set up.....i have just begun my "reading" of light....how it falls....the difference between the shadows and the light....and how to fill in between...

that reading left to right thing is just a school of thought.....and i feel that it helps me in my composition....there are others here that can give you the technical side of why it works....hopefully, they'll chime in......

peeper

[dlaf]

you should see my lighting gear.....it's mostly comprised of items found at the hardware store...transluscent drop cloths.....windshield reflectors and old t-shirts..some large wattage bulbs in clamp type reflectors.....if i remember correctly, they cost me about ten bucks a piece...i also use ambient light....my kitchen window and ceiling spots are my best friends when i set up.....i have just begun my "reading" of light....how it falls....the difference between the shadows and the light....and how to fill in between...

that reading left to right thing is just a school of thought.....and i feel that it helps me in my composition....there are others here that can give you the technical side of why it works....hopefully, they'll chime in......

peeper

Great! Thank you, peeper!