I need a coffee badly

[hitkaiser]

My friend didn't like this one.. but I did, I was wondering what everyone else thinks (I have a feeling she didn't like it because the table was "disgusting")

[xysmas]

I like it - the dirty table adds a raw feeling to the photo. Good touch with the prints in the background and the waterspots in the press.

Small improvements for me would be -

Turn the coffee press a bit clockwise to show the label or counter clockwise to remove it fully from the shot - it is a little distracting having the label there.

Capture all of the coffee press without chopping the top off.

It may be my monitor, but the shadows are a touch dark for me - maybe a bit more fill or ambient light would help.

Overall i like the effect though - reminds me of something from Adbusters or from a dark artsy movie.

[Triglav]

Black, no sugar..thanks

I like the setting and the mood, but like xysmas also noted, a bit too dark on the subjects on the table. Also I would have shot it with the coffeepress fully in the frame.

[Nicole]

Several thoughts... first, you really do need to clean your table more often, I agree with your friend and say ick!

Second, I like the mood like everyone else has said. It looks good, it's kind of dark, like morning is before caffeine

But then I have a nitpick or two. I agree that it'd probably be good if the entire coffee press was in the shot. Also, the really, really bright window behind the coffee press is kind of distracting to me. So, maybe another angle to get some more even lighting, and get the rest of the press in the shot.

As a final thought though, it gives me the impression of someone who's just dragged themselves out of bed, crashed at the table, head down, and is sitting there with their face on the table, opening one eye and cringing at that sunny window. I guess in that sense, that's one really well done shot considering that it pretty much filled in the rest of the image for me

[hitkaiser]

Hey thanks for the speedy responses!

All comments dully noted and mental notes made to improve on next time...
What i'm dreading most is the dark shadows thing.. its fine on my computer and im guessing its because i haven't bothered calibrating my monitor (and probably won't until i can afford a hardware solution for it)

[wulf]

Black, no sugar, for me as well, please. I think the grubby table is fine for the atmosphere of the shot (although I would like you to clean it before inviting me round for a drink ) but I feel the shot would be better with the coffee pot fully in frame.

I was also not too keen on the wide angle distortion bending the edge of the pot although that could be fixed by getting it further from the edge of the frame. However, I did like the brightness of the window because it contrasts with the better exposed reflection shown in the mirror.

Wulf