Mealtime

[RainPacket]

This is one of my older shots, taken right after I'd gotten the Rebel XTi; at the time, I had just the camera and the kit lens, nothing else at all.

I was back east visiting family and went out to a lunch with a friend I don't see often, and her two daughters. While we were eating, I saw that sugar container and the salt and pepper shakers, and wanted to try and grab the shot because I just liked the shape of the sugar container, and the light on the table. (It reminded me -- and the kids -- of Marvin the Martian. Mm... I love the smell of Illudium Q-32 Explosive Space Modulator in the morning!)

Right as I went to take the picture, one little hand shot out to reach for another mouthful of nachos. I snapped... and ended up with a picture I liked much better than what I intended. The composition ended up more heavily to the left than I intended, but when I've tried cropping it down, I don't like it as much. Something about the unbalanced composition appeals to me, the way the pool of light fades off. The hand reaching in towards the plate, the little pool of light... somehow, it just really captured the moment for me.

[jiminyClickit]

RainPacket,

"I love the smell of Illudium Q-32 Explosive Space Modulator in the morning!"
You are a fount of Marv-elous reference. He reminds me of Nixon; don't know why.

Professional or real life, your instincts serve you well, so that even a friendly lunch moment has the look of a professional shot. As seen by this real life viewer, anyway. Without the hand, far less engaging. Less dark on right, not the same impact or mystery. Do you ever take 'stinkers?' As always, your work inspires.

[wulf]

I think it could afford to lose some of the dark area on the right. All that suggests to me is that, were I an unethical, thieving sort, I could crop it down to get a more balanced picture and lose your signature

The hand is great. The picture might be better if those highlights in the bowl weren't quite so blown but I'd rather have that than miss the hand.

Wulf

[RainPacket]

Yeah... I think I might've gone for a slightly different exposure if I shot the image now; I was still definitely learning the camera at the time.

[mikeboy]

I really like the dark on the right, Im studying design, and this is our subject at the moment, balance, how two things completly different can be put together under one composition.

I really like it...