Cup of Coffee

[Izzy]

The original shot was taken on a stop during a photo walk. I put so much creamer in my cup of coffee that the line that separates coffee from cup is washed out. Bringing the image into Lightroom 3 I used the preset BW color look 3 or 4?? And then adjusted from there. Now you can see the coffee returns to the color it should be and makes a more interesting image overall.





Hope you like this one....

Keep shooting

[mdavern]

Second shot is better but I need something else. It lacks a story or compeling element. Maybe it is my not being much of a coffee drinker.

[RecurrentNerve]

It's better, but it could be better still! Presets tend to lead to flat black and white. Check out this tutorial thread.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by RecurrentNerve

It's better, but it could be better still! Presets tend to lead to flat black and white. Check out this tutorial thread.

I looked at it, great write up and informative. In all honesty I like your 1st ones before the alterations. A little more punch and they would have been perfect.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by mdavern

Second shot is better but I need something else. It lacks a story or compeling element. Maybe it is my not being much of a coffee drinker.

I know the shot sort of sucks. I was just playing with getting more out of an otherwise dead horse. Not sure how to tell a story with a cup of coffee in pictures but one day I will figure it out.

[RecurrentNerve]

I looked at it, great write up and informative. In all honesty I like your 1st ones before the alterations. A little more punch and they would have been perfect.

More punch like that which has been added in the second shots...? Perhaps our definitions of punch are different!

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by RecurrentNerve

More punch like that which has been added in the second shots...? Perhaps our definitions of punch are different!

I think it is more a matter of levels. Enter volume knob - Yours is 10 - mine would have been 2. I do not like extreme contrasty photos.

[RecurrentNerve]

Then it seems we have different definitions of extreme...

[Diamond Girl]

I would have maybe tried adding a wooden stir stick resting on the lip of the mug, include a portion of the hand holding the mug, bottle/carton of the creamer in the background, use a spoon to stir it and then rest the spoon on a napkin, etc. into the shot. I like it but it needs a little more "story", I agree with you. But, I love coffee and overall it just makes me happy.

I don't mind the BW shot, but it almost looks like tea and you lose that feel for the creamy coffee which is present in the first shot.

The final thought is to get it piping hot and capture a steam trail off the top.