Assignment: "Centered Composition" Jan. 20 - Feb. 3

[Saralonde]

It's our "rule breaking" week where we explore "Centered Composition". Often called Bull's Eye Composition, Centered Composition is generally considered too static and a taboo technique. However, a centered subject can be very arresting and dominate the composition.

Here is a shot taken by Peeperita:

[IMG][/IMG]

So, take a picture where the main subject is dead center.

As always, rules:
Please note the change in closing time as well as the size limit.

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your original image you submit should be taken between the 20th of January and the 3rd of February. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT ( 3am EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include "Assignment: Centered Composition" (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above). It must be an original image taken by you.

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (740px on the longest side).

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.
For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

We are going to start a month of Food Photography. This might be particularly appealing to those of you shut in by winter weather and to those of you doing 365s. This coming week we start with the best part of a meal, Desserts. Some suggestions: Try looking at magazines and in cookbooks for ideas. Notice the lighting. Natural lighting is wonderful for food photography. That's why you always try for a table by the window in a restaurant (and drive your dining companions crazy by shooting all the courses, LOL). The last thing you want is an image with an unappealing blue cast to it.
Consider the depth of field. Do you want something shallow to pinpoint one area or do you want the entire scene to be in focus?
Are you going to go in close or pull away and include some of the area around your subject. What can you include with your food item that makes it more interesting?
What point of view will you use? Straight down, off to the side, through a window, etc., just try different angles.
Think about what you want to say. This is homemade and comfort, this is sumptuous and elegant, this rich and flavorful?
Make me want to eat that food! If this was in a cookbook, would I want to make it? If it was an ad in a magazine, would I want to buy it?
Since Food Photography is such a huge subject, here are some resources for you:

Food Photography – An Introduction- good tips from Darren
Big and Tasty Food Photography Tips Roundup - great roundup of tutorials and videos. And if you watch the videos, you'll know why you should scream at your food

[Photoboothguy]

Peaches & Cream



Part of my Alphabet Speed Photography Project

Date Taken: January 20, 2010
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 1
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 171 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: 55-250mm IS
Flash: 580exII and 430exII on camera left/right, both in softbox, 1/16 power, triggered by Hiviz IR trigger.

[SWalton]

Assignment: Centered Composition



Done recently for a college high key portraiture project.
Can this be considered as centered composition? If so great, it not disregard it as an entry.


Camera: Nikon D40X
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 38 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
File Size: 2.4 MB
File Type: JPEG
MIME Type: image/jpeg
Image Width: 2592
Image Height: 2932
Exposure Program: Manual
Date and Time (Original): 2010:01:26 11:50:40Z
Date and Time (Digitized): 2010:01:26 11:50:40

[Dwyer]

From 2010_01_23

Here's a photo of the Little Red Lighthouse found underneath the George Washington Bridge in New York. I believe it is the last remaining lighthouse in New York. I just loved the contrast of the red against the blue sky. Hope you all like it!

Jan 23, 2010
1200×1600 pixels – 328KB
Filename: IMG_4135.JPG
Camera: Canon
Model: Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
ISO: 80
Exposure: 1/1250 sec
Aperture: 3.2
Focal Length: 7.9mm
Flash Used: No
Latitude: n/a
Longitude: n/a

[karwash]

"The gentle touch"



Date picture taken: January 23, 2010
EXIF:
Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Flash: No Flash
Post processing: fiddled with curves using GIMP until I liked the colour.
More EXIF on flickr (click picture to view)

[sdhondatuner]

A rainbow colored, dew covered, spider web. I didn't even see the spider until I put the pic on the computer.



Taken: 01-26-2010
Camera: Nikon D90
Lens: Sigma 70-300 mm
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 220 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Flash: No Flash

PP: Sharpened in PSE6 and resized for flickr.

[this_is_mine]

Assignment: Centered Composition
Taken January 26th, 2010.

I took this for my personal daily photo project and then realized that it meets this weeks challenge criteria. I was going to keep it in colour but I tried out my latest high contrast B&W addiction and liked it. As everyone else likes to point out (and so I feel obligated), this is my first submission to these challenges (or really any for that matter). Enjoy, and please feel free to comment. I enjoy the feedback.

Edit: This is the overhead light over my dining room table.



EXIF data of the original RAW file
Creation date: 26/01/2010 16:57
Make: NIKON CORPORATION (Nikon | Home)
Camera: NIKON D90
Lens: AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G IF-ED
Software: Nikon Transfer 1.1 W
Dimension: 4352 x 2868*px*(12.5 MP, 3:2)
Focal length: 18*mm*(equiv. 27*mm)
Aperture: F8
Exposure time: 1" (+0.67*EV)
ISO speed rating: 200/24°
Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Center-weighted average
White Balance: Auto
Focus Mode: AF-C
Image Stabilizer: On
Noise Reduction: Off
Flash: Flash did not fire

[tonyniev]

Camera Model Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Firmware Firmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time 1/23/2010 5:08:44 PM
Owner's Name
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/25
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1000
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length 45.0mm
Image Size 5616x3744
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
FE lock OFF
White Balance Mode Auto

[sphelps]

D300 - 50mm
1/100
f/4.0
ISO250

[Miss Mae]

Taken: Jan. 26, 2010
Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/350)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 105 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash