Lighting a Kiwi

[-Garfield-]

Hi everybody, I'm back with another question about my shot. Could you help me with lighting?

I used a plain of glass that I put these slices on and used a speedlight wirelessly triggered aiming directly on the slices from bottom. But it didn't work and I had to use the ACA certificate (btw another great use for it ) to refflect the light and spread it. But if you take a better look some slices are brighter and some are darker. For adjustments I used LR3 and also Adjustments brush to lighten the edges of slices. But I'd like to do it in camera, if it is possible. Can some tell me where I made a mistake?

[ednorm]

Mistake, you forgot to shave the damn things! No, its a nice shot, its a little crowded with all four of them that close, I would rather see the top three without the bottom right one. I could not see the brightness complaint you offered, but I have never seen one these fruits? sliced before.

ed

[PictureThat]

I like the colors a lot, but it does seem a bit crowded. Still nice though!

[-Garfield-]

Originally Posted by ednorm

Mistake, you forgot to shave the damn things! No, its a nice shot, its a little crowded with all four of them that close, I would rather see the top three without the bottom right one. I could not see the brightness complaint you offered, but I have never seen one these fruits? sliced before.

ed

Thanks for compliment and for future record I'll shave my kiwis About the brightness ... of course I don't have my laptop calibrated so this can also be some difference (and surely is) but I'm talking about the top two slices for example. The one on the left had a lot darker color in comperison with the one on the right. The brightness level is increased using Adjustment brush but originally it was way too dark. That is the reason why I'm asking how to light it for better results.

[-Garfield-]

And about the crowded photo area it is really nice to hear some other ideas so thanks a lot for it

I was looking for patterns and textures and when I didn't include the fourth slice it seemed a bit incomplete like something is missing in the shot and there was quite big white wash out space so I filled it.

But again, thanks for your comments, I apreciate it

[rokclmb]

Where all the kiwi slices the same thickness? A thicker slice would let less light through and appear darker. I'm sure you probably thought of that but it was the first thing I thought of.

[-Garfield-]

Originally Posted by rokclmb

Where all the kiwi slices the same thickness? A thicker slice would let less light through and appear darker. I'm sure you probably thought of that but it was the first thing I thought of.

I took that in mind and tried to cut all the slices to the same thickness, there were some differences but not big, not even 1/2 mm. I'm thinking about increasing the distance between reflection panel and the subject, that might help but I'm not so sure with it :/

[ColonelDebugger]

I always felt kiwis would make for a great macro subject, but i've never been able to pull it off very well.

I don't think there's much you can do about the density of different slices of the fruit that will make some darker and some lighter. You can see light variations in the individual slices as well. It's what makes nature the wonder it is.

I think the shot is very nice. Perhaps arranging the slices differently or shooting them at an angle will give a lighting effect you're looking for.

[-Garfield-]

Originally Posted by ColonelDebugger

I always felt kiwis would make for a great macro subject, but i've never been able to pull it off very well.

I don't think there's much you can do about the density of different slices of the fruit that will make some darker and some lighter. You can see light variations in the individual slices as well. It's what makes nature the wonder it is.

I think the shot is very nice. Perhaps arranging the slices differently or shooting them at an angle will give a lighting effect you're looking for.

I'll have to give it a try, without it I won't know. That means to keep shooting and practice to find it out

[Nicole]

The other thing I can suggest from experience (aside from shooting at an angle which seems to create a bit more interest since then you get the texture of the skin too), is to not only light from the bottom, but also from the top as well. For example, this shot of mine: 10111011/101101101.2010 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!