Morning beans - opinions please

[sir_kw]

Hi recently got a dslr (Canon 40D) and a Tamron 90mm AF Di macro lens to play with.
Here is an indoor shot and would like honest critque on overall impression, what you like and don't like and what you would do differently. Thank you guys/gals!

Exif: Tripod mounted, iso 200, f/8, 0.6 sec, pattern metering, Av exposure, raw
Post processing: Adjust tonal, converted to B&W with tint, sharpen

[Artdrea]

i like this. maybe you should do one a little more zoomed out so there's more of the coffee cup. but i love the depth of field it works really well.

[swthomas55]

The detail on the two beans in front and the nice DOF control are both excellent. I also like your tint choice -- "coffee" tinted.

I can see what Artdrea is getting at. I think with more coffee cup it would be a different photo, with a somewhat different message. As it is, you're focused on the beans, and the coffee cup is context. With more coffee cup, you'd be focusing (not in a literal sense) more on the concept of coffee, with the beans as accent.

I could see doing a photo with the cup full of coffee and a wisp of steam coming from the top (tricky, that!) and the small pile of beans in front, with only the beans in focus (as you have now).

[sir_kw]

Thank you Artdrea and swthomas55 for your critiques. In this original shot i was trying for the close up details of the beans so using the macro lens I had to come in close and unfortunely the coffee cup wouldn't fill any more of the frame. I do like the suggestions of zooming out so would love to try this shot again with probably a non macro lens this time and still focus on the beans but like the idea from swthomas55 of having a full cup of coffee in the background with steam.

Originally Posted by swthomas55

The detail on the two beans in front and the nice DOF control are both excellent. I also like your tint choice -- "coffee" tinted.

I can see what Artdrea is getting at. I think with more coffee cup it would be a different photo, with a somewhat different message. As it is, you're focused on the beans, and the coffee cup is context. With more coffee cup, you'd be focusing (not in a literal sense) more on the concept of coffee, with the beans as accent.

I could see doing a photo with the cup full of coffee and a wisp of steam coming from the top (tricky, that!) and the small pile of beans in front, with only the beans in focus (as you have now).