for my Biker Buddy Bakeys: Broccoli Bonsai

[chicagojohn]

(Hope I don't get arrested for allitering Worse case, I can eat my mistakes, so please fire away with any constructive, or even deconstructive comments; Anything, even if only, "I hate brocoli!" (according to the label, you can spell it with one "c" or two.)

Please note that the model was, and still is, organic broccoli, harvested humanely, and purchased today from Fresh Market. If your suggestions are received soon, there may still be time to implement them!!

The Ikebana dish was hand-made by my wife Carol Green, no pun intended. It is called "fused and slumped glass", not a particularly attractive name, but that's what they call it.

Data are as follows:

Dedication: Bakeys
Lens: 50mm Pentax prime lens
Exposure: 1/125
Aperture: f/14
Focus: Auto-Center Weighted
ISO: 200
Capture Mode: RAW
Hand Held: AntiShake
Camera: Pentax K100D Super
Post Processing: Size reduction only
Lighting: Hair light metered at f/4.0 and main light at f/8.0

mmmm Broccoli!

[dmartinc]

The broccoli is so beautiful, without the hint of a blemish. I love it.

[Photologyst]

Great idea! Nice set up. Wonderful dish. Congrats to your wife.

As person who does a bit of ikebana, I would suggest that maybe the broccoli trees are a bit too symmetrical. How about a few cuts and some leaves?

Here is a bit of inspiration:

http://ikebana2.img.jugem.jp/20100601_771596.jpg

[chicagojohn]

Thank you for your encouragement, dmartinc and Photologyst. Special thanks to Bakeys, whose comment demonstrates imagination; in this case, that of the steamer and generous dollops of real butter....

I also appreciated the link you provided, Photologyst, to an example of ikebana. Carol said it was very pretty, and as a scientist, I always agree with her when it comes to art. However, she did warn me that if I were to in any way connect my broccoli composition with ikebana, anyone who has done ikebana would come down on me like a ton of bricks. It happened to her one time at a trade show when she was read the riot act by a rabbid ikebana enthusiast.

While I would certainly not put your kind advice in that category, Photologyst, I do want to emphasize that the title of my composition is bonsai, the art of growing dwarf trees or shrubs in shallow trays, which my composition whimsically attempts to emulate. I now realize, however, that I never should have said that the bowl was associated with ikebana

Your link, however, led me to the wonderful array of images in your portfolio All's well that ends well.

[cristen]

i love the idea.. it's so fresh. beautiful photograph, nice dish. how long did the broccoli last?

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by cristen

i love the idea.. it's so fresh. beautiful photograph, nice dish. how long did the broccoli last?

It lasted long enough to permit the capture of this image, cristen, which I dedicate to you, as the root cause. And I hope it serves to enlighten Bakeys bytes. No thing or event arises without causes and conditions; thanks for yours, cristen; you acted just in time as what you are seeing now is being processed by my alimentary canal, as I speak. No worries; tomorrow morning will not elicit additional photos.

(I must apologize for the dust particles: My wife, being an artist, is not particularly assiduous when it comes to cleanliness

Lens: Tamron 90mm f/2.8 prime macro at 1:1
Camera: Pentax K100D Super on tripod
Shutter: 1/125
Aperture: f/19
Focus: Manual
ISO: 200
Format: RAW
Lights: Key at f/45, Fill at f/22
Post Processing: Resize

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by chicagojohn

Thank you for your encouragement, dmartinc and Photologyst. Special thanks to Bakeys, whose comment demonstrates imagination; in this case, that of the steamer and generous dollops of real butter....

I also appreciated the link you provided, Photologyst, to an example of ikebana. Carol said it was very pretty, and as a scientist, I always agree with her when it comes to art. However, she did warn me that if I were to in any way connect my broccoli composition with ikebana, anyone who has done ikebana would come down on me like a ton of bricks. It happened to her one time at a trade show when she was read the riot act by a rabbid ikebana enthusiast.

LOL

That rabid “enthusiast” must have been a westerner who took things to the extreme—as we are wont to do. Trust me, having seen lots of ikebana in Japan, everything and anything can be used including flowers, fruits, veggies and all manner of found objects. One of the most fabulously simple ikebana displays I have ever seen was a bamboo and charcoal arrangement in Tokyo—so simple, so incredible. Still, there are certain “rules” that should be followed in order to make a pleasing, aesthetic composition. You must admit that those broccoli “trees” look quite westernly klutzy. Good for the pot though. I recommend an olive oil, garlic sauce.

Your wife’s ceramics are nothing short of spectacular! They deserve superb ikebana arrangements. Here’s one of my favorite books in the subject: Amazon.com: Creating Ikebana (9784889961829): Akihiro Kasuya: Books

While I would certainly not put your kind advice in that category, Photologyst, I do want to emphasize that the title of my composition is bonsai, the art of growing dwarf trees or shrubs in shallow trays, which my composition whimsically attempts to emulate. I now realize, however, that I never should have said that the bowl was associated with ikebana

Your link, however, led me to the wonderful array of images in your portfolio All's well that ends well.

Thanks very much for the kudos. I am trying to put up more and finally make a photo website, but life always gets in the way.

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

life always gets in the way.

"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code."

You have the source code. You can, and do change the world, Photogyst. Thanks so much for your wonderful images.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by chicagojohn

"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code."

You have the source code. You can, and do change the world, Photogyst. Thanks so much for your wonderful images.

Thanks, very much John. Between the publications and the art there may someday be a legacy that will at least last past the relatives. lol

Both the right and left side of my brain are continually fighting for dominance.