He was different!

[MrFinch]

I work for a company that produces this nice little bears (and hundreds of other candies...). For a small company contest with the subject "our gummybears" I shot this tonight at home... everything really hand-made.

f22, 6", ISO100, FL100mm

Comments welcome!

Regards

Carlos

[IMG][/IMG]

[windrider86]

Would you mind reading the thru the guidelines and adding in the information asked for? Please and thank you!

[MrFinch]

Thanks a lot for warning, I'm pretty new in this community.
Apart from the exif (already included) I would add that the camera is a Canon 450D with a Tamron 18-270 lens.

I shot with tripod and tried different f and shutter combinations. With larger apertures the red bears went out of fous very quickly, turning into a red blur.

I set ISO100 to reduce noise, so I needed to have a long shutter time of 6". I wanted also to turn the surface and background into 100% black. My main concern is about exposure.

Do you think this exposure is correct or is it subexposed? Could I have taken other options?

Thanks again and best regards,

[simeon]

I have been troubles posting dont think I made the cut on shoes assignment. Did I do it right this time thru flickr?

[Indigo November]

It is a bit OOF. I am guessing from the long exposure. Also could be the lighting. The bears are not very defined.
It is definitely a bit underexposed. But places on the bears are overexposed...

I would reshoot.
Try to get more clarity with the group of red bears.
I don't know what would help as far as lighting goes, I'm not an expert in that area.
Also, see if you can get more light so you don't have to have such a long exposure.
You could also bump up the ISO a few stops, but not too much.

For composition...
Try spacing the bears out farther to define their shapes more. The group is good, just not so tight.
I would shoot from a lower angle, even at the level of the bears. If you had a wide angle lens, that could add some interest.
IMO the shot would be a lot more pleasing if it was composed so that the yellow bear was quite near the corner.
It gives the message that he is the odd one out, being encroached upon be the mob of red ones, alone in the corner.
The rule of thirds is good, but don't forget the power of corners to single out your subject!


Personally, I would do it in my light box. Nice even light, white BG and floor... You can make your own Homemade Light Box
I really think that a white background would suit these bears well.

If you don't have time to reshoot, you could adjust a bit with curves, maybe dodge a little, sharpen, crop...

[MrFinch]

Wow Indigo, thank you vey much!
I must admit the setting was a little home-made. No pro lightning at all!
I shot also from a lower perspective, I found the different bear too close to the others. and also with closer angle, I did not like it in my previous shots (too busy...) but I do like your crop!
Thanks again for your elp and best regards
Carlos

[Indigo November]

No problem.
It is really a great concept. Army of red bears singling out the odd yellow bear...
Your only breaker in the image is the group of reds. It almost blends into just a gelatinous mass. hehe
Just a bit more clarity and you're good to win the contest!

I did something similar once, it was a little eco-friendly guy being singled out against the bigger bad guys.
Had rubber bands. One green (the eco guy), and a few in other colors.

Good luck!