Composition growth - lighting

[Pathfinder Solutions]

I set out to take a few shots of the fresh strawberries my wife had just picked. The morning sun was streaming through the blinds and making a striped pattern on the table. I place the basket on the table. They cast a long shadow. The rest of the kitchen was in the shot, so I played with aperture and exposure to darken everything past the table. I used a vignette effect in iphoto (simple but worked) to remove the rest of the background.

Specific questions
1. setting the berry basket at an isometric position - is this pleasing.
2. placing the berries in front of the basket - this was the focal point. Do they look fresh?
3. does the choice of natural lighting and reduced exposure reveal the detail of the berries?
4. which is better the full frame shot or the close up?




Camera:Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/3.2
Focal Length:10.2 mm
ISO Speed:3
Exposure Bias:-2/3 EV
Host Computer:Mac OS X 10.5.7
Metering Mode:Multi-segment
Sensing Method:One-chip color area
Custom Rendered:Normal
Exposure Mode:Manual
White Balance:Manual
Digital Zoom Ratio:1
Scene Capture Type:Standard

[abasu]

The light conditions was very pleasing to eye. a very cool feeling. But the green colour of the basket dominates more than the red colur of the berries. This is what I feel. I am also new so experts in this field may guide you better.

[Ginger Pixie]

Couple of things -

I like the idea of the shadow through the blind, but because of the strong vertical lines on the basket, my eye is getting confused with all the lines, and not focusing on the strawberries.

If they were in a plain bowl, this shot would probably work better.

I would also increase the saturation of the red if the strawberries are the focus.

[Pathfinder Solutions]

First, Thanks so much for the feedback.

Abasu,

"But the green colour of the basket dominates more than the red colur of the berries."

I agree, now that you mention it. I can see along some angles of the green basket that the image looks distorted.

Ginger Pixie
A bowl would have been better. In Ontario all the fruit comes in these baskets so it's recognizable as farm fresh. However the basket takes away the focus.

In another shot tried to isolate just the red in this shot with my Canon but the berries had grey patches on them. I think a b&w with red berries might have been interesting.

Pathfinder

[Ginger Pixie]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder Solutions

First, Thanks so much for the feedback.

Abasu,

"But the green colour of the basket dominates more than the red colur of the berries."

I agree, now that you mention it. I can see along some angles of the green basket that the image looks distorted.

Ginger Pixie
A bowl would have been better. In Ontario all the fruit comes in these baskets so it's recognizable as farm fresh. However the basket takes away the focus.

In another shot tried to isolate just the red in this shot with my Canon but the berries had grey patches on them. I think a b&w with red berries might have been interesting.

Pathfinder

Just to clarify - I haven't got an issue with the basket, Strawberries in the basket with a less striking shadow would be fine, but both sets of lines act against each other in my opinion.

I like the shadows though - I think you should try a portrait with similar light. Very Film Noir.

[Pathfinder Solutions]

Originally Posted by Ginger Pixie

Just to clarify - I haven't got an issue with the basket, Strawberries in the basket with a less striking shadow would be fine, but both sets of lines act against each other in my opinion.

I think I understood. I was just explaining the thought behind the ugly green basket. I totally agree with you.

Film Noir???? Something new to look up.