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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Abstract Food (Advanced Editing IV)
Collection: Challenges 2006
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Kitchen nook
Date: Jul 16, 2006
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 125
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Abstract, Food and Drink
Date Uploaded: Jul 16, 2006

 A green Granny Smith apple and five blueberries. They're sitting on my glass-topped kitchen table. Light is direct sunlight from the kitchen window. There's a piece of green posterboard under the tabletop, but not flush up against it (it's there for background color and to block the view of the underside of the table) and a piece of white posterboard behind. The shadows on the apple are shadows of my fingers - not sure what possessed me to do that, but I liked the result.

Post processing was extrememly complicated: crop, autolevels, clone one small annoyance that I think was a scratch on the table, attempt to clone out what I thought was a hot pixel but turned out to be a hot pixel on the monitor, USM, resize for web. I have lots of other versions with really wonky color changes - I'll stick those in my outtakes folder after the challenge. I plan to pick three of those plus this one to print as a series and hang in my kitchen.

Oh, and the spots on the table aren't spots - they're reflections of condensation forming on the apple, which had been in the fridge. What I should have done was wiped off the apple!

Thanks to all who gave honest feedback on this one - I still like it but understand that it's definitely not for everybody.


Statistics
Place: 123 out of 199
Avg (all users): 5.3288
Avg (commenters): 8.3333
Avg (participants): 5.0353
Avg (non-participants): 5.5149
Views since voting: 1120
Views during voting: 336
Votes: 219
Comments: 14
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 02/19/2012 12:55:36 PM
I like the idea of this one, But the lighting is not right, there should be more even and bright lighting on everything. Either that or a good directional light source, this one has lighting coming from all sorts of different directions.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/30/2006 01:54:09 PM
Trading Post Comment

I am afraid I am not a fan of this shot (although I like the quad quite a bit) because the lighting seems a bit blown out on a couple of the blueberries and the focus is not real sharp on the apple. Then there are the white marks on the table (which I assume could have been cleaned off before the shot was taken). I always like your work, but this one looks like something I might have done... ;-P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 09:44:17 AM
Trading post...
Cute idea, but not one of your better executed ones. You usually have such an eye for the shadows but these seem to have gotten away from you. The reflection is good but the double reflection detracts a bit. I just looked at your notes and the other versions. The colorized versions are beautiful! You should have went with one of them!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2006 07:01:57 PM
I didnt much care for this one Deb. Reading your description I can see that you put thought and time into the setup but at first look it just seemed tossed toegther real quick and a shot taken. The colors didnt jump out and just seem a bit blah (I will look again when I get home as I am on my moms monitor and hers is pretty dark). Looking at the color tweaks I think you may have done better with one of those. The variations even in thumbnail had strong interest to me and the quad view makes for a great picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2006 10:27:25 AM
In general, it didn't come off as abstract as some of the other submissions. I gave this a 5. The setup was cute, and I like the different play of shadows on the apple (thanks for the explanation), but in my opinion the crop and the depth of field hurt this image for me. Something more macro may have been called for to meet the challenge, but also to add interest between the contrasting colours, shapes, and textures. I really love the coloured outtakes. I think you should have submitted one of them, because they add a great dimension that is somehow not in your submission, for me. Next time, go for that "stretched brain" shot. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2006 07:04:08 AM
*I* like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2006 01:57:08 AM
I'd personally put this shot above the blue ribbon winner.

Why? It's more abstract.. for one. The blue ribbon is about as abstract as the decimal system.

Your color play is unreal.. and I think the *one* thing that I think you could have done differently was cleaned the mirror better.

A fabulous shot that clearly beats my own submission (which beat you in the standings.. *HUH?!*) by 30,000,000 miles.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/24/2006 01:40:52 AM
This one was tough for me. I'll admit I gave it a 4. :( My feeling was this shot was in a grayzone between an abstract and a still life. It didn't know which it wanted to be and thus didn't manage to become either very well.

Technicals are not bad. The blueberries are a bit rough, both blown on the right and in shadow on the left. Also a bit harsh on the apple.

I did like the idea of the reflection. It does make for a nice symmetry (yet the shadows make it asymmetrical, a nice effect). Looking at your outtakes, I like the idea of really messing with the colors. You did some nice stuff there. The yellow/purple or blue/green would have likely gotten a 6 from me and there is a world of difference between a 4 and a 6.

Keep it up. You've been shooting quite well as of late.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/21/2006 02:57:37 PM
nice composition. way to crop! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 09:13:17 PM
Nice combination of colors and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2006 12:02:55 PM
I love the colors in this one...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/18/2006 05:30:59 PM
Wow!!!! I'm not even normally a fan of abstract photos, but this one is stunning! The lighting, the colors, the excellent abstract composition, and the beautiful sharpness. This is a top pick for me!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2006 10:43:15 PM
Very nice. I love the reflections, shadows, everything.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2006 05:22:29 PM
simple and repetative. lighting a little harsh but I like it. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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