B&W Challenge No. 44 - Still Life

[pontiac1940]

Mar 5, 2021 21:00:17 GMT tonyw said:

Very effective background - like the way you have it well out of focus.

Thanks Tony. The frog is on a low "wall" with brown grass and shrubs maybe 6 m back, so they were nicely out of focus.

Clive

[hmca]

Trying for a more complex arrangement.....I think the first one works.
Following on Bill and Tony's idea about creating a story, I tried a tea theme. I think this one doesn't have a good flow and looks too staged.
Both were edited in SE.

Oh and both were taken with my phone.......setting up and trying to adjust tripod was one hassle that could be eliminated.

[tonyw]

Mar 6, 2021 22:00:41 GMT hmca said:

Trying for a more complex arrangement.....I think the first one works.
Following on Bill and Tony's idea about creating a story, I tried a tea theme. I think this one doesn't have a good flow and looks too staged.
Both were edited in SE.

Oh and both were taken with my phone.......setting up and trying to adjust tripod was one hassle that could be eliminated.

I like the first one - the subjects tie well together.  Agree that the second one looks too staged and the subjects appear to be floating in air rather than tied together - now if they were sitting on a small table with a lace tablecloth looking drinkable that might look more inviting!


Tony 

[hmca]

Thanks for the suggestion, Tony. Something for my next try! I am a firm believer in posting images that do not work. While we all like to show images we feel good about;  it's the ones that don't work that invite suggestions for improvement.

[hmca]

Today's try.....still not where I want to be.

[blackmutt]

Maybe more contrast? Not sure. Like I have a clue....i love the shells!

[hmca]

Trying to mimic an arrangement similar to Sepiania's image in the CE Challenge.
Not sure which one of these might be the most pleasing....

[tonyw]

Mar 10, 2021 20:32:11 GMT hmca said:

Trying to mimic an arrangement similar to Sepiania's image in the CE Challenge.
Not sure which one of these might be the most pleasing...

I like this one the best - a nice arrangement and a good balance between light and dark.  The lace is particularly effective in black and white as are the grapes.  I do find the background a bit distracting and would prefer something plainer like a light colored wall but that might not be an option.

  

[blackmutt]

I like the same one. How about adding textures? Vintage it up. It won’t fit b/w but worth a try

[hmca]

This was a great suggestion, Tony, I hadn't seen Judy's suggestion till now but did add a texture to the background.
Too lazy to set it up again so made the changes in photoshop.  Hmmmm....maybe crop off the top a bit?  Will try that and add it to this post.

[tonyw]

Mar 10, 2021 23:15:34 GMT hmca said:

This was a great suggestion, Tony, I hadn't seen Judy's suggestion till now but did add a texture to the background.
Too lazy to set it up again so made the changes in photoshop.  Hmmmm....maybe crop off the top a bit?  Will try that and add it to this post.

Excellent!  And the texture works well too as Judy suggested.

[blackmutt]

Nice!

[hmca]

Tried another one.....still struggling with set-up as it looks too clunky....vignette helped a bit.

[pontiac1940]

Hi Helen
Like the coffee photo. (Smell of fresh-ground beans is the best, eh?) 
Have you tried or considered a black (very dark) background with objects photographed at a low-ish angle. Likely need a slow shutter speed and therefore a tripod.
Backgrounds can merely be unlighted (unlit) areas and objects lighted with a flashlight or directed desk lamp. (Since it's B&W, WB does not matter much.)  
Just thinking aloud ...
Clive
   

[hmca]

Thanks, Clive. Saw this earlier. Didn't have the patience for tripod and the camera but took this with my phone.




Not thrilled with the arrangement but being I tried something I thought I'd post it.